Eve Annecke is the director of the Sustainability Institute. She is co-founder of the Institute and of Lynedoch Development. She has worked for many years in organisational learning, with a special focus on process facilitation, dialogue and leadership. She has been an early childhood development worker and is a Montessori pre- and primary educationist. Her Masters in Management Learning through Lancaster University, UK, focussed on the relationship between sustainability and the practice of leadership.
Professor Mark Swilling is Programme Coordinator: Sustainable Development Planning and Management in the School of Public Management and Planning, University of Stellenbosch and Academic Director of the Sustainability Institute. He is a rated researcher with the National Research Foundation (NRF) and is responsible for the design and implementation of a Master’s Programme in Sustainable Development that gets delivered at the Sustainability Institute which is located in the Lynedoch EcoVillage, Stellenbosch.
Summary of key staff and roles:
Mphil in Sustainable Development Planning and Management – Programme Co-ordinator, Prof Mark Swilling with Prof Alan Brent.
Sustainable Agriculture – Programme Co-ordinator, Candice Kelly (Mphil in Sustainable Development Planning and Management) with Gareth Haysom (Mphil in Sustainable Development Planning and Management), Eric Swarts (organic farmer) and Dr Tarak Kate (Dharamitra, India).
Early Childhood Development – Programme Co-ordinator, Naledi Mabeba (registered assessor in ECD, many years Montessori teaching and training, registered on RPL National Diploma in ECD) supported by Ross van Niekerk (Level 5 ECD qualification, registered on RPL National Diploma in ECD), Veronica Gelant and Pru Ramsey (registered assessor, HED teaching, and U.S Montessori training) running ETDP SETA accredited training for women in very poor areas. Thoko Buthelezi (B.Com and many years ECD experience using a Montessori approach, currently registered BPhil in Sustainable Development Planning and Management) is focusing on the new Recognition of Prior Learning process with trainers across the country. Edith Swarts (level 5, National Diploma in ECD; registered midwife and nurse; HIV/AIDS diploma) is the Lynedoch Community Creche co-ordinator.
Youth - The Changes group, at this stage for local boys of 13 years and over, is co-ordinated by Tracy Brooks, a volunteer from New Zealand.
Sustainable Community Development Practice – Programme Co-ordinator, Mariette Williams (Social Work Honours, UCT, University of Stellenbosch postgrad diploma in Monitoring and Evaluation) supported by Manda Mabeba as programme assistant, (Diploma in Project Management) and Premilla Pillay (background in training, particularly in the finance sector).
PA to Eve Annecke and Programmes Co-ordinator- June Stone, (B.A. HDE from UWC)
Special Projects and Finance support - Louise Bezuidenhout (Chartered Account with a masters in tax)
Reception and resources co-ordinator: Tania Klink (funky dress designer and brilliant organiser)
PA for Mark Swilling and Lynedoch Projects co-ordinator: Aisha Palmer
Sustainable Neighbourhoods: applied research co-ordinated by Lisa Thompson-Smeddle (registered Mphil in Sustainable Development Planning and Management) joined by Haveena Jhundoo (completing Masters in MTech Graphic Design); Litha Magida (registered Mphil in Sustainable Development and Management).
Partnership with Stellenbosch Doctoral Programme in Transdisciplinary Study of Complexity and Sustainability: John van Breda
Sustainable Stellenbosch: Jess Schulschenk (completed thesis on Local Food Economies for MPhil in Sustainable Development Planning and Management) co-ordinates a partnership between Stellenbosch University and Stellenbosch Municipality, hosted by the Sustainability Institute
Administration and Guests
Operations Co-ordinator – Gairo Valentyn (9 years hospitality experience, events management, restaurant and banqueting management ex-Spier) – to co-ordinate events, accommodation, visitors, tours, shop, gardens, and other projects.
Guest House supervision – Makka Johnson (longest employed person by Lynedoch Development and the Sustainability Institute) together with Magadelene Smith who looks after the Sustainability Institute space.
Driver and nursery supervisor – Kerneels Claasen (born at Lynedoch, and part of this community all his life).
Finances – Rene Human (book-keeper, ex-Cape Minolta after 14 years of working in this business) working with Shaun Claasen (financial administrator, Certificate in Book-keeping).
Maintenance – Dawid Johnson
Gardens and Grounds - Bryce Anderson and Kiepie Arendse
Our core partners are the School of Public Management and Planning, Stellenbosch University; Spier, the Centre for Renewable and Sustainable Energy Studies, a network of ECD service providers and CORC – the NGO working in partnership with the Federation of the Urban Poor.
Eve Annecke, June Stone, Gairo Valentyn and Rene Human are responsible for the creative programming, projects and daily operations of the Institute. This group is accountable to a board that consists of Lawrence Boya, Adrian Enthoven, Gita Goven (Chair), Naledi Mabeba, Edgar Pieterse, and Eve Annecke (ex officio).
Annemarie Pretorious is the Academic Programme Administrator employed Stellenbosch University in the School of Public Management and Planning, but based at the Sustainability Institute. Jennifer Saunders (library resources coordinator). Mark Swilling, Anneke Muller and Firoz Khan are all based in offices in Bosman Street, Stellenbosch. This group brings together the required mix of developmental activism, academic experience and administrative expertise in democratisation, management development, sustainable development, local economies, cities, local government and civil society. Alan Brent is professor within the SOPMP, also associate director of the CRSES, and based at the Sustainability Institute.