As a leading Higher Education Institution, Stenden believes that accountable and transparent governance is a prerequisite to long term success and growth. Stenden South Africa is owned by Stenden University of Applied Sciences and as such the final responsibility for decision making lies with the Executive Board of Stenden University in The Netherlands.
Management Team
The Executive Board delegates its authority to the Executive Dean, Dr. Wouter Hensens, who carries responsibility for the academic performance, the day to day operations, and the strategic growth of the campus. Dr. Hensens is supported by a management team of eight Heads of Departments in the following roles:
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- Dr. Juliet Chipumuro is the Academic Dean of the Hotel Management School and the Disaster Management School and is responsible for the BCom Hospitality Management Degree and its minor specialisations as well as the BBA Disaster Relief management Degree and its minor specifications.
- Ashley Palm is the General Manager of the Stenden MyPond Hotel where Stenden BCom Hospitality students are exposed to a Real-World Learning Environment. Stenden South Africa Operations Manager.
- Ronel Bartlett is the Student Affairs Manager and oversees the marketing and administrative functions of the institution.
- Mzameli Dikeni is the Community Development Manager and oversees Stenden’s efforts to unleash potential in its surrounding community through a focus on Education, Entrepreneurship and Food Security.
Board of Governors
All of the management team’s performance and strategies are first presented to the Board of Governors. This is effectively a business advisory board that provides local context and representation to strategic decisions and monitors good governance. The advise of the Board of Governance on strategic decisions weighs strongly to the final decisions made by the Executive Board of Stenden University.
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- Adrian Gardiner is the chairman of the Board of Governors and has been a staunch supporter of Stenden South Africa since its establishment in 2001. Mr. Gardiner is the founder of Shamwari Game Reserve and the chairman of the Mantis Collection.
- Louise Swanepoel is the former owner of the Grand Hotel which houses the Stenden South Africa campus. Mrs. Swanepoel is a retired town counsellor and community representative and has served on the Stenden South Africa Board of Governors since its inception.
- Chumani Gqeke is the provincial organiser for SAMWU and has served on the Board of Governors since 2012.
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Erica Schaper is the President, Executive Board, NHL Stenden University
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Dr. Wayne Johnson is the Director, International Affairs, NHL Stenden University
- Prof. Dewald van Niekerk has been the chairman of the Stenden Disaster Management School Academic Advisory Board since 2014. He is the Director of the African Centre of Disaster Studies at Northwest University in Potchefstroom.
- Dr. Wouter Hensens is the Executive Dean of Stenden South Africa.
- Craig Cochrane is the Senior Vice President of Talent and Culture for the middles East and Africa.
- Dr. Marc Otto is the Vice President of the Executive Board, NHL Stenden University.
- Prof. Oscar Couwenberg is the Vice President of the Executive Board, NHL Stenden University.
Academic Advisory Boards
To ensure that our programs meet the needs of today’s industry, Stenden South Africa has formed academic advisory boards for each of its programs. Members on these boards include provide leading academics and practitioners in their respective fields. Meetings are hosted twice annually and are attended by a minimum of two SRC members as well.
The Hospitality Management Academic Advisory Board consists of the following members:
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- David Markham – Chairperson, Stenden South Africa Advisory Board
- Dr. Wouter Hensens – Executive Dean, Stenden South Africa
- Dr. Juliet Chipumuro – Academic Dean, Stenden South Africa
- Marco Ten Hoor – Academy Directore IHM, NHL Stenden
- Jacques Lombard – General Manager, The Beach Hotel, Port Elizabeth
- Ashleigh Christie – Regional Director of People and Culture, Minor Hotels Africa
- Ian Mackay – General Manager, Garden Court, Nelson Mandela Boulevard, Cape Town
- Carl Haller – Development Manager, Mantis
- Chris Alexandre – Chief Executive Officer, GuestRevu
- Derek Martin – Director, Trevpar World
- Ashley Palm – Acting General Manager, MyPond Hotel
- Andre Steyn – Career Development and Internship Coordinator, Stenden South Africa
- Ian Laughland – General Manager, OR Tambo City Lodge
- Elmarie Fritz – General Manager, Radissonblu, Gqeberha
- Sipamandla Mzamo – Stenden Alumnus, Stenden Alumni Association
- Clare du Plessis – Head of National Academic Operations, The Hotel School Australia
- Verona Naidoo – Regional Talent & Culture Director, Sub-Saharan Africa, Accor
- Hannie Van Liebergen – Senior Manager Africa and Indian Ocean, Hilton Group
The Disaster Relief Management Academic Advisory Board consists of the following members:
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- Prof. Dewald Van Niekerk – Director, African Centre for Disaster Studies (ACDS), University of the North West
- Henry Lansdowne – Manager, NMMM Disaster Centre, Port Elizabeth
- Hugh Van Niekerk – Regional Manager, South African Weather Service, Port Elizabeth
- Dodo Shupping – Eastern Cape Province Disaster Management Operational Manager
- Owen Becker – Manager, Disaster Management, Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality
- Mervyn Sauls – Manager Fire and Emergency Services, Ndlambe Municipality
- Khulekile Mbolekwa – Disaster Manager, Ndlambe Municipality
- Sipho Tandani – Former Mayor of Ndlambe Municipality
- Prof. Andries Jordaan – Director, Disaster Management Training and Education Centre for Africa (DIMTEC), University of the Free State
- Dr. Desmond Pyle – Former Academic Dean of Disaster Management, Stenden South Africa
- Sonja Chinnian – Deputy Director: Institutional Capacity, Western Cape Governmental
- Shaun Minnies – Head of Disaster Management Centre, Winelands
- Harold Kgwetiane – Disaster Risk Management Education and Training
- Jackie Pandaram – Director Disaster Operations, Western Cape Government
- Dr. Rene Oosthuizen –Senior Lecturer, Rhodes University. Former Academic Dean, School of Disaster Management, Stenden South Africa
- Prof. Roman Tandlich – Professor, Rhodes University, Grahamstown
Exam Committee
The Exam Committee is responsible for the integrity of our curricula. Their autonomous decision-making covers the selection of students, recognition of prior learning, examination, graduation and any deviations from the exam regulations as published in our prospectus. It comprises three members of faculty:
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- Dr. Megan Sharrock – Chairperson
- Tonderai Mawopa – Secretary
- Clare Du Plessis – Member