Experience

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  Praekelt.org

  • South Africa
  • Software Development
  • 1 - 100 Employee

  • Content Strategist

    • Mar 2017 - Jul 2021

    Praekelt.org designs, launches and manages global health services. Content strategy and design address the psychosocial realities of programme beneficiaries, as well as improving their health knowledge. Drawing on an evidence base and incorporating behaviour change techniques, content is optimised to improve health behaviours and outcomes. Content strategies deliver a mix of expert-approved information, user-generated content and community engagement. These are the start of a behaviour-change journey to tackle some of the developing world's most pressing human issues: HIV, Gender & Sexual Violence, Unwanted pregnancy, Maternal health and Infant mortality, COVID-19.

  • Head of Content

    • Jul 2014 - Jul 2017

    The Praekelt group partners with global content owners and creates custom content for clients, governments and NGOs. Formats are WhatsApp, FB Messenger, SMS, USSD, mobile web, IP messaging and IVR (Interactive Voice Messaging). Managing relationships with external content providers and content owners is an important aspect of content development. User-first content strategies and messaging are at the heart of effective mobile content, because creating impactful messaging for users at the Base of the Pyramid means understanding the limitations – as well as the power – of delivering content on a mobile device.

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  Traffik Productions

  • Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa

  • Business owner

    • 2006 - 2014
    • Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa

    Digital content production: 2009 - 2013Traffik launched and managed social media-content hybrid mobile platforms targeting the Base of the Pyramid for the former Praekelt Foundation:- YoungAfricaLive An HIV-focused Sexual & Reproductive health engagement platform for the youth market on Vodafone Live. The platform was accessed on the Vodacom operator deck and built a userbase of around 2-million users. In 2015, YoungAfricaLive transitioned to become the South African National Department of Health's youth market mobile health platform (B-Wise).- AskMama.mobi The South African component of the global MAMA (Mobile Alliance for Maternal Action) consortium championed in Washington DC by Hillary Clinton. Baby Center content was reformatted and localised for the SA market.- Branded content solutionsTraffik produced branded multi-channel content solutions and content management for digital agencies in Cape Town and Johannesburg. Clients included Guinness (Guinness VIP, Nigeria), Windhoek, Johnnie Walker (‘Striders’ Coffee table book).Documentary film production: 2007 / 2012- Break! Traffik Productions filmed and produced the documentary film 'Break!'​ for SABC1 and the 2007 Encounters Film Festival. The film followed two rival Cape Flats B-Boy crews competing to win South Africa's Battle of the Year (BOTY) competition, and a chance to compete at the annual BOTY in Germany.- Jumu'aThe documentary 'Jumu'a'​ was produced for SABC's Issues of Faith screened at Encounters FIlm Festival in 2012.

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  Day One Books

  • Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa

  • Publisher/Author

    • 2005 - 2009
    • Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa

    Day One Publishing (2005 – 2009) was founded by branding entrepreneur Stephan le Roux, photographer Stan Engelbrecht and myself, to coincide with the release of the book African Salad, co-authored by myself and Engelbrecht. A best-selling non-fiction coffee-table book, it was long-listed for the Alan Paton Book Prize, and rated one of the Top Twenty Best South African reads by the Centre of the Book. Miss Beautiful (2009), also by myself and Engelbrecht, was launched to critical acclaim and sparked a national debate after excerpts were reprinted in a 6-page feature in Marie Claire magazine.

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  Traffik Content Management

  • City of Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa

  • Company Director

    • 2001 - Jul 2004
    • City of Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa

    Traffik Content Management was founded in Johannesburg in 2001, providing web content and strategy to a number of corporate clients including Standard Bank, Nedbank, Alfa Romeo, Bullbrand, Clover, Pick 'n Pay, BMW. In 2003, Traffik moved into television production producing long format reality and documentary television content for SABC1. Commissions during this period included a 26-part talk-show focused on young women for SABC1 and a 48-minute Live-to-tape Music Special celebrating Women's Day.

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  Delapse

  • Johannesburg

  • Production Manager / Producer

    • 1998 - 2000
    • Johannesburg

    Production manager: Tube on SABC2 60-minutes weekly live-to-tape motion capture animated children’s television for SABC2's 'Tube'. Producer: Motion graphics and broadcast design Campaigns for TV programme and channel identities including SABC2, TV Africa, Premier Soccer League (PSL), 7de Laan, Egoli, Carte Blanche, Isidingo, Takalani Sesame, Take 5. 3-D, cell and After Effects animation for clients including Coca-Cola, Sprite, Telkom, Microsoft, Vodacom, Incredible Connection. Broadcast Design Awards: Promax Gold for SABC2 'Made in Africa' campaign accepted at Promax, New Orleans, USA in 2000.Producer: Interactive mediaInhale-X – online-only launch of a new cigarette brand entering the market just as South African legislation curbed cigarette advertising on all television / print media. The site featured 20 updated content items that were available to readers for 5 minutes each (‘your online smoke-break’).Dimension Data Pro-Am CD-Rom invitation – a fully interactive digital invitation to VIPs to attend the Dimension Data Golf event at Sun City.INSERT – once-off CD-Rom interactive magazine combining print, video and audio, featuring fashion, design and food.

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  The Saturday Star, Independent Newspapers

  • City of Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa

  • Columnist

    • 1996 - 1999
    • City of Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa

    Column: 'Rave New World': 1996 - 1997A weekly column dealing with youth culture and nightlife, especially around the so-called ‘rave’ scene and the new electronic music generation that it ushered in.Column: 'Urban Species': 1998 - 1999An evolution from the electronic music focus, taking a broader look at urban and suburban lifestyle, nightlife and weekends - from mall culture to concerts.

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  Get the Funk Out

  • City of Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa

  • Youth magazine editor

    • 1996 - 1998
    • City of Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa

    Get the Funk Out was an independent youth culture magazine focused on entertainment, trends and music. It developed cult status when printed in a CD format, with a CD of local SA music.

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  The Star, Independent Newspapers

  • Johannesburg, South Africa

  • Journalist

    • Mar 1995 - Oct 1996
    • Johannesburg, South Africa

    General news reporter, with a special interest in environmental issues and investigative stories. Assisted the South African police in the capture and conviction of South African serial killer, Moses Sithole.