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Meet the board
RAYELENE GOVENDER
CHAIRPERSON
Rayelene is a Risk, Audit and Governance professional who has experience in both the private and non-profit sectors. She is currently the Governance Manager for Greenpeace International. Previously, Rayelene was the Interim Head of the International Internal Audit function for ActionAid International and worked across 45 countries, whilst based in Stockholm. She has also provided consulting services to non-profit organisations within the Risk and Governance space and serves as the Audit Committee Chairperson for TIPS (Trade & Industrial Policy Strategies) and as a trustee for a renewable energy trust. Rayelene is passionate about education and creativity amongst young people and is a founding member of the non-profit, People Solutions in Action (PSA). She holds a B.Com (Risk Management) and a Masters in International Comparative Education from Stockholm University. Armed with both a commerce and social science background, she has focused her time on projects that contribute to strengthening development and non-profit organisations, particularly on ethical leadership and aligning organisational strategy to governance and results.
ELENA MANCEBO MASA
DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON
Elena Mancebo is an experienced consultant on planning, monitoring, evaluation, and learning. Over the past 12 years, she has worked for governments, non-profit and development aid organisations primarily in the African continent. She has recently worked in the fields of human rights education, entrepreneurship and the green economy, as well as education and youth leadership. She is a tutor on Social impact Measurement for the Social Enterprise Academy Africa. She holds a BA (Honours) of Social Science in Political Science from Madrid, where she is originally from. Sustainability and the future of African Cities is her latest passion, and in 2020, she obtained a postgraduate diploma and a master’s in philosophy in Sustainable Development Planning at Stellenbosch University. In her spare time, you will find Elena doing yoga, playing tennis, gardening or hiking mountains with her family.
RAVI MOODLEY
Treasurer
Ravi Moodley is the CEO of Human Capital Matters with over 25 years of experience in both the private and public sectors. He held the position of Executive Head of Strategic Management and Governance at National Parliament of South Africa for over 6 years, prior to which he was the Head of Strategy for Nedbank Corporate Banking for 8 years. He has also held Senior positions at Rand Merchant Bank, Decillion, Gensec Bank, Bond Exchange of South Africa, Development Bank of Southern Africa, Standard Bank and Risklab. He is also non-executive director on the boards of SMARTCOMMUNITIES FOUNDATION and konektd SA. He has a track record of success in turnaround, step-change in business performance and transformation in both the Private and Public Sectors. He future-proofs businesses by creating and directing a strategic roadmap of structured change. Ravi holds a BSc Honours degree in Mathematical Statistics from the University of Natal Durban as well as an EDP from the University of Stellenbosch Business School.
CLINT HIGGINS
NON-EXECUTIVE BOARD MEMBER
Clint Higgins is a mentor, coach and business professional with more than 15 years’ work experience, 13 of which have been in leadership roles. He is an authentic leader, who utilises a transformational style of leadership to maximise the potential of people. His areas of expertise are economic inclusion and supply chain management. Currently, Clint is the Head of Programme Management ESD and SD at Property Point NPC Venture Capitalists. Previously he was Senior Supply Chain Advisor for the City of Cape Town. Clint has a MSc in Property Studies from UCT, Hons in Public Management, Int. Diploma in Procurement, NDip Management Business Development Programme. He is currently studying towards his Masters in Development Finance.
NYASHA NJELA
NON-EXECUTIVE BOARD MEMBER
Nyasha Joyce Njela is a dedicated professional based in Cape Town, passionately committed to the non-profit sector and community development. As the Director for Southern Africa at Revolutionise International, she excels in creating impactful fundraising strategies and managing donor programs. A member of the IFC Advisory Panel for the Resource Alliance, Nyasha has extensive experience in fundraising, marketing, and financial services. Her past roles at Standard Chartered Bank and Doctors Without Borders have equipped her with a deep understanding of community needs. Educated with a Diploma in Fundraising from the Chartered Institute of Fundraising (UK), Nyasha, originally from Zimbabwe and now residing in South Africa with her family, is driven by a belief in the transformative power of communities working together for a greater cause.
MIGNON HARDIE
Executive Board Member
Mignon Hardie is passionate about building businesses and organisations for social good. Prior to joining Life Choices as the managing director in 2022, she co-founded and was the executive director of the Fundza Literacy Trust, an innovative nonprofit that uses technology to grow a culture of reading and writing amongst South Africa’s youth. She is also a director of independent publisher Cover2Cover Books, and co-founder of Veedo, a reverse-billed video-conferencing service operated by Datafree and The Lateral Alternative. She has a BA from UCT and an MBA (cum laude) from Stellenbosch University.
RYAN GEEL
Executive Board Member
Ryan began his career in the FMCG sector which has allowed him the opportunity to work in a fast-paced and dynamic environment, holding more than 15 years experience in sales and marketing strategies. Ryan realized that his true passion was people and when presented with the opportunity to join Life Choices grabbed it with both hands as this represented not only a 360-degree change in his career but the opportunity for him to grow as an individual and be part of something bigger than himself. Ryan is passionate about people, innovative thinking and the desire to change the status quo by building solutions towards the challenges our society faces. Ryan is the Campus Director at Life Choices. Ryan holds a Diploma in Marketing from the IMM Graduate School of Marketing.
INNOCENT MASAYIRA
Executive Board Member
Innocent has a Diploma in Philosophy, BA in Philosophy, Postgraduate Diploma in Reflective Social Practice and M.A Philosophy of Social Innovation. He has over 10 years in development, fundraising, communications and organisational development experience. He joined Life Choices in 2010 as a Junior Project Coordinator and was appointed as Sustainability Officer in 2013.