Meet Our Expert Faculty
Expert talks affecting day to day nursing practice
Cllr Cilliers Brink
Mayor of Tshwane
Cllr Cilliers Brink was elected as the Executive Mayor of Tshwane on 28 March 2023. He was born in Springs on 12 June 1987. Cllr Brink grew up in Phalaborwa, Limpopo and remained in Limpopo until the completion of his IEB at Kingfisher High School in 2005. In 2006, he enrolled for his LLB at the University of Pretoria (UP). It was at UP where Brink became involved in politics, becoming a member of the Democratic Alliance Student Organisation (DASO) in 2009. He later became a chairperson of the Democratic Alliance Youth (DAY) in Tshwane in 2010 and a councillor in the City of Tshwane in 2011 at the age of 24. In 2012, he obtained his LLB Degree from UP and in 2013 he went on to obtain his Practical Legal Training Certificate from the LSSA Practical Law School. In 2016, Brink became the MMC for Corporate and Shared Services in the City of Tshwane. He held this position until May 2019, when he got sworn in as a Member of Parliament (MP). As an MP, he served on the Portfolio of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs. In September 2022, Brink became National Spokesperson for the Democratic Alliance, a position he held until he was elected as the Executive Mayor of Tshwane.
Mr Martin Kuscus
Owner and founder of Martin Kuscus and Associates
Martin is a business leader, author, speaker, and transformational coach. He was the former MEC of Finance in the North West Provincial Government from 1994 until 2004. Before that, he spent 17 years in the nursing profession. In June 2004 he became CEO of the South African Bureau of Standards a position he held until July 2009, positioning the organisation amongst the top ten certification bodies in the world. He then started his own business ventures.
Has been the Chairperson of the first Board of Trustees for the Government Employee Pension Fund overseeing a portfolio worth R920 billion (the seventh biggest pension fund in the world) from June 2005 to July 2009. From June 2006 – May 2009 served on the PRI Board, a United Nations Global Compact initiative on Principles for Responsible Investment where he had intensive exposure to international best practices on corporate governance and optimisation of the investment value chain.
In September 2006 he was elected for a two-year term on the Council for International Standards Organization (ISO), the highest authority on industrial standards, based in Geneve. The President of South Africa appointed him for a five-year term in September 2004 to the Finance and Fiscal Commission where he gained vast learning experiences on public policy analysis and intergovernmental fiscal relations.
Served as a non-executive director of the Netcare group from July 2008 – December 2022 where he was Chairperson of the Quality Leadership Committee and also served on the Social and Ethics as well as the Risk committees respectively. Served on the first board of the Office of Health Standards Compliance from 2014 – 2017.
Ms Lizette de Villiers
Qualified teacher and Co-Author of through the looking glass
Lizette qualified as a teacher. She is also a professional graphologist and completed her Honours degree in Psychology at the University of Johannesburg in 2005. She participated in designing and developing Shadowmatch (www.shadowmatch.com) and the business design tool NXTmove (www.nxtmove4ir.com). Lizette is the author and co-author of several publications. The latest publication is Through The Looking Glass Into The Mirror (authors Pieter de Villiers, Lizette de Villiers, and Jan Niemand). This is a book about the future perspectives of business, education, parenting, politics, leadership, and more.
She enjoys sport. She completed two Comrades marathons and represented South Africa at the Duathlon World Championships in France. She plays league golf, and enjoys playing the guitar, piano, and cello. She is fluent in English and Afrikaans and speaks and reads basic French and Russian. She is married to Pieter de Villiers.
Mr James Waterson
Senior Medical Affairs Manager, Medication Management Solutions
James Waterson has been a registered nurse for over 30 years in the United States and the United Kingdom. He has worked primarily in critical care pediatrics and in organ transplantation, and received his master’s degree in Medical Education from the University of Dundee in 2009.
He worked and taught in the United States, the Middle East, China, and Switzerland for a number of years, and was director of nursing education for Dubai Health Authority before taking up his current position of Medical Affairs Manager for the Middle East and Africa with Becton Dickinson.
He was awarded a master’s degree in Health Economics and Pharmacoeconomics by the University Pompeu Fabra of Barcelona in 2021.
His special interests are the development of Real-World Evidence of the impact of healthcare solutions, developing health-technology assessment tools, and collaboration with healthcare facilities and technology vendors to create integrated medication safety systems.
He has written and presented extensively on healthcare automation and closed-loop safety systems for medication compounding, administration, and dispensing, on the use of robotics in healthcare, and on the analysis of data to improve quality of care. He continues to research clinician alarm fatigue, the interaction of clinicians with healthcare technology and on tools that add safety and value to healthcare at the bedside.
He is a reviewer for several clinical and informatics journals, and an invited lecturer of the Royal College of Surgeons Ireland for quality and risk management.
Dr Joana Woods
Senior Research Clinician (MBChB/ Dip of HIV medicine/MPH)
Dr Woods currently work as a Senior Clinical Research at Ezintsha, a sub-division of Wits Health Consortium (Wits University), in clinical trials. They are involved in ART optimization research, new long-acting agents (eg ART injectables), PREP programmes, and COVID treatment trials. Dr Woods have a background in public health, having also worked in primary healthcare setting for years- in TB/HIV care, as well as mentoring clinicians in clinical care of patients with advanced HIV disease.
Dr Gale Ure
PHD in bioethics and health law, D Lit et Phil in psychology
Dr Ure holds double doctorates – one in psychology and the other in bioethics and health law, and is an honorary lecturer in bioethics and health law at Wits Medical School, Steve Biko Centre for Bioethics. She has been a PEPFAR fellow seconded to World Vision International working with carers of orphans of Aids and vulnerable children in rural Thaba Nchu and Matatiele, South Africa. Dr Ure is the author of the chapter on substance abuse in Abnormal Psychology: A South African Perspective published by Oxford University Press 1st, 2nd and Psychopathology: South African Perspectives (3rd edition), and is an associate editor of the International Journal of Mental Health and Substance Abuse (Springer). She is the head of administrative functioning and vice chairperson of the Life Healthcare health research ethics committee, is responsible for research education at the Life College of Learning, and regularly undertakes legal, research and ethics continuing professional education both within, and external to the group.
Mr Reinhardt Jobse
Giggle Guru
Reinhardt Jobse is a passionate advocate for empowering others to make a positive impact, utilizing his expertise in coaching, speaking, and facilitating. He specialises in helping individuals, teams, and organisations unlock their hidden potential to thrive effortlessly.
As a Giggle Guru, Reinhardt specialises in Group Laughter Therapy, a unique approach that combines laughter exercises, yogic breathing, and mindfulness to foster joy, unity, and holistic well-being. Additionally, as a Life Coach, he partners with ambitious young professionals to create personalized roadmaps that balance health, happiness, and high-powered productivity. In his role as an Independent Consultant, Reinhardt leverages the Shadowmatch system to decode and harness the natural behavioural tendencies of individuals and teams.
His overarching mission is to inspire and empower one million heroes to rise, live authentically, connect deeply, and make a positive difference in the world. Whether individuals seek personal fulfilment, professional success, or a deeper connection to the world around them, Reinhardt is dedicated to guiding them on their journey.
Professor Leaticia Rispel
Professor of Public Health at the University of the Witwatersrand
Laetitia Rispel is a professor of Public Health at the University of the Witwatersrand, where she holds a Research Chair on the Health Workforce as part of the South African Research Chairs Initiative (SARChI). She is an NRF rated researcher, whose research interests are in human resources for health and the performance of the health care system.
Laetitia Rispel has won several national and international awards, including a prestigious Senior Africa Oxford Fellowship in acknowledgement of her wide-ranging research, teaching, and leadership expertise. She was president of the World Federation of Public Health Associations from 2018 to 2020, the first woman from Africa and the third in the history of the organisation to achieve this honour. In December 2022, Professor Rispel obtained the degree of Doctor of Science in Medicine from Wits University. Also, in December 2022, she was awarded an honorary doctorate by the University of Cape Town.
Mr Chris Fenning
Award-winning business author, instructor and speaker
Chris Fenning makes it easier for us to communicate at work. He helps experts talk to non-experts, teams talk to executives, and much more. Chris’s practical methods are used in organisations like Google and NATO, and have appeared in the Harvard Business Review. He is also the author of multiple award-winning books on communication and training that have been translated into 16 languages.
Dr Jeanneth Nxumalo
SANC Deputy Registrar
Ms Jeanneth Nxumalo is the SANC Deputy Registrar responsible for the core business of the South African Nursing Council (SANC) since July 2022. She has been working at the SANC since July 2005 to date and occupied various positions. She also worked as a Nurse Educator at the former Gazankulu College of Nursing (Limpopo) for 14 years, Evuxakeni psychiatric and Tintswalo hospitals as a professional Nurse.
Ms Nxumalo has vast experience in working in a regulatory environment. She played a key role in the development of nursing regulations, policies and guidelines for implementation of the new qualifications.
Ms Santi Burger
Founder & Owner Topicworx
Recognized as both an entrepreneur and visionary, Santi boasts over 27 years of expertise in Risk Intelligence, Analysis, and Management, spanning a multitude of industries.
Santi’s journey began with humble beginnings, where she built a successful company from scratch. As the founder and owner of TopicWorx, an international business intelligence and technology firm, she has been a pioneer in introducing new technologies and groundbreaking approaches to data analysis. With software that has been rated among the top 5 globally. The company is particularly renowned for their specialization in projecting and Open-source Intelligence, methodologies for analysing social relations, social profiling, Data Visualization, and Social Network Analysis.
Dr Lizelle Crous
Senior Lecturer University of the Witwatersrand
Lizelle Crous is a nurse educator and interested in how, why, and when people learn. She is involved in faculty development and supporting staff in the redesign of their courses to incorporate active learning strategies that will enhance the student learning experience. Hoping to develop curricula that promote the development of leaders of tomorrow and not just followers of yesterday.
Dr Sue Armstrong
Senior Lecturer at University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg
Sue Armstrong trained as a nurse at St Thomas’ Hospital in London, England. On her return to South Africa she completed her midwifery course and worked at both Barberton Hospital and the Johannesburg Hospital before commencing her Diploma in Nursing Education at the University of the Witwatersrand. She holds a BA Cur degree, a B Ed degree, an MSc Nursing and a Doctorate in Nursing.
After many years in nursing education both at college and provincial level, Sue was appointed the Director of Quality Assurance at the Gauteng Department of Health where she worked for seven years before moving to the University of the Witwatersrand where she is supervising post-graduate nursing students in the fields of nursing education and nursing management and supporting the department to implement the new curricula.
She is a reviewer for several academic journals and a contributor to publications on nursing. She advises on quality assurance and nursing matters and is the Chairperson of the Nursing Education Association.
Mrs Jenny Olfsen
Nurse Manager, LHC
Jenny Olfsen Nurse Manager, LHC. Living in EL with retired husband. I have 2 children, Chanel in Cape Town and Darryn in Qatar.
Nursing career commenced at Addington Hospital in 1978- General nurse and Midwife.
Early career was Critical care units after completing Diploma in critical care.
Since 2000 I have been in nursing management after completing Diploma nursing admin at UKZN.
I have been a member of FPNL since early 2000 and currently serve as Chairperson Border-Kei and the Exec committees.
I have a passion for leadership development.
Dr Marcia Socikwa
Deputy Director-General for the Department of Higher Education & Training
Dr Socikwa is a distinguished graduate of the University of the Witwatersrand, City University, and Stirling University. She currently serves as a member of the SABC Board and has an extensive career spanning over 20 years in the telecommunications sector. Her roles have ranged from executive positions to academic, consultancy, and regulatory roles.
Dr Socikwa’s impressive career includes collaborations with prominent international institutions such as USAID, the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), and the International Telecommunications Union (ITU). She has also held multiple senior roles in the Higher Education sector and is a recipient of the prestigious Chevening Scholarship. Additionally, she currently serves as the Deputy Director-General for the Department of Higher Education & Training.
Ms. Lindsey Swart
Clinical Training Specialist at Life St Dominic’s Hospital
Lindsey Swart is a committed Clinical Training Specialist at Life St Dominic’s Hospital in East London, specializing in Oncology, Medical, and General Surgical Nursing Care.
With a dedication to excellence in nursing, she serves as the Chairperson of the Border Kei Forum for Professional Nurse Leaders and the EXCO Secretary for the FPNL.
Recognized for outstanding contributions to the field, [Name] was honored as one of the Great 100 Nurses in 2020. Through a blend of expertise and leadership, Lindsey continues to drive improvements in patient care and professional nursing practices.
Mrs Mignon Britton
Founder and director of Redpoint Consulting
Mrs. Mignon Britton is a renowned consultant and facilitator with extensive experience across various industries. Mignon is the founder and director of Redpoint Consulting, where she has developed and presented modular programs for clients like Dimension Data, Internet Solutions, Mediclinic, Standard Bank, and many more. These programs are measured before and after implementation to determine ROI.
Her expertise extends to facilitating strategy workshops for notable firms including Internet Solutions, Consol, Mediclinic, Toyota Forklift, and Press Corporation Malawi. Mignon has also played a key role in change management, particularly in cultural integration during mergers and acquisitions for companies such as CC Africa, Dimension Data, and Supergroup.
In addition to her consulting work, Mignon has conducted people skills workshops on soft skills crucial for business improvement, benefiting clients like Transnet, Consol Glass, VW, Audi, and Old Mutual Insurance.
With a BA in Theology from Rhodes University and international accreditation as an Analytical-Network Coach, Mignon’s career spans roles in new business acquisition, consulting, sales management, and training and development. Her impressive client list includes MTN, Liberty Life, South African Airways, Comair (BA), Volkswagen SA, and First National Bank.
Mignon’s extensive background in sales, service training, change management, and business culture transformation makes her a sought-after consultant and keynote speaker.