Category : Management Committee
Deon is a Senior Auditor at Cassidy & Associates. A valuable member of the Soul Action Management Committee since 2017, Deon has the ability of posing incisive, insightful, and thought provoking questions, in a way that creates a safe space for Committee members to think and reflect. Deon and Melissa are parents to Mia.
Category : Management Committee
Founder and owner of Earth Landscapes, Ross Nevette has twenty years experience in the landscape industry; with projects ranging from private gardens, and business parks, to green-roofs and rehabilitation projects. His focus is on creating inspirational gardens, that are a combination of his clients’ vision, his imagination and practical thinking. Ross – a worship leader at his local church – is married to Michelle, and they have two daughters – Emily and Kate.
As well as offering personal support to the Chair, Ross’ unique contribution to deliberations at Management Committee meetings is his ability to offer his unique insight, observations, and perspective, in such a way that ensures Soul Action remains true to its vision.
Category : Management Committee
Barbara McLean is the Operational Manager at Bright Site, an initiative of Unisa’s Department of Social Work in the College of Human Sciences. Bright Site aims to provide Durban-based Unisa students with relevant social work learning opportunities. Barbara joined the board in the year ending 2013.
Barbara is passionate about all children fulfilling their potential. Her background in social work brings a diverse level of thinking to meetings, and enables the team to go further.
Category : Management Committee
Jo Douwes was born in Durban, where she attended Durban Girls’ College, before leaving the east coast to study at the University of Cape Town. Here, she completed a BSc (Hons) in Environmental Science and Zoology, as well as her PCGE.
Since then, Jo has worked in a number of different fields including the Freshwater Research Unit at the University of Cape Town, as a teacher at Ballito’s Ashton International College – then known as ‘Seaforth College’ – and Umuzi Wethemba KwaJesu HIV/AIDS Centre in Umhlali, on the North Coast of KwaZulu Natal.
Jo is currently living and working in Durban, where she is a Manager within the Environmental Planning and Climate Protection Dept. of the eThekwini Municipality.
She is passionate about people and the environment and believes that caring for both is an essential part of our God-given responsibility here on earth.
As a founding member of Soul Action’s Management Committee in 2010, Jo is Soul Action’s longest serving trustee. She is married to Errol, and they live in Durban.
Category : Management Committee Staff
Philip Bowyer is an Accredited Christian Minister, with an Honours Degree in Theology (2014), a Bachelor’s Degree with Honours in Design (1996), a Diploma in Youth Ministry (1998) and Foundation Certificate in Art (1993). In 2007 he was awarded a Masters by SAQA for his Postgraduate studies in Education for Sustainability at London’s Southbank University. Before moving to South Africa in 2007, Philip was the National Coordinator of Youth work, and managed Innovation, at one of the UK’s larger relief and development agencies (from 2001-2007).
Category : Co-Principal Management Committee Staff
After qualifying as a teacher in the UK in 1996, Rachel Bowyer spent eleven years working as an educator with 3 to 12 year olds, where she also coordinated Special Education Needs. Since 2009 she has worked with Senior Managers at Quintile 1-3 schools, and trained / mentored Grade R-3educators to teach English and isiZulu. Rachel has a Masters with Distinction in Education, a Postgraduate Certificate to teach Specific Learning Difficulties, and a BEd Hons in Music and Mathematics.
