The group of businesses has been owned by my wife and I for over 21 years. I have only recently become a full time director as we recently completed an extensive upgrade and the group was too large for my wife to run them on her own. I am however now keen to return to the Fundraising world

I headed a small Division (11 staff) which focussed on the development of strategic partnerships with corporate, Trust and Foundation as well as Alumni donors. I also managed the Universities continued engagement with its Alumni community. Included in this role was fundraising, campaign management, volunteer management, alumni relations, development communications (web, social media and print). I was also a member of the Senior Management group of the University. The composition of the Division changed a great deal over the years but during my time in the post I was exposed to media relations, graphic services and web services as well as both on site and off site events

I was the full-time on-site consultant to Rhodes University and was responsible for managing the Rhodes University Centenary Campaign which at its culmination in 2004 was the most successful university fundraising campaign in South Africa raising over R150m for university projects and programs. At the end of the consultancy I was employed by Rhodes to head up the Communications and Development Division.

My previous career includes time spent in my immediate post school years clerical and marketing support roles as well as 3 1/2 years as a merchant navy navigation cadet. I also spent 14 years in the downstream oil industry 6 years of which were in senior executive positions including 5 years as Managing Director of Engen (formally Mobil) in Botswana.I also have significant experience as an entrepreneur and am currently a shareholder in three small businesses including a BP Service Station and a 24 Hour Spar supermarket