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DIRECTORS
DANIEL NGWEPE - PATRON
Daniel Ngwepe has an extensive background of over 25 years working in the public and private sectors, managing diverse issues and leading teams across various sectors and geographies. He was in the foreign service for 13 years, contributing to the advancement of solid bilateral economic and political relations between South Africa and the United States. After leaving the government, he led relations with financial sector policy makers and Central Bank regulators in Sub-Saharan Africa for Visa, the world’s largest payments technology company for nearly a decade. He is a Senior Advisor with Cogent Advisory, and the Public Private Growth Initiative and a Director of the In-Transformation Initiative. He is a BA (Hon) graduate of the University of the North, the Gordon Institute of Business Science and has a Master’s degree from Wits University.
DESIREE SEHLAPELO - DIRECTOR
Desirée has government/municipal experience as well as an experience of academia having worked as a Director: Planning and Economic Development in the Waterberg District Municipality as well as having been a senior lecturer at the University of South Africa (UNISA).
Desiree is currently with the National Business Initiative.
Previously she headed the Sector Budget Support Programme funded by the European Commission (EC) to the Department of Science and Technology, South Africa. She went on to become a visiting scholar at Georgia Institute of Technology (GIT), (US) focusing on science technology and innovations studies.
Prior to that she was at the Department of water affairs and forestry as a regional programme leader, Limpopo Province, South Africa for an environmental programme (natural resource management) that dealt with the clearing of invasive alien plants, as well as wetland rehabilitation using expanded public works principles of poverty alleviation and socio-economic development, and the inclusion of women, youth and disabled people in public sector programmes.
Summary of qualifications
- M.Sc. Environmental and Sustainable Development- University of Glasgow (UK)
- Master of Management Public Development- University of Witwatersrand
- Town and Regional Planning – University of Johannesburg
Relevant experience
Desiree is an impeccable natural resource economist (Sustainable Development specialist) with over 20 years on environmental, socio-economic and educational experience having worked on both public and private sector research and projects. She has Non-Profit experience having been involved as the Director and Board Member of Nkuzi Development Association and as well as a founding member of Ta-Seti Development Foundation.
JACQUES BLAAUW - DIRECTOR
Jacques Blaauw, now self-employed and living in “soul-stirring” Thabazimbi, previously held the position of Leader, Sales Force Capabilities & Six Sigma Champion for Africa, Middle East, and Asia at Eli Lilly, an American Fortune 500 company. Up to June 2011 he was Lilly’s Managing Director for South Africa and Sub Saharan Africa. He was the first local MD in over 12 years. Jacques also worked as part of the Interim Board of the Marketing Code Authority for Health Products since its inception in February 2010 and was elected as Chair in August 2010. He was also elected Vice-Chair of Innovative Medicines South Africa in October 2010.
He originally studied Town Planning at Potchefstroom University and was Senior Town Planner for the Johannesburg Metropolitan Council prior to joining Lilly. Jacques, who obtained his MBA through Bond University Australia, is passionate about marketing strategy and leadership development. He believes that leadership is a function of observing, listening, learning, and living it. With wife Isabel and their four children, Ruvè, Quinelle, and twins Silke and Jannik, they have made Thabazimbi their home for almost 12 years now. He loves his sport, having played Super 14 and Currie Cup rugby in his ‘fitter’ days. He served and still serves on various stakeholder and community organisations, most notably his role as Chairman of the Thabazimbi Chairperson’s Forum and for the last 4 years as a Director of Waterberg Development Initiative npc.
KEN MAUD - DIRECTOR
Ken Maud grew up in Johannesburg. He graduated from the University of the Witwatersrand. After a stint in finance, he assisted in the development of two significant listed companies, one here in South Africa and the other a global technology company. He has owned game farms in the Waterberg for 41 years. In 2009 he was voted Game Farmer of the year for the Waterberg region. Since 2010 he has devoted himself to community work. He was Chairman of Waterberg Welfare Society as well as Waterberg Nature Conservancy. Since 2019 he has been heavily involved in establishing and developing Waterberg Development Initiative, which concentrates on tourism, conservation, and community work. He and his lovely wife Elizabeth share their time between her family farm in Vaalwater and Swebeswebe Nature Reserve near Lephalale.
SEAN HENSMAN - DIRECTOR
Sean Hensman was raised in Zimbabwe and schooled in Natal South Africa before graduating with a degree in Tourism and Leisure with Business management from the Canterbury Christchurch University in the UK. Sean is an ardent proponent of holistic conservation and believes that conservation should sustainably benefit wildlife and Africa’s peoples first, thus guaranteeing that nature will be there for future generations to enjoy. He is hugely optimistic about what the Waterberg has to offer from both a tourism and conservation perspective.
He has more than 14 years of experience, predominantly in working with elephants, facilitating wildlife research, and participating in producing several wildlife-themed television programmes. He is also, the managing director of several companies and organisations, including Adventures With Elephants, the Rory Hensman Conservation & Research Unit, the African Wildlife Medical Centre, the Waterberg Development Initiative, and Grow Bela-Bela.
In addition to his business and conservation activities, he is a member of the Rooiberg Fire Protection Association, and chair the local Mabula District Community Policing Forum, working with the community to combat crime, and flying aerial patrols to assist in finding poachers, criminals, and lost/injured wildlife. Furthermore, a regular speaker on elephant conservation at international conferences, as well as a founder member of both the Elephant Care Association of Southern Africa and the Zimbabwe Elephant Care Association.
SYD CATTON - DIRECTOR
Syd Catton is the Financial Director of WDI and an active networker. He sits on committees including the BB Tourism and MMLED and Modimolle Small Town Regeneration project (the third of these CoGTA projects). He is vice chair of Friends of Nylsvley, a member of the Environmental Protection Agency, Bela Bela Rural Safety Committee and Fire Protection Association, Waterberg Nature Conservancy. He is an active supporter of the Public Private Growth Initiative in its aims to see Waterberg District achieve the Presidents goals for growth. He is a B.Comm FIPSC and has an honorary doctorate. He is determined to see a hospital developed in either Bela-Bela or Modimolle for the benefit of the entire community, and to boost tourism.
Founder, CEO and major shareholder of PAG Ltd and THW Investments Ltd (both JSE listed) as well as around 100 private companies over the years, including a Swiss Bank. PAG pioneered the executive temp industry in SA. A property developer of numerous projects throughout SA. Founder and driver of numerous non-profit companies over the years: Operation Employment, Progress through Employment, Careers 2000, Skills SA Foundation, Future Finders, Alexander Trek Recreational Education Centre, First National College, MAD Domestic Watch. Served on numerous Committees, both Business Chambers such as SACOB and Professional bodies such as SA Board for Personnel Practice & Association of Personnel Service Organisations.
