Meet the Team
Neville Gabriel Executive Director:
Neville Gabriel coordinated human rights and public policy advocacy work for the Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference before joining Oxfam as an advisor. He has been involved in building civil society campaigns such as Jubilee 2000 and the Global Call to Action Against Poverty, and serves as a non-executive director of several civil society organisations.  Email Neville Gabriel
Karin Matthee Office Administrator:
Karin Matthee has a strong background in corporate and government administrative procedures and business administration, having worked in the South African department of trade and industry and in several investment and business houses. She holds a Masters Degree in Business Administration (MBA) from University of South Africa Business School. Email Karin Matthee
Shupikai Gwabuya Grants Officer:
Shupikai Gwabuya has extensive experience in grants administration having worked with the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) as a fund assistant for the Environmental Responsive Fund for three years. She gained administrative experience while working for the Media Institute of Southern Africa and Union Network International (UNI-Africa) in Zimbabwe. Email Shupikai
Carolina Julai Project Officer:
Carolina Julai has extensive experience in the development sector both at the national and regional levels having worked with international organisations such as Oxfam, Goal-Irish, and InWEnt (the international capacity building agency of the German Development Service) in Mozambique and the Southern African Regional Poverty Network (SARPN). She is currently studying for a Bachelor of Arts degree in development studies with the University of South Africa. Email Carolina
Petronilla Ndebele Communications & Partnerships Manager:
Petronilla Ndebele has many years of experience in communications, having worked for seven years with the Southern African Development Community (SADC) secretariat. In 1999, she received the award for excellence in business and economic reporting from the Federation of African Media Women Zimbabwe (FAMWZ). She holds a Master of Arts degree in International Communications and Development, from the City University in the United Kingdom. Email Petronilla

Barbara Kalima-Phiri Policy Analyst: Poverty Reduction Strategies:

Barbara Kalima-Phiri has several years of experience working in the local, regional and international policy analysis and advocacy field. Formerly, head of the pan African think tank - African Forum and Network on Debt and Development (AFRODAD), she has worked extensively on poverty reduction strategies, Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), gender, debt and regional integration issues. She also worked at the Southern African Regional Poverty Network (SARPN). She holds a Masters Degree in Economics from the University of Botswana, specializing in Policy Analysis and Economic Development, and Corporate Finance and Investment. Email Barbara
Same Siziba Administrative Assistant:

Same Siziba has administrative experience largely from the Banking sector in Botswana and England. She holds a degree in Home Economics Education. She is currently studying for an Honours degree in Development Studies with UNISA. Email Same

 
Dr Themba Mhlongo Regional Integration Advisor:

Dr Themba Mhlongo has extensive experience in regional co-operation and integration issues. He worked as the Chief Director at the SADC Secretariat responsible for strategic planning, gender, and policy harmonization, a department that he established and through which he drove a number of key SADC developments. He was instrumental in the development of SADC’s Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan (RISDP). Previously, he served as the Chief Director for industry and technology strategy in the South African department of Trade and Industry and as the manager of economic research at the Industrial Development Corporation of South Africa. Email Dr Themba Mhlongo
Ashley Green-Thompson Grants Manager:
Ashley was the director of the South African Network of Trauma Service Providers, where he started working as the network’s grant manager. He was previously the programme manager of the South African National NGO Coalition (SANGOCO) and the director of the Justice and Peace Department of the Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference. Ashley holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of the Witwatersrand and is currently completing a Masters degree in Management at the same university’s school of Public and Development Management. Email Mr Ashley Green-Thompson
Elias Swandle IT and Logistics Support Officer:
Elias has extensive experience in the IT field having worked for the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) where he served as an IT specialist for user support. He previously worked as a network administrator (IT) for a consulting Engineering firm, Palace Consulting Engineers, and as an IT technician at the Tshwane University of Technology. He has a National .Diploma in Engineering Computer Systems from Tshwane University of Technology, South Africa. Email Mr Elias Swandle
Bruno Umba Dindelo Coordinator: Multi-Stakeholder Policy Dialogue:
Originating from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Bruno has worked as a consultant for the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) and the Institute of Security Studies (ISS). He previously served as advisor to various ministers in the DRC government at different times, including the ministers of higher education, transport and communications, and defence, and also has extensive experience as a trade representative for public business corporations. Bruno holds a Masters degree in Diplomatic Studies from the University of Pretoria and is currently a candidate for a PhD in International Politics from the University of South Africa.
Itumeleng Kgotlagomang Information and Communications Officer:

Itumeleng has experience working in the field of micro-biology, specialising in HIV and TB research. He previously worked with the Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference (SACBC) where he gained experience in working with civil society. His passion for communication has led him to join the Southern Africa Trust, diversifying from his current qualifications. Email Mr Itumeleng Kgotlagomang
Audrey David Senior Finance Officer:

Audrey has experience in the finance field having worked for the Heinrich Boell Foundation as the Finance Manager and also having worked in the administration team of Africare SA. Email Ms Audrey David

Ms Jabulile Ndinisa Grants Administrator:
Grants Administrator in the Grants Facility. Jabu joins the Trust from the Zenex Foundation where she worked variously as grant projects administrator and office administrator. Email Ms Jabulile Ndinisa
Mr Lesego Thathane Personal Assistant:
Personal Assistant to the Executive Director. He joins the Trust from the Association of SADC Chambers of Commerce and Industry (ASCCI) where he worked as the Business Development Manager and Personal Assistant to the CEO. Email Mr Lesego Thathane
Ms Jennifer Chiriga Coordinator: Capacity building:

Civil Society Capacity Building and Policy Dialogue in the Regional Poverty Observatory Unit. Originating from Zimbabwe, Jennifer joins the Trust from the Cape Town based Alternative Information and Development Centre (AIDC) where she was the acting interim director, a post she held after being the organisation’s unit coordinator for globalisation and alternatives. She was previously the academic registrar for the Southern African Regional Institute of Policy Studies (SARIPS). Jennifer holds a master of policy studies degree jointly from the University of Zimbabwe and the University of Fort Hare, and is currently enrolled for an MBA at the University of Stellenbosch. Email Ms Jennifer Chiriga
Mpho Kgosidintsi Senior Communications Officer:

Mpho joins the Trust from the SADC Secretariat where she was the Assistant Manager Corporate communications Logistics. Originating from Botswana, she previously worked as the Programmes Acquisition officer and News reader for Botswana Television. Mpho holds an advanced diploma in marketing advertising and public relations from the Institute of Commercial Management in Britain and a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Botswana. She is currently pursuing a Master of Arts degree in Communications Arts with Ellis College, USA.Email Mpho Kgosidintsi
Darshana Pema Programme Assistant - Regional Poverty Observatory:  
Darshana formally joins the team after being a student attaché with us while completing a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) degree in Development Studies at the University of Witwatersrand. While at University, Darshana worked as both a researcher and a tutor and received a Postgraduate Merit Award for outstanding academic achievement. She hopes to pursue a Masters Degree in Development Studies in the near future.
Boitshepo Kubu Project Assistant:
Project Assistant in the Communications and Partnerships Unit. Boitshepo holds a National Diploma in Marketing from the Tshwane University of Technology in South Africa and previously worked as a senior sales consultant.