Damien J du Preez

As a South African with a passion for both business and politics, I bridge both worlds in my mission to leverage new opportunities and bring ambitious ideas to life. Since relocating to Frankfurt, Germany in 2024, my focus has been on connecting African know-how and resilience with global opportunity. 

While at CREDO, I led the development of South Africa’s first citizens’ assembly, transforming a novel idea into a political project buttressed by government and civil society partnerships. As part of a larger communications push, I launched a political newsletter and a national university essay award, significantly expanding the international footprint of a new research centre.

Now as the founder of Beagle & Baobab, a luxury travel consultancy, I bring this same energy and strategic thinking to the global tourism and hospitality industry. By reimagining African adventure for a new generation of discerning travellers, I aim to reinvigorate South Africa’s status as a must-visit destination for immersive travel – where culture, cuisine, and nature collide in unforgettable ways. 

Parallel to this, I’m studying towards an MA in Comparative Democracy at the Goethe-Universität Frankfurt. I hold a BA in Politics, Philosophy, and Economics from Stellenbosch University, during which I won a scholarship for an international exchange at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam.