Travis Smithard is the Chief Executive Officer of Rhino Resources Ltd, a Cape Town–based energy exploration and production company. A graduate of the University of Cape Town, he has transformed Rhino from a junior explorer into a well-funded independent player, notably through a farm-out agreement with Azule Energy. Under his leadership, the company launched major exploration projects offshore Namibia’s Orange Basin, including the successful Capricornus?1X light oil discovery in 2025. Smithard aims to achieve Rhino’s first oil production by 2030 while expanding into other African and global opportunities. He also champions local capacity building, notably through the Rhino?Halliburton Technology Centre at the University of Namibia.