Experience

Viridian

• South Africa
• Business Consulting and Services
• 1 - 100 Employee

• CPO (Chief Product Officer)

  • Feb 2020 - Present

  Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa Viridian is a dynamic and experienced team that designs and delivers early-stage entrepreneur and investor programmes, research and strategy. We care deeply about achieving impact and creating thriving entrepreneurial ecosystems with our clients and partners. We want to see more high-impact entrepreneurs and angel investors across the African continent building innovative solutions and growing shared prosperity. Flagship programmes include: - African Angel Academy - UK-SA Tech Hub… Show more Viridian is a dynamic and experienced team that designs and delivers early-stage entrepreneur and investor programmes, research and strategy. We care deeply about achieving impact and creating thriving entrepreneurial ecosystems with our clients and partners. We want to see more high-impact entrepreneurs and angel investors across the African continent building innovative solutions and growing shared prosperity. Flagship programmes include: - African Angel Academy - UK-SA Tech Hub Launch League - RAEng Africa Prize for African Engineering Innovation Show less



Book Dash

• Co-founder and Board Member

  • Jun 2014 - Present

  Cape Town Book Dash is a voluntary organisation that creates open-licensed children’s books with top creatives (www.bookdash.org). We believe that if every child could own a hundred books by the age of five, we’ll address a key part of the performance gap that opens between poor and wealthy children as they progress through school. To date, we have produced close to 200 titles (created by over 350 volunteers), distributed more than 3 million physical copies and millions of digital downloads, and have… Show more Book Dash is a voluntary organisation that creates open-licensed children’s books with top creatives (www.bookdash.org). We believe that if every child could own a hundred books by the age of five, we’ll address a key part of the performance gap that opens between poor and wealthy children as they progress through school. To date, we have produced close to 200 titles (created by over 350 volunteers), distributed more than 3 million physical copies and millions of digital downloads, and have seen our free Android app downloaded 167 000+ times. Show less



The Sustainability Institute

• South Africa
• Education
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Advisory Board Member

  • Nov 2021 - Present

  Stellenbosch, Western Cape, South Africa Part of a group of five advisors to The Sustainability Institute as the organisation works to realise its 2030 vision.



Innovation Edge

• South Africa
• Venture Capital and Private Equity Principals
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Portfolio Manager

  • Jul 2019 - Jan 2020

  Cape Town Area, South Africa I supported the investment readiness and strategic advisory of selected organisations in Innovation Edge's investment portfolio, particularly those using mobile technologies to develop solutions in early childhood development.



UVU Africa

• South Africa
• Non-profit Organizations
• 200 - 300 Employee

• Head of Innovation

  • Oct 2016 - Feb 2019

  Woodstock, Cape Town -- I worked with large clients including Telkom and Western Cape Provincial Government to deliver high-profile programmes, such as Futuremakers. -- I designed and implemented strategic projects such as Serious About Games, and supported CiTi’s innovation joint ventures in biotech and edtech. -- I was one of a small team of senior executives that led the turnaround of an organisation suffering revenue and reputational risk, quadrupling turnover over three years (including winning a R75… Show more -- I worked with large clients including Telkom and Western Cape Provincial Government to deliver high-profile programmes, such as Futuremakers. -- I designed and implemented strategic projects such as Serious About Games, and supported CiTi’s innovation joint ventures in biotech and edtech. -- I was one of a small team of senior executives that led the turnaround of an organisation suffering revenue and reputational risk, quadrupling turnover over three years (including winning a R75 million contract from Jobs Fund) and scaling to more than 50 employees. -- Managed a departmental budget and team of four.

• ED and Innovation Head

  • Jan 2016 - Oct 2016

  Cape Town Area, South Africa

• Innovation Programme Manager

  • Jul 2015 - Dec 2015

  Cape Town



Trialogue

• South Africa
• Business Consulting and Services
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Publishing Manager

  • Sep 2009 - Jun 2015

  Trialogue is South Africa’s leading consultancy in corporate social investment and sustainability. In this role I curated and coordinated industry forums, online platforms and printed publications. I commissioned and project managed the annual Trialogue CSI Conference (with 50 speakers and attracting 400 delegates) and the annual Trialogue CSI Handbook, which is built on primary research into trends with 100 big companies and 200 NPOs. I brokered and managed Trialogue's research… Show more Trialogue is South Africa’s leading consultancy in corporate social investment and sustainability. In this role I curated and coordinated industry forums, online platforms and printed publications. I commissioned and project managed the annual Trialogue CSI Conference (with 50 speakers and attracting 400 delegates) and the annual Trialogue CSI Handbook, which is built on primary research into trends with 100 big companies and 200 NPOs. I brokered and managed Trialogue's research relationship with the New York-based Committee Encouraging Corporate Philanthropy (CECP). I led the writing of Santam’s 2010 sustainability report, which won Best Sustainability Report: Financial Sector in the 2010 Acca Reporting Awards. Show less



Michelle Matthews

• Writer and publishing consultant

  • Oct 2007 - Sep 2009

  -- Author of The Whole Food Almanac. -- Editor of the Creative Cape Town Annual 2009, for the Cape Town Partnership. -- Writer for Marie Claire, Fairlady, Elle Deco, EarthWorks (the national green building magazine), Wine Tourism News, Ancestry24 and the World Design Capital website (www.capetown2014.co.za). Co-conceptualiser and writer on Salut, Virgin Active's member magazine. -- In 2008, I commissioned and project managed the authors for Novel Idea, a competition by MOBfest… Show more -- Author of The Whole Food Almanac. -- Editor of the Creative Cape Town Annual 2009, for the Cape Town Partnership. -- Writer for Marie Claire, Fairlady, Elle Deco, EarthWorks (the national green building magazine), Wine Tourism News, Ancestry24 and the World Design Capital website (www.capetown2014.co.za). Co-conceptualiser and writer on Salut, Virgin Active's member magazine. -- In 2008, I commissioned and project managed the authors for Novel Idea, a competition by MOBfest publishing fiction to cellphones. I marketed the concept and authors through traditional media and online (Facebook and blog). Show less



Curious, Whetstone & Frankley: Exhibitionists

• Co-founder

  • Dec 2007 - Nov 2008

  Cape Town Area, South Africa This gallery curated shows of up-and-coming artists and artisans including Michael Taylor, Barbara Wildenboer, Lisa Firer, Heather Moore (Skinny laMinx), Julia Anastasopoulos (Suzelle DIY), and Patrick and Alex Latimer.



Oshun Books, Struik Publishing

• Publishing Manager

  • Jan 2004 - Sep 2007

  I launched Oshun and published nearly 50 books on the imprint, including the debut works of Margie Orford, Lauren Beukes, Lebo Mashile, Sam Cowen, Zukiswa Wanner, Melinda Ferguson and Dion Chang.



SL magazine

• Managing Editor

  • Feb 2002 - Aug 2003

  Getting the coolest local pop culture content together for South Africa's leading youth magazine. Having a hand in everything, from sourcing product to briefing illustrators, commissioning articles to assisting on cover shoots. Writing articles on a variety of subjects: canned lion hunting, shark diving, and whatever else caught our fancy, as well as plenty of celebrity interviews.



CityLife magazine

• Listings editor and features writer

  • 2001 - 2001

  I compiled listings, and wrote cover articles and scripts for this entertainment magazine (with related TV show).



Mail and Guardian

• Listings Editor

  • 1999 - 2000

  Online and print arts journalism.