EXCO 2012 Candidates

Sharon Chauke
Thulani Fakude
Adam Levin
Trudi Makhaya
Professor Conrad Mueller
Thembalethu Sithebe
Saul Symanowitz
Dr Kantilal Vallabh

SHARON CHAUKE

BSc 2005 (WITS)

“I would like to be on the Executive Committee of Convocation because I consider myself strategic, analytical, and a problem-solver. Through Convocation, I envisage working with a dynamic and challenging team that will continue to build cohesive relationships by communicating the needs of Witsies.”

I have good local and international experience and am able to communicate in a way that will increase alumni awareness.

I am flexible, self-motivated, self-confident, committed, assertive and able to work under pressure and meet deadlines. I am an innovative team player with people, leadership, decision-making, presentation and research skills. I have the capacity to resolve conflict and to facilitate groups across the spectrum.

In 2006, I worked as an internal auditor in the Wits finance department. I am knowledgeable about global strategy development and I have experience in implementing performance improvement programmes. I have project management, operations, and monitoring and evaluation experience, as well as financial reporting experience. I am able to integrate various information sources to produce management information.

I am National Director and a Board member trustee for World Supermodel SA/Africa, an  assistant research director and a published academic (Russia, 2010).

I am a non-executive Director of the Board of the Railway Safety Regulator appointed by the Minister of Transport. I serve on committees including human resources, remuneration and finance, procurement, and research.

THULANI FAKUDE

BA 2009 (WITS)

“My ultimate goal is to support the work of Convocation EXCO in ensuring that members of the Wits Convocation are active participants in University affairs. I will also be at the forefront of encouraging Wits alumni to give back to the institution, both in monetary terms and in kind.”

I would like to contribute to the development of Wits University’s young alumni and execute programmes that encourage the participation of young alumni. Having served on the Wits SRC and the Postgraduate Association, I will use my network to benefit Convocation, particularly to foster programmes with graduate students to participate in Convocation.

I recognise that we have an on-going pursuit towards ensuring that Wits becomes a student-centred University and I am passionate about driving Wits towards achieving this as we advance towards Top 100 league status. Serving on EXCO will be an ideal opportunity for me to play a tangible role in Wits pursuing this milestone. 

During my academic career at Wits, I became aware of the challenges the University faces. I channelled my energies towards the holistic development of students on campus and subsequently received the Vice-Chancellor’s Most Outstanding Student Leader Award in 2011. I am a founding member of TACTS (Take a Child to School), an organisation of young people who fund high school learners from previously disadvantaged communities, especially Alexandra. I am a Fellow of Ashoka Youth Venture, a global organisation for young change-makers. I co-chaired the Association of Black Securities and Investment Professionals Student Chapter Investment (ABSIP), which encourages youth participation in South African affairs through dialogue.

I am currently a part time Honours student and employed as a business development executive at BEE123 Softline Pastel Accounting.

ADAM LEVIN

BA 1996, LLB 1998 (WITS)

“I owe a tremendous debt of gratitude, a debt that I wish to repay through service to Wits Convocation…I wish to share my skills and abilities with Wits.”

Wits played a central role in both my professional life and my personal life.  The many lecturers, tutors and mentors with whom I had the privilege to be associated not only contributed immeasurably to laying the solid foundations on which the pillars of my career as an attorney and my personal character traits are built, they contributed immeasurably to the actual building of those pillars.  To those people and to the institution that brought us together, I owe a tremendous debt of gratitude, a debt that I wish to repay through service to Wits Convocation.

I spent 1993-1994 as a member of the SRC and of the Senate.  This was a paradoxical year of painful conflict and joyous harmony, both for South Africa and for Wits.  That year provided me with unique opportunities, not only to view first-hand the enormously complex tasks of operating and maintaining the massive machine that is Wits, but also to have a say - even a small say - in those tasks.

I have been fortunate to have worked in a business environment and to have practiced a profession, to have been a cog in a corporate structure and to have been a member of a group of professionals.  Today, I practice law as a sole practitioner specialising in corporate and commercial law.  This dual background provides me with useful insights into challenges and their solutions, and I wish to share my skills and abilities with Wits.

TRUDI MAKHAYA

BCom 2000, BCom Hons 200, MCom 2002 (WITS)

MSc 2003, MBA 2006 (Oxford)

“I am especially interested in two issues: student financing and leadership, and management education. I would like to mobilise alumni to help develop effective student assistance models and to support management and leadership education at Wits.”

I studied Law and Economics at Wits from 1997 to 2002, a period of great transformation for the University. I represented the Wits Debating Union at two World Debating Championships (Manila 1999 and Sydney 2000). In 2002, I received a Rhodes scholarship to study at Oxford University, where I earned an MSc in development economics and an MBA.

My generation’s time at Wits was not defined by great struggle. However, it was a period of constant battles to achieve an inclusive campus. Financial exclusion, cultural isolation, and a demoralised faculty where some of the challenges of that time. The University has made remarkable progress on these issues since then.

I would like to contribute to taking Wits to even greater heights as a member of the executive committee of Convocation. I am especially interested in two issues: student financing and leadership, and management education. I would like to mobilise alumni to help develop effective student assistance models and to support management and leadership education at Wits.

I lead the Advocacy and Stakeholder Relations function at the Competition Commission of SA, an autonomous competition enforcement agency. I am responsible for the Commission’s efforts to develop a competitive economic environment, in accordance with the Competition Act, through advocacy and stakeholder management activities. Before this, I was a Principal Economist at the Commission, which involved assessing the competitive effects of mergers and acquisitions, and providing economic analysis on competition enforcement cases.

I have also held management consultant roles at Deloitte and Genesis Analytics, where I advised executive and board-level clients in various African countries.

My first job was at Wits, where I was an associate lecturer in Economics.

I am interested in art, literature and entrepreneurship. I am a Friend of the Johannesburg Art Gallery, a member of 85 Boards (the global businesswomen’s network) and Oxford Business Alumni. I keep a blog on business and social enterprise at www.mzansipreneur.com.

PROFESSOR CONRAD MUELLER

BSc 1975, BSc Hons 1976, PhD 1989 (WITS)

“Alumni’s challenge is to find ways to support Wits in its proud tradition of producing graduates who make the contributions for which Wits is known…My motivation in accepting the nomination for Convocation executive is to engage with alumni to find ways to support our graduates to excel and grow Wits’ reputation.”

The term of the current Vice-Chancellor is ending. He provided stability after a number of years of troubled leadership at Wits. Setting the goal of becoming one of the top 100 universities made it clear that Wits did not intend to give up on maintaining its proud history of quality. Being in the top 100 universities does not make Wits stand out; having alumni like Mandela, Tobias, Kentridge and others is much more important. These people made major contributions resulting in Wits becoming world-renowned.

There is overwhelming talent coming into Wits. Alumni’s challenge is to find ways to support the University in its proud tradition of producing graduates who contribute that for which Wits is known. The challenge is to nurture this amazing talent, given the increasing class sizes and poor secondary education experienced by today’s schoolchildren. Alumni’s vast experience is a valuable asset that Wits can use to develop this talent. My motivation in accepting the nomination for Convocation executive is to engage with the alumni to find ways to support our graduates to excel and grow Wits’ reputation.

My long experience at Wits gives me an understanding of both the challenges and the potential in engaging in this role effectively. As Head of School, I have insight into the frustration experienced by academics, and the pressure for change experienced by the executive. While President of the staff association during Wits’ turbulent times, I learned of the power of bringing parties together to achieve the seemingly impossible. Meeting with student bodies has given me some understanding of their perspective. Meeting prospective employers of Wits students has enabled me to explore the valuable perspective of alumni. 

THEMBALETHU SITHEBE

BSc 2990, BEconSci Hons 2010, MCom 2011 (WITS)

“My experience as a tutor showed me the role we all have to play in correcting the skills shortage of this country. I view my nomination to Convocation EXCO as the platform from which to address this issue.”

During my tenure at Wits University, I tutored microeconomics to first and second-year students.  I am interested in being part of a team that will actively contribute to addressing the state of education in this country. I am a hard-working, flexible and committed individual and I hope that I will be favourably considered as an EXCO member of Convocation. I am a young and dynamic individual with a great zeal for learning and honing the skills that will make me invaluable in a diverse work environment.

I am currently an economic analyst at Genesis Analytics. I work in the Competition and Regulatory Economics practice area, which focuses on the interaction of regulatory tools used in energy markets, and competition policy. This interaction is particularly relevant in South Africa (and all developing countries) as the introduction of additional environmental regulation within highly regulated and concentrated industries will have a direct impact on the competitiveness of that industry as well as the final price paid by households.

SAUL SYMANOWITZ

BCom 2000, BCom Hons 2001, LLB 2002, LLM 2006 (WITS)

“I am currently amongst the longest serving members on the Executive Committee of Convocation…If re-elected, I will continue to serve and represent the interests of Convocation constituents.”

I am currently amongst the longest serving members on the Executive Committee of Convocation, having served 2 terms, for 8 years, since 2004. 

During my tenure, I have been a proactive, committed and engaged committee member.  This includes being a primary player in the founding of the Wits Young Alumni Programme and serving on various committees, including the Naming Committee, Fundraising Committee and Council Readmission Committee. I won the Wits Bright Star Alumni Award in 2003.

If re-elected, I will continue to serve and represent the interests of Convocation constituents.

I am a qualified attorney and currently Divisional Director - BEE123 by Pastel.

Dr KANTILAL VALLABH

BSc 1972, BSc Hons 1977, MBBCh 1974, MSc 2009 (WITS)

“The University aims to be positioned in the top 100 universities worldwide and knowledge of this objective has made me even more passionate about assisting this great University in realising this vision.”

I have been associated with Wits for more than 40 years - as student, lecturer, and Convocation committee member (2008 to present). Lecturing students and delivering Continuing Professional Development (CPD) presentations to healthcare alumni helps me understand their concerns regarding Wits. As a Convocation committee member, I believe I could articulate their concerns.

Over time, changes in student and staff demographics have demanded policy adjustments. I believe Wits has successfully positioned itself as a premier education institution. The University aims to be positioned in the top 100 universities worldwide and knowledge of this objective has made me even more passionate about assisting this great University in realising this vision.

I have been a member of the West Rand Branch of the South African Medical Association (SAMA) since 1979 and an executive member since 1982. I have served on the branch’s Ethics Committee and edited the E-newsletter. I have served three terms as branch President and have been actively involved in promoting CPD activities for members. I am interested in the influence of the Internet on the doctor/patient relationship, and in using the web for medical education.