Dr Jenny Coetzee

Chief Executive Officer

Jenny is a passionate thought leader and unstoppable force driving innovation for Africa’s future. With a visionary approach to public-private partnerships, she champions bold, system-shifting ideas that deliver real impact for socio-economic development.

A master convener, Jenny brings together diverse voices across sectors and disciplines to co-create solutions that matter. Her pioneering work with marginalized women has not only shaped policy in South Africa, but also influenced global funding priorities and redefined how equity-focused programs are resourced.

With deep roots in research and implementation, Jenny has been on the frontlines of South Africa’s HIV and gender-based violence response since 2009, and more recently, in COVID-19 prevention. Her insights continue to shape national and international agendas.

She holds a joint staff appointment with the University of the Witwatersrand through the African Potential Collaborative, is a founding trustee of the African Potential Trust, and sits on the board of the African Potential Foundation.

Minja Milovanovic

Head of Research & Innovations

Minja Milovanovic is a thought leader in public health innovation, known for her critical mind, bold thinking, and ability to challenge the status quo. With a deep commitment to reimagining systems, she drives forward dynamic, boundary-breaking approaches to research and development.

Drawing from her deep experience in both clinical and social research, Minja brings a pluripotent lens to solving complex public health challenges.

She moves fluidly across disciplines, methodologies, and geographies — always with a focus on impact. Her mentorship of emerging researchers, both locally and internationally, reflects her commitment to building the next generation of changemakers.

Minja believes that transforming the world requires dynamism, flexibility, and the courage to rethink structures — and she lives that ethos in every project she takes on.

She holds a joint staff appointment with the University of the Witwatersrand as a Director of African Potential Collaborative, and serves on the board of the African Potential Foundation.

Nkateko Maholobela

Environmental Scientist

Nkateko is an immensely passionate and talented Environmental Scientist working on our Strategic Water Projects. Having spent 14 months in Antarctica as a Senior Environment Compliance Officer with the South African National Antarctic Programme (SANAP) at the Prince Edward Islands, he returned in mid 2024 to join our team.

 He has experience in working with the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) on Aquaculture Sustainable Management, Aquaculture Rights allocations, coastal monitoring, and in Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs). More recently his experiences include waste water treatment management, aquifer health and remediation, and river remediation from acid mine drainage, effluent, agricultural and industrial pollutants.

OUR TRUSTEES & BOARD MEMBERS

Prof Mosa Moshabela

Prof Mosa Moshabela

Trustee and Science Specialist

Mosa is a leading public health thought leader and passionate advocate for equitable, high-quality healthcare across sub-Saharan Africa. With a sharp focus on impact-driven socio-economic development, he brings deep expertise, visionary leadership, and a lifelong commitment to transforming health systems from the ground up.

A trained medical doctor specializing in Family Medicine and Primary Health Care, Mosa has shaped national and global responses to infectious diseases, particularly HIV, TB, and COVID-19. His groundbreaking work on healthcare access and quality has earned him multiple awards, including the PHILA Annual Award (2022) and the Ministerial Special COVID-19 Award (2020–2021) for Science Communication and Public Engagement.

As Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cape Town, Mosa plays a key role in driving inclusive excellence in African higher education. He also contributes actively to the African Potential Collaborative, supporting the Foundation’s academic mission to generate knowledge and strengthen local research ecosystems.

Prof Glenda Gray.jpg

Prof Glenda Gray

Trustee and Science Specialist

Glenda is a globally renowned scientist, activist, and thought leader whose work has reshaped the global HIV response. Known as the Mother of HIV Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission (PMTCT) in South Africa, she led the groundbreaking work at Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital in the 1990s that transformed maternal and child health outcomes across the continent.

A lifelong champion in the pursuit of an HIV vaccine, Glenda is internationally celebrated for her leadership in infectious disease research. She was named one of the New York Times’ 100 Most Influential People (2018) and one of Africa’s 50 Most Powerful Women (2020), a testament to her scientific brilliance and fearless advocacy.

Her accolades span continents, with numerous national and international awards, including three honorary doctorates from esteemed universities. Glenda is admired not only for her intellect and leadership but for her deep compassion, fierce activism, and unwavering commitment to mentoring the next generation of changemakers.

She currently leads the Infectious Disease and Oncology Research Institute, serves on the Governing Board of the National Research Foundation (NRF), and is the former President of the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC).

Glenda’s work continues to influence global health policy, drive cutting-edge research, and inspire bold, African-led solutions through platforms like the African Potential.

Prof Ziyaad Dangor

Prof Ziyaad Dangor

Paediatritian & Board Member

Ziyaad is a deeply respected clinician, researcher, and educator whose work reflects unwavering integrity and a profound commitment to child health. In 2021, he was named a South African Integrity Idol, a testament to the honour, humility, and ethical leadership he brings to every space he serves.

Ziyaad has dedicated his career to improving paediatric care in South Africa, working on the frontlines at Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital in Soweto. He serves as Clinical Research Director at the globally recognised MRC Vaccines and Infectious Diseases Analytics (VIDA) Unit, and is an Associate Professor at the University of the Witwatersrand. An NRF Y1-rated scientist, he is also Chair of the South African Paediatrics Association and an examiner at the College of Paediatrics of South Africa.

Passionate about knowledge-sharing and mentorship, Ziyaad continues to lecture at Wits, shaping the next generation of paediatricians and public health leaders.

He is a valued member of the African Potential Foundation’s Board of Directors, where he brings both scientific rigour and moral clarity to our mission of African-led, impact-driven change.

Nerine Kahn

Nerine Kahn

Trustee and Governance Specialist

Nerine is a stalwart of South Africa’s democratic journey and a respected leader in governance, justice, and institutional reform. With a legacy rooted in the fight for freedom and fairness, she brings decades of experience championing equity, dialogue, and accountability.

As the longest-serving Director of the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA), Nerine left an indelible mark on South Africa’s labour landscape.

Under her leadership, the CCMA earned multiple accolades, including Gold for Sector

Excellence in the Legal Category at the Public Service Excellence Awards (2009 and 2011), and second place in 2010.

In 2014, she was recognised as the Most Influential Woman in Business and Government (Agencies Category) in both South Africa and Southern Africa, cementing her reputation as a transformative leader.

Today, Nerine serves on numerous boards and advisory bodies, including the Democracy Works Foundation, and leads as CEO of the Employee Relations Exchange. Her expertise in institutional integrity, dispute resolution, and corporate governance brings immense value to the African Potential Foundation, where she serves as a strategic guide in our pursuit of ethical, inclusive systems change.

Sizwe Mahlangu

Corporate Engagement & Trustee

Sizwe is a connector, collaborator, and compassionate leader whose name — Vusisizwe, meaning “raise the nation” — perfectly reflects his life’s purpose. His ability to build bridges across sectors, cultures, privilege, and class is nothing short of extraordinary.

Sizwe brings heart and humility to everything he does. Whether working with high-level stakeholders in the transport and automotive sectors or mentoring young people in inner-city Johannesburg and rural Zimbabwe, he is driven by a deep desire to make a difference.

His engagement with the taxi industry has helped reframe perceptions and uncover untapped potential, positioning it as a vital part of South Africa’s socio-economic fabric.

A natural networker and community builder, Sizwe embodies generosity of spirit and a rare ability to foster connection and shared purpose across diverse spaces.

He is a valued partner of the African Potential Foundation, where his ethos of inclusion, empathy, and hope strengthens our mission of African-led, people-centred development.

Lieve Fransen

Lieve Fransen

African Potential Foundation (PBO)

Lieve is a visionary leader and lifelong advocate for social justice, equity, and global solidarity. Inspiring and deeply motivating to work alongside, she brings unmatched experience in shaping policy, funding innovation, and driving transformative change across public health and development.

Lieve is a founding board member of The Global Fund, a strategic advisor to the Africa Public Health Foundation in support of the Africa CDC, and a board advisor to VODAN-Africa.

Lieve is a founding board member of The Global Fund, a strategic advisor to the Africa Public Health Foundation in support of the Africa CDC, and a board advisor to VODAN-Africa. She also serves as a Senior Policy Advisor at the European Policy Centre (EPC), where she provides thought leadership on social investment, health, migration, and energy.

A trusted voice on the global stage, Lieve advises the T20/G20 on COVID-19 vaccine manufacturing and social investment, and has worked as a Public Health Advisor to the Ministries of Health in Mozambique, Kenya, Rwanda, and the Cape Verde Islands.

Her career is rooted in the values of solidarity and justice — and through every role, she has remained committed to building systems that serve the most vulnerable.

Lieve’s global expertise and passionate advocacy are a vital part of the African Potential Foundation’s mission to catalyse bold, African-led innovation and equity-driven development.

Venice Mbowane

Venice Mbowane

Community Specialist & Board Member

Venice Mofolo is a seasoned program manager and passionate advocate for health equity, human rights, and community empowerment. With over 15 years of experience, she has led the design and implementation of complex public health interventions that reach deep into communities and drive real change.

Her portfolio includes pioneering work on Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision, innovative HIV and violence prevention programmes in taverns, and the establishment of one of South Africa’s first adolescent HIV clinics. Venice brings a strategic, grounded approach to public health, focusing on interventions that centre the voices and needs of both the general public and key populations.

She is deeply committed to mentorship and creating pathways for leadership within disadvantaged communities, believing in the transformative power of opportunity and access.

Venice’s work reflects the heart of the African Potential Foundation — bold, rooted in community, and dedicated to African-led solutions that promote dignity, justice, and inclusion.

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