Cape Town-based non-profit organisation Silicon Cape announced the appointment of four women to its leadership structure, according to an ITWeb report.
Kerry Petrie has been appointed as interim general manager.
“Having Kerry Petrie at our helm, as our interim general manager, is a major positive for us given her extensive experience in the non-profit sector, as well as her specific areas of expertise. Also, having Boitumelo (Tumi) Menyatswe on-board as our ecosystem manager is a definite highlight,” Dr Sumarie Roodt, chairperson of Silicon Cape said.
Petrie is founder project manager of Norkitt Education Leadership Initiative and has over nine years’ experience in NGO management.
Techpreneur Menyatswe is founder of online platform Minderz and was listed as one of the top five innovators to look out for in 2017 by Barclays Africa Group’s fintech innovation hub, Rise, as well as one of the 50 most inspiring women working in technology and innovation by global initiative Inspiring Fifty.
“The announcement of our new all-female team is a very proud moment for us as an organisation seeking to drive the agenda in the start-up space, as well as spearheading initiatives aimed at creating a more diverse and inclusive ecosystem,” said Roodt.
Other appointments include Nazli Kazie-Allie as marketing and media consultant, as well as Joslyn Links, who was awarded an internship after being one of the top students for the Maushuri Venture Accelerator course at the University of the Western Cape.
Founded in 2009, Silicon Cape brings together entrepreneurs, developers and other stakeholders in the Western Cape’s tech ecosystem.
Earlier this week, the organisation’s managing director, Ellen Fischat, resigned. Fischat, who was appointed in May 2017 was the first permanent MD of the organisation, and had been involved in business incubation since 2011.
Alexandra Fraser, who was director and board member also departed.
In the ITWeb report, Roodt says “Fraser has resigned in order to focus on growing her own business, Fraser Consulting, as well as supporting the growth of other start-up ecosystems across the continent”.
