Fedisa: Staff

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	Dr Nigel Thomas Crawhall Chair: FEDISA Academic Advisory Council Dr Crawhall is the Director of Secretariat of the Indigenous Peoples of Africa Coordinating Committee (IPACC), a United Nations’ ECOSOC accredited network organisation. He is a consultant to UNESCO’s Division for Cultural Policies and Intercultural Dialogue. He is currently voluntary Co-Chair of the IUCN Strategic Direction on Protected Areas Governance, Equity, Rights and Livelihoods – TILCEPA. Dr Crawhall is the previous Director of the National Language Project (South Africa) and Cultural Programme Manager of the South African San Institute. Dr Crawhall holds a PhD in Sociolinguistics from the University of Cape Town, an MPhil in Linguistics from the University of Zimbabwe, and a BA Hons degree in Political Science from McGill University (Montreal, Canada). Dr Crawhall’s role at FEDISA is to guide the Academic Advisory Council. He provides support to the FEDISA Management team and oversees disciplinary matters at the institute. Dr Crawhall provides academic input on cultural diversity, indigenous peoples and intercultural dialogue. Allen Leroux Academic Director and CEO With a Master’s Degree in 21st Century Design Education from the University of Cape Town, Allen Leroux is also a widely published commentator on design education matters. He currently serves on the Management Committee of the Design Education Forum of Southern Africa (DEFSA) and has acted as a National Assessor of Programme Accreditation for the Council on Higher Education (CHE) for a number of years. After spending 11 years with the erstwhile Cape Technikon, teaching across the full spectrum of the fashion design programme, Mr Leroux moved into Private Higher Education to establish FEDISA (Pty) Ltd in 2005. As Academic Director and CEO of the company he now shares his substantial tertiary design expertise with the staff and students on FEDISA’s BA: Fashion Design degree programme and is the driving force behind FEDISA’s innovative new BA Honours: Fashion Degree. He is currently undertaking extensive international research for his PhD in Best Practice Models for Tertiary Design Education, which has already included the Parsons New School of Design and the Fashion Institute of Technology (F.I.T.) in New York, USA. The European and Scandinavian legs of this ongoing research are planned for the 2009 / 2010 academic years. Gerald Bird Director Admissions & Operations and COO As a founding partner of FEDISA, Mr Bird has moved his logistics, administrative and information technology expertise into the Private Higher Education sector. He now oversees the administrative and financial portfolios of FEDISA (Pty) Ltd in his role of COO and is responsible for the day-to-day operation of the institute. Mr Bird has served on the Western Cape Executive of the Association of Private Providers of Education and Training (APPEDT) for a number of years. Khanyisa Gqada – ‘Ms K’ Office Manager & Director’s PA Ms K joined FEDISA (Pty) Ltd in 2007 after several years with Woolworths. She speaks five languages and her exceptional people skills are perfectly matched to the highly demanding environment of the design education industry. Ms K works closely with the directors of FEDISA and shoulders the vast responsibility of public liaison and managing the institute’s front office. She continues to be the first port of call for all enquiries directed to the institute. Dexter Jeremiah Dog Director of Security As a founding member of the FEDISA team, Dexter has only been attending the institute on a full time basis since mid 2008, having made intermittent appearances at FEDISA before this date due to early retirement. ‘The Dexter’ as students and staff alike affectionately know him is charged with morale boosting, multiple cuddles for anyone feeling glum and internal security. The security aspects of Dexter’s duties, which he takes very seriously, include adding a menacing presence in FEDISA’s reception to deter any ne’er-do-well and ensuring that no intrusive foodstuffs make it into any of the FEDISA studios. Elizabeth Retief Senior Lecturer: Technology / Staff Mentor Holding a National Higher Diploma in Clothing Design and an Academic Colours Award for Academic Excellence from the erstwhile Port Elizabeth Technikon, Ms Retief brings a tertiary design education background spanning 45 years to FEDISA, where she has been instrumental in the development of an exceptionally advanced textiles technology programme. Having spent 13 years as a lecturer at the Port Elizabeth Technikon she progressed into adult education taking on the role of technology instructor for one of South Africa’s foremost sewing technology providers. She has trained literally thousands of design and technology professionals (including FEDISA’s CEO & Academic Director – Allen Leroux) and now shares her unfathomable knowledge with the students at FEDISA. Ms Retief was instrumental in the establishment of the FEDISA Mentorship Programme for Academic Staff, through which junior staff members at FEDISA are trained to her exacting specifications in order to offer the highest levels of educational competency to the FEDISA students. Despite her annual threats to retire, she is persuaded to stay ‘just one more year’ every time. Unita Meiring Lecturer: Production Technology Following a three-year fashion design, tailoring and pattern drafting qualification, Ms Meiring further developed her substantial knowledge of fashion technology and adult education through a 16 year association with both the Swedish Husqvarna and the Swiss Bernina companies, two of the world’s foremost producers of fashion technology. She joined the FEDISA academic team in 2006, where she specializes in the promotion of the most advanced production technologies currently available. She continues to share her extensive knowledge with the students at FEDISA, where her specific interest in materials re-fabrication adds an exciting new dimension to the fashion programme at the institute. Tatum Kelly Lecturer: Visual Studies Tatum Kelly relocated to Cape Town in 2007 to join FEDISA as lecturer in Visual Studies. Graduating cum laude with an Honours Degree in Fashion Design from Wits Technikon in 2002. Ms Kelly was also awarded the Technikon Medal for Outstanding Achievement in her final year of study. She worked as a freelance designer, patternmaker and grader, a passion, which she continues to pursue, before starting her lecturing career in Fashion Design, first at Damelin and then at Design School Southern Africa in Johannesburg. In 2009 Ms Kelly was appointed Head of Visual Studies at FEDISA and has also taken on the challenge of leading the FEDISA In-House Marketing & Brand Building Team. John Caviggia Lecturer: Design History A graduate of the University of Cape Town, majoring in the performing arts, Mr Caviggia continued his studies in educational technology at the erstwhile Cape Technikon. In recognition of his acclaimed designs and performances in the productions of “Salome” and “Edward II”, he received a bursary from the Italian government to further his studies in film and theatre design at the Cine Citta and the Silvio d’Amico Academy in Rome, Italy. His professional career has embraced all aspects of the performing arts, including opera, ballet and musical drama. Equally varied were the media in which Mr Caviggia was employed. As well as theatre, they include radio, film and television and print publication. This has resulted in his involvement with many of the major companies within South Africa and abroad, among them being the SABC, SATV, Brigadiers, Davnic Film Productions, PACT, CAPAB, SWPAC, Artscape, New Africa Theatre, the Space Theatre, the Theatre on the Bay, the Market Theatre, the Baxter Theatre and CAP (Community Arts Project). In addition to his varied roles within these spheres, Mr Caviggia has also worked as an editor and journalist and as a creative and historical consultant and researcher. Speciality skills include the history, design and application of puppetry and masks. Mr Caviggia has been engaged as a lecturer and professor at numerous educational institutions, which include the University of Cape Town, Stellenbosch University, the University of Rome, the Ministry of Health, Italy, the American University of London, the Cape Technikon and the Academy of Film and Dramatic Arts (AFDA). He has been for many years the Chairman of the Cape Town Theatre Club, promoting to the general public an interest in the performing arts, and Chairman of the Little Touring Company (LTC), which creates educational programmes that tour schools in the disadvantaged communities. In recognition of these services to the performing arts, John Caviggia received the Johann Nel Award in May 2008. Currently, he is lecturing on a part time basis at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology in the History of Jewellery; and at FEDISA (Future Excellence Design Institute of South Africa) in the History of Clothing and Fashion Design and Marketing Trends. In March 2009, Mr. Caviggia received the Fleur du Cap Award for his costume designs for the Roy Sargeant production of “Merchant of Venice” at Maynardville in Cape Town. Servaas De Kock Lecturer: Business Studies Mr De Kock joined FEDISA as Head of Business Studies in 2009 after a successful banking career spanning 25 years within the ABSA Group. He returned to his passion for working with students and the academic arena – something that he left in the early 80’s after lecturing in economics at the University of the Free State. He followed his academic career with a stint as Economist for the SA Agricultural Union and the Afrikaanse Handelsinstituut before joining Volkskas Bank in Pretoria in 1983. Following the formation of ABSA, he relocated to Cape Town in 1991, where he held several senior positions within the Group, including at ABSA Private Bank. Mr De Kock left the ABSA Group in 2005 to reaffirm his interest in economics education. He is now sharing his business and practical experience with the students at FEDISA and remains a dedicated promoter of entrepreneurial enterprise among the youth. Mr De Kock holds a Masters Degree in Economics from the University of the Free State and also completed the Programme in Strategic Management at the University of Stellenbosch Business School in 1993. Apart from his academic work, he is a business consultant to several national companies and private individuals. He is currently in the process of developing a cross-over programme of *The Business of Design and the Design of Business* at FEDISA. In addition to his academic career at FEDISA, Mr De Kock is also involved with several global business networks, including InterNations, Ecademy and the Open World Initiative (OWI) - the well-known Swiss professional network. He has also been a member of the Institute of Directors (IOD) of Southern Africa for the past 10 years. Arzelle Van Der Merwe Lecturer: Technology / Visual Having completed a B.Tech Degree in Fashion Design at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology in 2005, Ms Van der Merwe was also awarded the Freudenburg Prize for Most Technically Advanced Collection in her final year of study. She worked in the active wear industry as patternmaker and fabric originator for ladies golf, swim and dance wear. She also completed a course in photography and lighting design while simultaneously establishing her own evening, dance and bridal wear studio, which she continues to run. She joined FEDISA in 2007 as junior lecturer, on the FEDISA Staff Mentorship Programme under Ms Retief. In 2009 she took on the role of mentor for Ms Rennie, with the guidance of FEDISA’s senior staff. Ms Van der Merwe is involved in the Clothing Technology, Visual Studies and Computer Aided Design courses of FEDISA’s BA: Fashion Design Degree programme. She also forms part of the FEDISA In-House Marketing and Brand Building Team. Nicoll Rennie Lecturer: Technology / Visual Ms Rennie completed her B.Tech degree in Fashion Design at the Durban University of Technology in 2008. During her studies she designed and styled for several marketing and design companies, and also developed a following of private clients. She has worked part-time in retail and completed additional courses in Fashion Buying and Merchandising, as well as Business Management while pursuing her formal degree. She relocated to Cape Town in 2009 to join FEDISA’s academic team on the FEDISA Staff Mentorship Programme. She is currently refining her design education competencies as a junior lecturer in Pattern and Clothing Technology, and Design in the foundation year of FEDISA’s BA: Fashion Design Degree Programme. Ms Rennie is also part of the FEDISA In-House Marketing and Brand Building Team. Bomvana Roy Zweni Maintenance Supervisor Having honed his craft in the maintenance industry through BERCO South Africa, Mr Bomvana Roy Zweni joined FEDISA at its inception in 2005, working as the institute’s maintenance supervisor. Mr Zweni’s responsibilities include the maintenance and upkeep of the FEDISA studios, as well as the set up and striking of the institutes' numerous exhibitions

Dr Nigel Thomas Crawhall

Chair: FEDISA Academic Advisory Council

Dr Crawhall is the Director of Secretariat of the Indigenous Peoples of Africa Coordinating Committee (IPACC), a United Nations’ ECOSOC accredited network organisation. He is a consultant to UNESCO’s Division for Cultural Policies and Intercultural Dialogue. He is currently voluntary Co-Chair of the IUCN Strategic Direction on Protected Areas Governance, Equity, Rights and Livelihoods – TILCEPA. Dr Crawhall is the previous Director of the National Language Project (South Africa) and Cultural Programme Manager of the South African San Institute.

Dr Crawhall holds a PhD in Sociolinguistics from the University of Cape Town, an MPhil in Linguistics from the University of Zimbabwe, and a BA Hons degree in Political Science from McGill University (Montreal, Canada).

Dr Crawhall’s role at FEDISA is to guide the Academic Advisory Council. He provides support to the FEDISA Management team and oversees disciplinary matters at the institute. Dr Crawhall provides academic input on cultural diversity, indigenous peoples and intercultural dialogue.

Allen Leroux

Academic Director and CEO

With a Master’s Degree in 21st Century Design Education from the University of Cape Town, Allen Leroux is also a widely published commentator on design education matters. He currently serves on the Management Committee of the Design Education Forum of Southern Africa (DEFSA) and has acted as a National Assessor of Programme Accreditation for the Council on Higher Education (CHE) for a number of years.

After spending 11 years with the erstwhile Cape Technikon, teaching across the full spectrum of the fashion design programme, Mr Leroux moved into Private Higher Education to establish FEDISA (Pty) Ltd in 2005. As Academic Director and CEO of the company he now shares his substantial tertiary design expertise with the staff and students on FEDISA’s BA: Fashion Design degree programme and is the driving force behind FEDISA’s innovative new BA Honours: Fashion Degree.

He is currently undertaking extensive international research for his PhD in Best Practice Models for Tertiary Design Education, which has already included the Parsons New School of Design and the Fashion Institute of Technology (F.I.T.) in New York, USA. The European and Scandinavian legs of this ongoing research are planned for the 2009 / 2010 academic years.

Gerald Bird

Director Admissions & Operations and COO

As a founding partner of FEDISA, Mr Bird has moved his logistics, administrative and information technology expertise into the Private Higher Education sector. He now oversees the administrative and financial portfolios of FEDISA (Pty) Ltd in his role of COO and is responsible for the day-to-day operation of the institute.

Mr Bird has served on the Western Cape Executive of the Association of Private Providers of Education and Training (APPEDT) for a number of years.

Khanyisa Gqada – ‘Ms K’

Office Manager & Director’s PA

Ms K joined FEDISA (Pty) Ltd in 2007 after several years with Woolworths. She speaks five languages and her exceptional people skills are perfectly matched to the highly demanding environment of the design education industry.

Ms K works closely with the directors of FEDISA and shoulders the vast responsibility of public liaison and managing the institute’s front office. She continues to be the first port of call for all enquiries directed to the institute.

Dexter Jeremiah Dog

Director of Security

As a founding member of the FEDISA team, Dexter has only been attending the institute on a full time basis since mid 2008, having made intermittent appearances at FEDISA before this date due to early retirement. ‘The Dexter’ as students and staff alike affectionately know him is charged with morale boosting, multiple cuddles for anyone feeling glum and internal security.

The security aspects of Dexter’s duties, which he takes very seriously, include adding a menacing presence in FEDISA’s reception to deter any ne’er-do-well and ensuring that no intrusive foodstuffs make it into any of the FEDISA studios.

Elizabeth Retief

Senior Lecturer: Technology / Staff Mentor

Holding a National Higher Diploma in Clothing Design and an Academic Colours Award for Academic Excellence from the erstwhile Port Elizabeth Technikon, Ms Retief brings a tertiary design education background spanning 45 years to FEDISA, where she has been instrumental in the development of an exceptionally advanced textiles technology programme.

Having spent 13 years as a lecturer at the Port Elizabeth Technikon she progressed into adult education taking on the role of technology instructor for one of South Africa’s foremost sewing technology providers. She has trained literally thousands of design and technology professionals (including FEDISA’s CEO & Academic Director – Allen Leroux) and now shares her unfathomable knowledge with the students at FEDISA.

Ms Retief was instrumental in the establishment of the FEDISA Mentorship Programme for Academic Staff, through which junior staff members at FEDISA are trained to her exacting specifications in order to offer the highest levels of educational competency to the FEDISA students.

Despite her annual threats to retire, she is persuaded to stay ‘just one more year’ every time.

Unita Meiring

Lecturer: Production Technology

Following a three-year fashion design, tailoring and pattern drafting qualification, Ms Meiring further developed her substantial knowledge of fashion technology and adult education through a 16 year association with both the Swedish Husqvarna and the Swiss Bernina companies, two of the world’s foremost producers of fashion technology.

She joined the FEDISA academic team in 2006, where she specializes in the promotion of the most advanced production technologies currently available. She continues to share her extensive knowledge with the students at FEDISA, where her specific interest in materials re-fabrication adds an exciting new dimension to the fashion programme at the institute.

Tatum Kelly

Lecturer: Visual Studies

Tatum Kelly relocated to Cape Town in 2007 to join FEDISA as lecturer in Visual Studies. Graduating cum laude with an Honours Degree in Fashion Design from Wits Technikon in 2002. Ms Kelly was also awarded the Technikon Medal for Outstanding Achievement in her final year of study.

She worked as a freelance designer, patternmaker and grader, a passion, which she continues to pursue, before starting her lecturing career in Fashion Design, first at Damelin and then at Design School Southern Africa in Johannesburg.

In 2009 Ms Kelly was appointed Head of Visual Studies at FEDISA and has also taken on the challenge of leading the FEDISA In-House Marketing & Brand Building Team.

John Caviggia

Lecturer: Design History

A graduate of the University of Cape Town, majoring in the performing arts, Mr Caviggia continued his studies in educational technology at the erstwhile Cape Technikon. In recognition of his acclaimed designs and performances in the productions of “Salome” and “Edward II”, he received a bursary from the Italian government to further his studies in film and theatre design at the Cine Citta and the Silvio d’Amico Academy in Rome, Italy.

His professional career has embraced all aspects of the performing arts, including opera, ballet and musical drama. Equally varied were the media in which Mr Caviggia was employed. As well as theatre, they include radio, film and television and print publication.

This has resulted in his involvement with many of the major companies within South Africa and abroad, among them being the SABC, SATV, Brigadiers, Davnic Film Productions, PACT, CAPAB, SWPAC, Artscape, New Africa Theatre, the Space Theatre, the Theatre on the Bay, the Market Theatre, the Baxter Theatre and CAP (Community Arts Project). In addition to his varied roles within these spheres, Mr Caviggia has also worked as an editor and journalist and as a creative and historical consultant and researcher.

Speciality skills include the history, design and application of puppetry and masks.
Mr Caviggia has been engaged as a lecturer and professor at numerous educational institutions, which include the University of Cape Town, Stellenbosch University, the University of Rome, the Ministry of Health, Italy, the American University of London, the Cape Technikon and the Academy of Film and Dramatic Arts (AFDA).

He has been for many years the Chairman of the Cape Town Theatre Club, promoting to the general public an interest in the performing arts, and Chairman of the Little Touring Company (LTC), which creates educational programmes that tour schools in the disadvantaged communities. In recognition of these services to the performing arts, John Caviggia received the Johann Nel Award in May 2008.

Currently, he is lecturing on a part time basis at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology in the History of Jewellery; and at FEDISA (Future Excellence Design Institute of South Africa) in the History of Clothing and Fashion Design and Marketing Trends.

In March 2009, Mr. Caviggia received the Fleur du Cap Award for his costume designs for the Roy Sargeant production of “Merchant of Venice” at Maynardville in Cape Town.

Servaas De Kock

Lecturer: Business Studies

Mr De Kock joined FEDISA as Head of Business Studies in 2009 after a successful banking career spanning 25 years within the ABSA Group. He returned to his passion for working with students and the academic arena – something that he left in the early 80’s after lecturing in economics at the University of the Free State.

He followed his academic career with a stint as Economist for the SA Agricultural Union and the Afrikaanse Handelsinstituut before joining Volkskas Bank in Pretoria in 1983. Following the formation of ABSA, he relocated to Cape Town in 1991, where he held several senior positions within the Group, including at ABSA Private Bank. Mr De Kock left the ABSA Group in 2005 to reaffirm his interest in economics education. He is now sharing his business and practical experience with the students at FEDISA and remains a dedicated promoter of entrepreneurial enterprise among the youth.

Mr De Kock holds a Masters Degree in Economics from the University of the Free State and also completed the Programme in Strategic Management at the University of Stellenbosch Business School in 1993.

Apart from his academic work, he is a business consultant to several national companies and private individuals. He is currently in the process of developing a cross-over programme of The Business of Design and the Design of Business at FEDISA.

In addition to his academic career at FEDISA, Mr De Kock is also involved with several global business networks, including InterNations, Ecademy and the Open World Initiative (OWI) - the well-known Swiss professional network. He has also been a member of the Institute of Directors (IOD) of Southern Africa for the past 10 years.

Arzelle Van Der Merwe

Lecturer: Technology / Visual

Having completed a B.Tech Degree in Fashion Design at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology in 2005, Ms Van der Merwe was also awarded the Freudenburg Prize for Most Technically Advanced Collection in her final year of study. She worked in the active wear industry as patternmaker and fabric originator for ladies golf, swim and dance wear. She also completed a course in photography and lighting design while simultaneously establishing her own evening, dance and bridal wear studio, which she continues to run.

She joined FEDISA in 2007 as junior lecturer, on the FEDISA Staff Mentorship Programme under Ms Retief. In 2009 she took on the role of mentor for Ms Rennie, with the guidance of FEDISA’s senior staff. Ms Van der Merwe is involved in the Clothing Technology, Visual Studies and Computer Aided Design courses of FEDISA’s BA: Fashion Design Degree programme. She also forms part of the FEDISA In-House Marketing and Brand Building Team.

Nicoll Rennie

Lecturer: Technology / Visual

Ms Rennie completed her B.Tech degree in Fashion Design at the Durban University of Technology in 2008. During her studies she designed and styled for several marketing and design companies, and also developed a following of private clients. She has worked part-time in retail and completed additional courses in Fashion Buying and Merchandising, as well as Business Management while pursuing her formal degree.

She relocated to Cape Town in 2009 to join FEDISA’s academic team on the FEDISA Staff Mentorship Programme. She is currently refining her design education competencies as a junior lecturer in Pattern and Clothing Technology, and Design in the foundation year of FEDISA’s BA: Fashion Design Degree Programme. Ms Rennie is also part of the FEDISA In-House Marketing and Brand Building Team.

Bomvana Roy Zweni

Maintenance Supervisor

Having honed his craft in the maintenance industry through BERCO South Africa, Mr Bomvana Roy Zweni joined FEDISA at its inception in 2005, working as the institute’s maintenance supervisor. Mr Zweni’s responsibilities include the maintenance and upkeep of the FEDISA studios, as well as the set up and striking of the institutes' numerous exhibitions