THE AFRICAN POTENTIAL MANAGEMENT TEAM
Dr Jenny Coetzee
Chief Executive Officer
Jenny has been described by those who know her as an incredibly passionate and unstoppable force of nature. She has an incredible vision for innovation in Africa and the need to drive public private partnerships that create meaningful and sustainable change for socioeconomic development. Her ability to unite interdisciplinary and intersectoral groups towards a common goal is spectacular.
Jenny’s work with marginalised women has changed policy in South Africa, impacted global funding mechanisms and influenced how and what is funded in the country. She is well published in her field, is a seasoned researcher and program implementer who has been on the frontlines of the HIV and violence epidemics in South Africa since 2009, and more recently supporting COVID prevention efforts. She holds an honorary joint staff appointment with the University of the Witwatersrand, is a founding trustee of the African Potential Trust and a board member on the African Potential Foundation.
Minja Milovanovic
Head of Research & Innovations
Minja is an out of box thinker, with a zest for innovation and a strong advocate for critical evaluation of concepts, processes and systems.
Through her work in clinical and social research, she has applied a pluripotent approach to understanding and solving public health issues.
She has the ability to move seamlessly between a dynamic range of topics, techniques, teams and locations and has also mentored many local and international aspiring researchers. It is her belief, that in order to change the world, we need to be dynamic, innovative and flexible and create opportunities that cross structured boundaries.
Minja holds an honorary joint staff appointment with the University of the Witwatersrand, and is also a member of the African Potential Foundation board.
Robyn Hayes Badenhorst
Head of Strategy
Robyn is the most incredible networker and space holder. She has experience in international development projects in the health sector across Southern Africa. She has worked alongside leading international agencies including the Department for International Development (UKAID), USAID, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, UNFPA, The Global Fund, South African National Departments of Health; Higher Education and Training; Treasury; and Social Development. She moves seamlessly between working with Donors, Government, Private Sector, NGO’s and philanthropic organisations, while remaining true to her roots of community development.
Robyn is currently Head of Group Strategy for Wits Health Consortium (WHC), leads the Supporting Health Initiatives, and is a member of the African Potential Foundation board.
OUR TRUSTEES & BOARD MEMBERS
Prof Mosa Moshabela
Trustee and Science Specialist
Mosa has an incredible passion for socio-economic development geared to impact. He is driven to improve access, quality and equity in healthcare, for resource-poor settings in sub-Saharan Africa. Mosa is the Deputy Vice Chancellor of Research and Innovation at the University of KwaZulu Natal. He is a medical doctor specialized in Family Medicine and Primary Health Care. While he has specialised in access and quality of healthcare to combat infectious diseases, in relation to HIV and TB.
Mosa holds multiple awards for his scientific contributions, including the PHILA Annual Award (2022), and a Ministerial Special Covid-19 Award (2020 – 2021) for Covid-19 Science Communication and Public Engagement. Amongst others, he is the Chairperson of the Governing Board at the National Research Foundation (NRF), and a Member of the Board at the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC). Globally, he is a member of the international advisory board for the Lancet Healthy Longevity, Lancet commission on synergies between Health Promotion, and the commission of the US National Academies for Science, Engineering and Medicine (NASEM) on the Global Roadmap to Healthy Longevity.
Prof Glenda Gray
Trustee and Science Specialist
Glenda is an award winning South African Researcher. She is the Mother of HIV Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission (PMTCT) of HIV, which she spearheaded at Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital, Soweto, South Africa in the mid 90’s. Having dedicated her life to the global quest for an HIV Vaccine, she is internationally renowned for her work in this field. In 2018, Glenda was named one of the New York Times 100 Most Influential People in the World. In 2020 she was named one of Africa’s 50 most powerful women.
She is an incredible women, immensely compassionate, an activist at heart, and a mentor to many. Glenda has won multiple awards across her illustrious career, and has been awarded three doctoral degrees from various local and international universities.
She is the President of the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC), and sits on the Governing Board at the National Research Foundation (NRF).
Prof Ziyaad Dangor
Paediatritian & Board Member
Ziyaad is one of the most honourable men we have met. He won the 2021 Integrity Idols award, and has dedicated his time to working in the paediatric ward of the Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital, Soweto.
He is a Clinical Research Director at the world renowned MRC VIDA Unit, an associate Professor at the University of the Witwatersrand, an NRF Y1 rated scientist, continued to lecture at Wits and is the Chair of the South African Paediatrics Association, and an examiner in the College of Paediatrics of South Africa. He is a member of our Foundation Board of Directors.
Nerine Kahn
Trustee and Governance Specialist
Nerine has a long history in supporting the fight for freedom for all in South Africa. As the longest-acting Head of The Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) , she has had an indelible impact upon our country. Under Nerine’s guidance the CCMA was awarded gold for sector excellence in the legal sector category, in the 2009 and 2011 Public Service Excellence Awards, coming second in 2010 in the same category. In 2014, she was named the Most influential woman in Business and Government: Agencies category for South Africa and Southern Africa.
She sits on multiple boards and governing bodies, including the Democracy Works Foundation. Nerine brings strong corporate governance skills to our Foundation. She is the CEO of the Employee Relations Exchange.
Sizwe Mahlangu
Corporate Engagement & Trustee
Sizwe is one of the most generous and kind human beings we have met. His ability to bring people together, network seamlessly across sectors, class, privilidge and culture is phenomenal. With a name like Vusisizwe which means raise the nation, Sizwe has his life’s purpose clearly defined and embedded in him.
Sizwe lives for making a difference in whichever environment he operates in. In the corporate sector he engages with multilevel stakeholders across the transport and automotive industry assuring them that the taxi industry is alive with great possibilities. He works with children and youth in the inner city or rural Zimbabwe, offering encouragement and mentorship through bringing hope. Our experience of Sizwe has been one of generosity of spirit, connection, collaboration and humility.
Lieve Fransen
African Potential Foundation (PBO)
Lieve is an incredibly inspiring and motivating woman to work with. She has devoted herself to promoting social justice and the values of solidarity. She has worked across Europe and Africa during a distinguished career in Public Health. She has supported the establishment of The Global Fund, worked as Public Health Advisor to the Ministry of Health, Mozambique, Kenya, Rwanda and Cape Verde Islands.
Lieve is an advisor for the T20/ G20 on Covid vaccine manufacturing and social investment, a senior policy advisor for the European policy think-thank EPC on social investment, health, energy and migration and heads a high-level task force on long term investors and social infrastructure investment.
Venice Mbowane
Community Specialist & Board Member
Venice holds a wealth of experience in managing programme implementation. She has manages complex health projects, including Voluntary Male Medical Circumcision, an HIV and Violence Prevention Programmes in Taverns, as well as one of the first ever adolescent HIV clinics.
She has more than 15 years of experience focusing on community interventions promoting and supporting HIV prevention research and implementation of programs with general public and key populations. Venice is passionate about advocacy, health access and human rights. She is known for creating mentorship opportunities within disadvantaged communities.
CREATIVE PARTNERS
Megan Nutt Bester
Creative Consultant
Megan is a colourful creative, marketing and design consultant, illustrator and fine artist.
She runs a bespoke design and advertising agency with experience in both the South African and International market spaces. She has a passion for sharing a visual journey in thought provoking, innovative and memorable ways. Creative expression and a passion for humans and animals are reflected in her work and have so, from a very young age.
‘I find tremendous enjoyment and delight creating original ideas in collaboration with my clients. From brand ideation, children’s stories, to real life emotive and experiences. It keeps my heart happy and my life-purpose meaningful.’
Georgie Roberts
Media Liaison
Georgie is a social media queen and creative content generator. We input caffeine and deadlines with the best and worst of humanity, and she makes sense of it, delivering eloquence on a shining engaging platter with some blood and tears on the side.
In her sparse spare time she is a mother, warrior, worrier, writer of wrongs, strong supporter of the Oxford comma, champion of equity as well as equality, lover of bad coffee and good dogs.
She refreshes her optimism in peace on earth by riding horses, and getting to see true African potential in action. It makes her cry a lot, but in a really really good way, she assures us.