MOT SA

Prof Links was appointed Chairperson to the Board of MOT SA on 21 May 2008. He holds a Master of Arts, Doctor of Philosophy, Master of Commerce and Bachelor of Commerce degrees in Economics and a UED diploma in Education. He is the Chairperson of Juta Publishers Ltd, the Council of Iziko Museums of Cape Town and the Chair of Doing Business in Africa at the Stellenbosch Graduate School of Business (USB). He is also a non-executive director of a number of companies, including, Business Partners Ltd, Terrasan Ltd and Freeworld Coatings Ltd. Previously Prof Links served as the South African Ambassador to the European Union, Belgium and Luxembourg as well as Permanent Representative of South Africa at the World Bank and International Monetary Fund, Washington, DC. He is currently also serving on President Zuma’s Council for Broad Based Black Economic Empowerment.

Ms Nyati was appointed to the Board of MOT SA on 26 February 2010. She holds a BA English and Psychology degree from the Walter Sisulu University, a Public Relations Certificate from UNISA and is currently completing a Management Advancement Programme at the University of the Witwatersrand. Ms Nyati started her professional career as News Anchor for TV Transkei in January 1993, and gained experience in the fields of corporate governance, marketing, communications and advertising. She joined Ayanda Mbanga Communications (AMC) for the first time in June 1999 and held the position as Executive Director for Marketing until May 2005. Thereafter she was a Programme Manager at the Umsobomvu Youth Fund and worked for the Coega Development Corporation as a Training Project Manager from August 2007 until July 2008, when she rejoined AMC as Regional Director. She recently resigned from AMC, but still serves on their Board.

Mr Vårvik, who is the co-founder of MOT and the current CEO of MOT Norway, joined the Board of MOT SA on 21 May 2008. He is a former professional speed skater who competed in both the 1992 and 1994 Olympic Games.

Mr Siyengo was appointed to the Board of MOT SA on 09 November 2009. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of South Africa and a Bachelor of Education degree from the University of Cape Town, a Post Graduate Diploma from Peninsula Technikon as well as a Teachers’ Certificate from Lovedale Training College in Alice. Mr Siyengo started his career as a teacher at Walter Teka Primary School in 1976. He is currently the FET (Further Education and Training) Chief Director of the Western Cape Education Department. Among others, Mr Siyengo previously held the positions of Acting Rector of the Western Cape College of Education, Vice Rector and Senior Lecturer of Good Hope College and Principal of Luhlaza High School. Mr Siyengo currently serves on the boards of various institutions.

Mr Isaacs was appointed to the Board of MOT SA on 21 May 2008. He holds a Teacher’s Diploma (Technical) and a National Higher Certificate for Technicians from Peninsula Technikon, a BA degree (Industrial Psychology & Private Law) and a BEd degree from the University of the Western Cape, an Honours and a Master degree in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Stellenbosch, Graduate School of Business. He was appointed in his current position as Chief Executive Officer for the College of Cape Town on 1 September 2003. Mr Isaacs serves on the boards of a number of community and welfare organisations.

Prof Volmink was appointed to the Board of MOT SA on 16 July 2009. He holds a PhD in Mathematics Education from Cornell University, Ithaca NY. In 1991, Prof Volmink got involved in development initiatives as Director of the Centre for Advancement of Science and Mathematics Education in KwaZulu-Natal. He has served as Pro-Vice Chancellor: Partnerships at the University of KwaZulu-Natal until 2004, as the Chairperson of the Umalusi Council until 2010, and as the CEO of the National Education Evaluation and Development Unit (NEEDU) until the end of 2011. Prof Volmink is also an Honorary Professor of Education at Cape Peninsula University of Technology. He provides leadership to the Boards of several South African non-governmental development organisations involved in education, health and community upliftment in different parts of the world.

Brian, who was appointed to the Board of MOT SA on 16 July 2009, is the CEO and Founding shareholder of TowerStone, an organisational and leadership development consulting company. Previously he was the Senior Vice President – Global Portfolio and Sales Strategy of Siemens Business Services at their Head Office in Munich. Brian is the former Group Coastal MD of Siemens Business Services South Africa, part of the Siemens group of companies.

Ms Govender was appointed to the MOT SA Board on 26 May 2011.  She holds a Bachelor degree (cum laude) in Education, a Diploma in Educational Management and Leadership, and is currently completing a Masters degree in Sociology at the University of the Western Cape.  She started her professional career as an Educator at various secondary schools in Durban, before moving to the Western Cape. She served as Principal at Immaculata Secondary School in Wynberg for several years. In January 2008, Ms Govender was appointed in her current position as Deputy Chief Education Specialist: Whole School Evaluation Directorate: Quality Assurance at the Western Cape Education Department. She shares a special interest in youth development and empowerment.

Ms Möller was appointed as CEO of MOT SA on 1 October 2008.  She holds a BA degree in Social Work, an Honours degree in Business Management and Administration and a Master degree in Business Administration (MBA) (cum laude) from the University of Stellenbosch, Graduate School of Business.  She started her career as a Social Worker in 1992 and gained experience in community development and counseling at Child & Family Welfare and the SA Police Service. In 1995, she joined a Private Hospital and worked in the fields of event management, marketing and public relations.  After she had obtained her MBA degree, she managed an entrepreneurial company, which partnered with research institutes at the University of Stellenbosch, the Bureau for Economic Research (BER) and the Institute for Futures Research (IFR).

Mr Hovstad was appointed as alternate to the Board of MOT SA on 21 May 2008. He qualified as an economist at The College of Business Administration and Economics, Bergen, Norway. Mr Hovstad held several positions at managerial level in Norway. He was employed for 9 years in Zambia as Purchasing Manager for NORAD, the Norwegian Aid Organisation under the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. On 15 February 2007, he was appointed Commander of the Royal Norwegian Order of Merit by His Majesty King Harald V, as announced by The Royal House. This tribute is due to his contribution to humanitarian work in the educational and health sector.In South Africa he has struggled for better educational and social conditions for children and youth through cooperation between schools in Norway, College of Cape Town and schools on the Cape Flats. On 29 September 2007, he was awarded The Order of the Disa Member by the Premier of the Western Cape, for noteworthy meritorious service in the interest of the Province of the Western Cape.

Ms van der Merwe, who has 27 years experience in education, was appointed as alternate to the Board of MOT SA on 21 May 2008. She holds a Master of Education degree in Education Policy Studies (cum laude) from the University of Stellenbosch, a Higher Diploma in Education from the University of Cape Town, a National Higher Diploma in post-school Education and a National Diploma in Home Economics from the Cape Technikon. She held various positions at Northlink College before she started as Deputy CEO: portfolio Innovation & Development in 2007. She also held the position of Vice Rector: Academic, Administration & Student Affairs and Senior Deputy Principal Vice Rector for Cape College (Currently known as College of Cape Town). She currently serves on various committees and is actively involved in community forums.

Mr Dalton was appointed as convenor of the Resource Committee of MOT SA on 21 May 2008. While working at the General Mining Corporation, he obtained a Diploma in Personnel Management. He spent most of his career in the field of Human Resources. Among others, he was the HR General Manager, firstly at a large open cast mine servicing coal to the Duvha Power Station near Witbank and then at a Pharmaceutical company. Later he joined a Retail company as HR Director before he started his own consultancy company. First Consulting specialises in organisation effectiveness and maximising the productivity of staff through a system of profiling of jobs and people. Mr Dalton also serves on a committee which manages the funds raised from donors in Norway to channel into improving the facilities at four schools in Cape Town and is a Board member of the French South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Mr Loynes was appointed to the Resource Committee of MOT SA on 21 May 2008. He holds a Higher Teacher’s Diploma in Commerce from the University of Cape Town and a National Higher Diploma in Management Practice from Cape Technikon. He started his career as a teacher in the Eastern Cape. He returned to the Western Cape where he held various educational positions under the Administration House of Representatives and the Cape Education Department. He has published numerous papers concerning technical college education and further education and training, and is the founder editor for the official quarterly FET College publication of the WCED. He has reviewed text books and acted as subject specialist consultant on publications. He was a member of the National Landscape and the Merger Operational Task Teams that lead to the formation of the fifty FET Colleges in South Africa. He has served in various capacities on the Western Cape Education Labour Relations Council. Mr Loynes was appointed in his current position as Chief Planner of Technical Colleges (subsequently, Further Education and Training Colleges) at the Western Cape Education Department in April 1996. He serves on various boards, committees and sub-committees related to the advancement of vocational education in South Africa.

Wanda Möller

The CEO of MOT SA, holds a BA degree in Social Work, an Honours degree in Business Management and Administration, and an MBA (cum laude) from the University of Stellenbosch. 
Email:  wanda@mot.org.za

Delia Timmie

Delia, Programme Coordinator of MOT SA, holds a National Diploma in Office Administration and a B-Tech degree in Business Administration from Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT).
Email: office@mot.org.za

Eivind Bratseth

Eivind is a volunteer currently working full-time at MOT SA, while he is taking a 6-month break from his Bachelors Degree studies in German and History at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology. Eivind has been trained as a MOT presenter for the junior phase programme and he is a MOT alumnus, having completed three years of the MOT programme at school.
Email: support@mot.org.za