Zackie2024 marked South Africa’s first independent candidacy campaign in the national elections following amendments to the Electoral Act. Team Leadership * Led a core team of 12 who then coordinated a network of volunteers to execute the campaign strategy.Pioneering Independent Candidacy * Addressed legislative ambiguities and managed legal challenges to advocate for democratic principles in South Africa’s electoral landscape.Operational Management* Directed campaign logistics, budgeting, and day-to-day activities to align with strategic objectives.

At Simprints, I led the development and deployment of biometric identification solutions across various sectors, including healthcare, education, and social protection. Collaborating with cross-functional teams, I ensured that our technology addressed identity challenges in low-resource settings, enhancing service delivery and driving impact.Biometric Solution Deployment Oversaw the implementation of biometric identification systems in multiple countries, ensuring accurate beneficiary identification and service delivery.Cross-Sector Collaboration Worked with partners in healthcare, education, and social protection to integrate Simprints' technology into existing programmes, improving reach and efficiency.Product Strategy and Management* Developed product roadmaps and strategies aligned with organisational goals, focusing on scalability and adaptability in diverse environments.* Managed a team of engineers responsible for the backend, data products, firmware and mobile applicationThis role allowed me to contribute to Simprints' mission of transforming the way the world fights poverty and disease through innovative biometric solutions.

As a freelance consultant, I partnered with civic organisations to design and deliver data-driven solutions for advocacy and decision-making. My work spanned election monitoring, social relief grants, and community-based data collection.* Worked with CSO organisations like The Black Sash to advocate for and monitor the Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant, improving accessibility for vulnerable individuals.* Designed and implemented citizen-driven data collection systems, using platforms like ODK Collect and Kobotoolbox to inform evidence-based advocacy.* Developed dashboards and reports to visualise findings, empowering partners to engage with policymakers effectively.

At OpenUp (formerly Code for South Africa), a civic tech non-profit, I contributed to its mission of empowering citizens through open data and digital tools. Across my roles, I developed operational systems, led impactful projects, and engaged with international open data communities.Head of Operations* Established operational systems to support the growth of the organisation and delivery of grant-funded projects.* Implemented governance processes and tools to optimise team collaboration.* Represented OpenUp at global conferences, contributing to discussions on open data and transparency.Accountability Stack Project Lead* Led the Accountability Stack programme, aimed at improving public accountability and citizen engagement.* Partnered with civil society organisations to develop content and tools supporting transparency.* Delivered outputs such as how-to guides and content repositories, tailored for civic activists and organisations.* Conceptualised a community TV show, Democracy in Action, to enhance public awareness and participation.

The Mixit platform was donated to the Reach Trust and I helped explore potential uses the platform to increase access to education and enhance school experiences for children.* Collaborated with teams to design and implement digital education tools.* Conducted user research to align product features with student and educator needs.

Mr D, a takeaway delivery service, was acquired by Takealot to serve as the foundation for its logistics platform. My role involved building a team to create a scalable delivery network.Logistics InnovationBuilt a scalable courier logistics platform, integrating with Takealot's ecommerce and warehouse management systems, and connecting with external couriers for remote deliveries.Operational TransformationTransformed the takeaway delivery service into a full-fledged logistics network, making same/next-day delivery affordable and accessible.Team LeadershipGrew the team from a single developer to 12 members, including product managers, UX designers, and engineers. Established team processes and delivery practices to meet business needs.

Yola.com provided easy-to-use website building tools in both B2C and B2B capacities. As Technical Product Manager, I focused on enhancing backend services and driving B2B engagement.Backend FocusManaged technical services, including checkout systems, consumer subscriptions, and enterprise white-label integrations.Business ImpactEnhanced user workflows and streamlined processes, increasing engagement for consumers and strengthening partnerships for B2B clients.Cross-Functional CollaborationWorked with local and remote teams across engineering, customer support, and marketing to align product roadmaps with organisational goals.

CareerJunction empowered users to find opportunities in jobs, (and later in property, and autos) through its online platform(s). As the Business Analyst team lead, I played a pivotal role in expanding CareerJunction’s product portfolio while building the business analysis function and mentoring others.Team LeadershipManaged and mentored a team of seven business analysts, fostering collaboration and professional growth.Product Development Contributed towards the creation of Junction.co.za, a unified platform for autos, properties, and careers.SaaS ExpertiseOversaw the iTalent recruiter SaaS platform, ensuring alignment with market needs and driving usability improvements.Strategic ContributionDefined frameworks for product and process development while advocating for user-centric approaches.

As a business analyst at CareerJunction, I supported product development initiatives, working closely with stakeholders and developers to deliver user-focused solutions.Product OwnershipActed as product owner for iTalent, working closely with stakeholders to define and deliver on requirements.Requirement ElicitationConducted workshops and interviews to gather and document user needs, creating wireframes and prototypes to align stakeholders.CollaborationPartnered with developers to ensure technical feasibility and delivery of solutions that met client and organisational objectives.

At Global Vision IT, a bespoke software development agency, I worked across diverse projects and later transitioned into the product team. Key highlights include:Custom Solutions Provided functional and technical analysis for bespoke systems, including import and stock management, eRecruitment, film production booking, and cost-based manufacturing.Product DevelopmentFocused on developing market-driven solutions, including a Relationship Marketing tool for the FMCG sector, an eRecruitment platform, and an Incident Management (CASE) product.End-to-End DeliveryLed user needs analysis, created requirements and specifications, conducted competitor analysis, and developed training materials.Product DevelopmentContributed to the transformation of bespoke solutions into scalable products, expanding the company's offerings.

As part of the middleware team, I ensured reliable data communication across diverse platforms. Key highlights include:Middleware Development Designed and implemented a centralised software switch, enabling seamless data exchange between mainframes, Unix boxes, and Windows systems, across a variety of channels and formats.Operational TransformationStandardised fragmented processes, introducing configurable rules to handle any data format or communication channel.Team Contribution Transitioned from a technical developer to a business-oriented role, contributing to technical writing and internal process development.

1st year graphic design history lecturer2nd year system software development - OSI model