RISA CHARITABLE TRUST
email:info@risafund.org
web: www.risafund.org
TEL: 774.276.0202
9120 173rd Ave SE
Snohomish, WA 98290 USA
Program Officer
Background Information
· Christian. Durbanville Presbyterian Church (1999-2002); Protea Valley Church (2003-present)
· Aged 51, male, South African
· Married. Wife is Su, 3 children (25, 18 and 11)
· Business person, IT background, marketing, projects, sales, senior management
· Worked for IBM (16 years), Lotus (1 year), Acer (5 years),
M-Web (4 years), Dimension Data (2 years)
Academic Qualifications
· Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg 1972 - 1975
· Post Graduate Diploma in HIV/AIDS Management (PDM HIV/AIDS) University of
Stellenbosch 2003
· Modules: Epidemiology, Policy Formation, Management, Prevention & Care,
Research & Monitoring & Evaluation, Social-Cultural
· Cum Laude. Passed all six modules with 75%+
· Achieved 1st place in class of over 300
Leadership Roles Outside of Business
1970 Head boy of school (KES)
1970 Swimming captain
1971 Transvaal under 19 water polo captain
1972-75 Coach of Old Eds junior water polo teams
1979-80 Captain of Old Eds 1st team water polo
1985-86 Coach of Old Eds water polo teams
1990-92 Coach and selector of Transvaal water polo
1996-97 Blairgowrie School Trust member
2000-01 Durbanville Presbyterian Church - Alpha leader
2003-04 Protea Valley Family Church - Management team, outreach portfolio
Outside Interests
· Reading, South African history, philosophy, theology, comparative religions
Community Focus
For several years, Gary has actively been involved in progressive and bold responses to HIV/AIDS in one of the poorest and most devastated areas of the Cape, Guguletu. Gary has helped design and implement programmes and projects, linking companies and donors to community-based projects at the JL Zwane Centre.
More recently, he has focussed his thinking and management expertise on the challenges of CSI (Corporate Social Investment) and how it relates to the HIV/AIDS pandemic and other community issues like children in need, housing, poverty, food, nature conservation and unemployment.
He challenges companies but also helps them to shape new ideas and strategies about "The changing face of CSI" and their links to community-based programmes. He has intimate knowledge of some of the most exciting and extraordinary programmes in South Africa, especially those in the Western Cape.