Executive Director

PROFILE

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René has worked in academia for the bulk of her career, stretching over 16 years. During her academic career she held various positions at public and private universities:

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• Programme Coordinator of the BCom Economics and Law degree at Akademia;

• Senior Lecturer at Akademia;

• Senior Researcher in integrated reporting at the Albert Luthuli Centre for Responsible Leadership and

• Senior Researcher at the University of South Africa, Institute for Corporate Citizenship.

She holds a B Com, LLB; LLM and PhD (Leadership). Her research has had a specific focus on the social construction of leadership; integrated reporting; responsible investment and fiduciary responsibilities.

Her teachings focused largely on corporate social responsibility, responsible leadership and the Sustainable Development Goals. Since 2020, she has also entered the consulting space and has worked for Trialogue, a sustainability consulting firm in South Africa. In this role, she advised on integrated reporting strategy and transparency reports.

Most recently, in August 2023, she took on the role as Executive Director of the World Association of Sexual Health (WAS).  

She is an experienced leader, lecturer and researcher with first-class communication, organizational and analytical skills. She is passionate about developing young, responsible leaders and to equip young leaders to become people of purpose through knowledge, vision and health.