Our staff and associates

Directors:

Shelagh Gastrow Executive Director

One of the founders of Inyathelo, Shelagh was previously Director of Fundraising at the University of Cape Town (1998-2002). Before that she worked in the nonprofit sector, particularly with the Institute for a Democratic Alternative for South Africa (IDASA) where she headed its Africa programme. She is also the author of five editions of the “Who’s Who in South African Politics”.

Gabrielle Ritchie Programme Director

Gabrielle’s formal educational background is in Heritage and the Media, and she brings to her post as Programme Director a range of skills and experience in various fields. Gabrielle’s experience in the Advancement field comes from her years at the University of Cape Town's Development Office where she established and managed the Proposal Development Unit. Through this, she gained a broad understanding of the Advancement environment as well as specific experience of the dynamics and challenges of institutional Advancement. Since being at Inyathelo, Gabrielle has focused primarily on initiatives to grow philanthropy in South Africa.

Soraya Joonas Finance Director

Having worked in multi-cultural leadership positions in Mauritius, Canada and South Africa in for-profit and government sectors, Soraya bridged into the nonprofit sector when she joined Inyathelo as its Finance Director. Her current portfolio includes the management of Finance, IT, HR and Facilities. What Soraya values most about her work at Inyathelo is the opportunity to help grow local South African philanthropy and to advance civil society organisations by using her business skills and financial expertise. Soraya holds a BSc Honours degree in Accounting and an MBA from the Graduate School of Business, University of Cape Town.

Managers:

Nazli Abrahams Manager – Advancement Training and Support Unit

Nazli Abrahams joined the Inyathelo team in April 2005 as Inyathelo’s Senior Programme Coordinator responsible for managing the Kresge Special Initiative in South Africa. With the Kresge programme coming to a close, she has moved on to manage the Advancement Training and Support Unit (ATS). Before joining the Inyathelo team, her focus was on curriculum design and development, and broadcast communications and training. Nazli has a keen interest in education and training and is passionate about taking the learning experience beyond the classroom.

Sarah Nicklin Media, Communications, Information and Resources Manager

Sarah Nicklin has more than 15 years’ experience in mainstream radio, television and internet news and current affairs. She has worked both locally and in the UK as a journalist, producer, editor and presenter for stations and sites such as News24.com, Cape Talk, SAfm, SABC TV news as well as ITN and Channel Four in London. Before joining Inyathelo in May 2012, Sarah managed the media and communications for the veteran human rights organisation, Black Sash.

Robyn Mosdell Operations Manager

Robyn joined Inyathelo as the Operations Manager in early 2012 and brings with her experience gained over 15 years in both programmatic and operational roles in the South African development sector. Robyn has been instrumental in setting up and monitoring HR and financial management systems for various organisations, including Sonke Gender Justice Network and Planned Parenthood Association of South Africa. She has also worked for The Cancer Association of South Africa and for the Family and Marriage Society of South Africa where her focus areas ranged from human rights, to reproductive health, to economic literacy as well as the rights of refugees, among others.

Robyn studied Psychology, Development and English through the University of South Africa and has attended a number of short training programmes.

Programme Staff:

Lizel Shepherd Programme Co-ordinator: Advancement Training and Support Unit

With a degree in Business Science from the University of Cape Town, Lizel worked in the financial services sector as a research analyst for five years before making the switch to the non-profit environment. She worked in the Fundraising Department at the Children’s Hospital Trust for four years doing prospect research, proposal development and writing, data analysis, internal and stakeholder reporting. Joining Inyathelo in mid-September 2010, Lizel co-ordinates Inyathelo’s cap dev initiative for nonprofits.

Riedwaan Baboo Programme Co-ordinator: Kresge

Riedwaan joined Inyathelo in March 2012 and is responsible for coordinating the Kresge Foundation Special Initiative for South Africa. He has several years’ working experience in the South African developmental sector serving in the capacity of Project Coordinator, Centre for Corporate Governance in Africa, University of Stellenbosch; Programme Manager, Foundation for Contemporary Research; Project Coordinator, Labour Research Services and Prospect Researcher, Development and Alumni Department, University of Cape Town.

Riedwaan holds a Commerce degree majoring in Economics and Business Management as well as Honours (cum laude) in Development Studies.

Kerry Petrie Atlantic Advancement Initiative Co-ordinator

After honing her project management skills in the film industry on a wide range of commercial productions, Kerry decided to make the move to the development sector in the hope of applying her energy to projects with more social relevance and impact. To this end, she completed a MBA from the University of Cape Town (UCT)’s Graduate School of Business in 2008, with a thesis focused on the potential of for-profit/non-profit development partnerships. Having completed her masters, she joined the Community Media Trust where she gained significant NGO sector experience managing a national health systems strengthening programme (with a focus on community health worker systems and training) and developing new projects to support the organisation’s diversification and sustainability. She also holds a BSc in Information Systems from UCT.

Kerry joined Inyathelo in April 2012 and is responsible for coordinating the Atlantic Advancement Initiative (AAI). She is committed to promoting the development and sustainability of a robust civil society through sound business practice and effective stakeholder engagement.

Alfred Thutloa Philanthropy Co-ordinator

Alfred joined Inyathelo in April 2012 as the Philanthropy Coordinator to coordinate philanthropy work, particularly the Inyathelo Philanthropy Awards. Previously he was a Communications Specialist for Metropolitan Health, Marketing and Communications Consultant for Metropolitan Employee Benefits and an Editorial and Features Writer for health and lifestyle magazines. He was also the Communications Coordinator for an NGO focused on education and psychosocial support for the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV/AIDS.

Alfred holds a BA International Studies, BPhil Cultures, and an MPhil Intercultural Communication degree from Stellenbosch University. He is currently working on a PhD in Linguistics focusing on multilingual citizenship in health.

Janine Ogle Project Co-ordinator: Funding Practice Alliance

Janine Ogle was employed by Inyathelo in March 2010 as the research co-ordinator for the Funding Practice Alliance. Her employment history includes roles as an advocacy officer, as a research assistant(at the level of senior research technologist at the MRC), and as a researcher and parliamentary liaison officer for the SACBC. Janine holds a Bachelor of Social Science Degree, majoring in Social Work and Anthropology, and a Bachelor of Social Science Honours Degree in Gender Studies, both from the University of Natal-Durban(now University of KwaZulu - Natal). She has also graduated with a MA in Public Policy(with Merit) from the University of Nottingham in the UK. Janine is a Nelson Mandela Scholarship alumni.

Currently, Janine coordinates both the Funding Practice Alliance and the Non-profit Code of Governance projects based at Inyathelo. Both projects have heightened Janine’s belief in the strength of the civil society sector in South Africa and intensified her interest in the dynamics that underpin the formation and purpose of social movements.

Jocelyn Collins Programme Officer: Kresge

Jocelyn joins Inyathelo as the Programme Officer on the Kresge Foundation Special Initiative in South Africa. She holds a B.Sc (Hons) degree in the Natural Sciences from the University of the Western Cape. Jocelyn has been involved in the administration, logistical arrangements and implementation of a number of community-related, outreach and research projects including overseeing the delivery of multiple training courses and workshops while in the employ of UWC and a local NGO over the last 16 years.

Ruvimbo Valerie Gwatirisa Programme Officer: Advancement Training and Support

Ruvimbo assists with the co-ordination and implementation of various activities in the Training & Support Programme at Inyathelo, which largely comprises training workshops, annual Spring and Winter Schools and individual support sessions to non-profit organisations. She has her B.Soc.Sci in Sociology, Social Anthropology and Business French, and B.Soc.Sci (Hons) in Diversity Studies at the University of Cape Town, where she is also an MPhil Diversity Studies candidate. Ruvimbo brings with her experience from having worked as an intern at Southern Hemisphere Consultants; in the Sociology Department as well as the Students Orientation and Advocacy Centre at the University of Cape Town.

Eunice Oyugi Information Officer

Eunice Oyugi joined Inyathelo in January 2012 as the Information Officer. With a deep commitment to building a sense of community with like-minded people around her, Eunice’s interest in the non-profit sector continues to be borne out in her choice of work environments. Eunice’s experience includes a number of different database roles, including as Database Administrator for both the South African Red Cross Society and Peace Parks Foundation, and as a Programme Assistant for the World Bank in the Kenya Country Office in charge of the Public Information Centre and database.

Programme and Administrative Support Team:

Dianne Poyo Events Co-ordinator and PA to the Executive Director

Dianne has over 15 years’ experience as a Personal Assistant. She has had previous exposure to the NGO environment when she worked at LEAF College of Commerce and Engineering / National Access Consortium Western Cape for 10 years, where she served as PA to the Deputy CEO. She thrives on working with a diverse group of people and contributes her energy and acumen to enhance the effectiveness of the office of Inyathelo’s Executive Director as well as that of the Events Coordinator at Inyathelo. Dianne believes that life-long learning is a fundamental part of the course of life and that people, herself included, should grab each opportunity that comes their way.

Buddy Daniels Assistant to the Programme Director

Buddy has over 15 years of Administrative experience in various sectors. Buddy has a diverse background in administration, from working at a retail import business, to a signage manufacturing company, to administering Unit Trusts for a major bank. In June 2010 Buddy Daniels was appointed as administrator and receptionist at Inyathelo. Her initiative, drive and passion for philanthropy were soon noticed and she was promoted to the position of assistant to Gaby Ritchie, the Programme Director.

Cassandra Smith Finance and Office Co-ordinator

As a real “problem-solver” Cassandra has over 25 years of experience in office administration within the education sector. Cassandra brings this experience to Inyathelo, where she is a key member of the Finance team, responsible for ensuring that accounts are paid and that financial and other information records are maintained. Cassandra is also the office co-ordinator and ensures that the wheels of the organisation run smoothly.

Taryn Gloyne Web Development Co-ordinator

This position expands Inyathelo’s online communications capacity, covering everything from websites, newsletters, and social media to the development of online Advancement tools and services. Taryn has over six years’ experience both developing and leading projects throughout South Africa and abroad, speaking a range of computer languages with an in-depth understanding of the web to take full advantage of its immense potential.

Veronique Adonis-Follentine Programme Administrator - Philanthropy Unit

Veronique brings to Inyathelo skills gained from working in the international airline industry for three years. Her travels finally brought her back home and into the heart of the nonprofit sector, and when she joined Inyathelo in 2009 working in reception and providing assistance to the Finance & Admin Unit and later to the Communications Manager. In 2010 she took the opportunity to get involved with Inyathelo’s core work as a Programme Administrator to the Communication and Philanthropy Unit. She works on Inyathelo’s Philanthropy Programme, Annual Philanthropy Awards, Inyathelo’s Resource Centre and on the organisation’s online communications.

Rudayba Petersen Temporary Programme Assistant: Philanthropy

Rudayba’s tenure in the NGO sector started in 1998 when she took on a temporary assignment as Financial Administrator for the National Association of Democratic Lawyers (NADEL). In 1999 she started as an admin/support person at the Extra Mural Education Project (EMEP) and by the time she left the organisation in 2005, she was actively involved in the design, implementation and completion of a number of pilot projects, such as EMEP’s Creative Writing, Soap Making and HIV/AIDS Projects. In late 2005 she joined South African New Economics Network (SANE) as Project Manager, where she was responsible for promoting SANE’s Community Exchange System (CES) in cash-poor communities such as Delft, Masiphumelele and Khayelitsha. Since 2008, Rudayba has mainly been doing freelance work for organisations requiring her services. Organisations include New Africa Theatre Association, New Moon Ventures, The Green Point Stadium Visitors Centre (pre-2010), Creative Futures, Joke-Waller Hunter Initiative for Leadership Development, The Africa Centre’s Infecting the City Festival and The District Six Museum. She is currently serving as Temporary Programme Assistant in Inyathelo’s Philanthopy Unit.

Hoeyaam Dout Operations Assistant / Receptionist

Hoeyaam Majiet is the first point of contact at Inyathelo's offices. Working as the Inyathelo Receptionist, and providing overall support to the Finance and Admin unit, Hoeyaam brings to Inyathelo her experience in accounts administration and in "first contact" positions such as Reception. Working at Inyathelo has brought Hoeyaam from Old Mutual into the NPO sector for the first time. Hoeyaam's energy and her interest in the NPO environment mean that Inyathelo's visitors and clients are always warmly welcomed.

Sandra de Jongh Office maintenance

Having worked variously as a welder and in a chicken factory, Sandra de Jongh has also worked in office maintenance and joined Inyathelo in January 2009 to assist with office cleaning and with various other maintenance tasks. Sandra holds a strict “no complaining” policy, and brings a seriously positive energy to her work environment and her colleagues.