Meet our Founder and Trustees

Achmat retired in 2018 after a distinguished career in education. He spent 36 years at Glendale High School, including 23 years as Principal. His leadership experience also includes serving on the executive of the Progressive Principals’ Association and as a Ministerial Council Member of False Bay TVET College.

Her involvement in the Mitchell’s Plain Bursary and Role Model Trust forms part of her longstanding commitment to serving the community.

He is a former President of the Muslim Judicial Council. His background brings religious and community leadership experience to the Mitchell’s Plain Bursary and Role Model Trust.

He founded Mount Hope Church and Hope Again Recovery Home in Woodlands, Mitchell’s Plain. The recovery home supports people affected by substance abuse.

A founding member of WECTU and SADTU, Eugene contributed to education transformation during the 1980s. His Western Cape Education Department roles included Circuit Manager, Provincial Safe Schools Manager and District Director of Metropole South.

After leaving the WCED in 2012, he supported national education reform through the Citizen’s Movement for Social Change, the New Leaders Foundation and the National Education Collaboration Trust. His work has supported school and district improvement across five provinces.

He also led the School Turnaround Foundation and served as Principal of Edison Century City High School. His 2025 biography records his involvement in establishing Hope of the Valley High in Ocean View following retirement.

Belinda began her career as a teacher, serving from 1988 to 1998, before working as a European Commission Technical Assistant. She worked at the Council on Higher Education from 2002 to 2013 and subsequently provided programme accreditation consultancy services.

Her work with the Namibian Qualifications Authority included institutional audits, training, accreditation and chairing audit panels. She has also consulted for the University of the Free State and private higher education institutions.

Her experience includes working in the Directorate for Quality Promotion at Tshwane University of Technology.

Rojie has held leadership roles in listed and unlisted investment entities in South Africa and internationally. Her expertise covers renewable energy, agriculture, education and affordable housing.

She has chaired trusts supporting education and student development, including those linked to Cookhouse Windfarm and Old Mutual, and contributed to rural education through initiatives such as the Bulungula Incubator.

Her board experience and community work reflect a commitment to responsible investing, corporate governance and the advancement of black professionals in South Africa.

Inspired by the social challenges he witnessed growing up, Courtney pursued teaching from the age of 17 and earned a Bachelor of Education from Cape Peninsula University of Technology. He began his career at his former school, Cedar High, and has taught in South Africa and Saudi Arabia.

His leadership experience includes the Langvantage Mentorship Programme, Western Cape Careers Expo and Today’s Future NPO. He is also a former chair of the Motsepe Foundation Alumni.

Through his education and community work, Courtney remains committed to widening opportunities for young people and ensuring that no student is left behind.