Board of Governors

---

Jen van Oerle has been in the Investment industry for over 25 years, working across multiple roles in Operations, IT and Client Servicing and Relationship management.  She is currently the Chief Operating Officer at Discovery Invest, and was previously a Director and Head of Client Engagement at FNZ South Africa (previously called Silica).  She has a Bachelor of Commerce degree in Infomatics from Unisa, and has recently completed her PostGraduate Diploma in Financial Planning through Stellenbosch Business School.  She has a passion for helping and challenging people to achieve their own seemingly impossible goals, and does this in both her personal and professional life.   She is based in Johannesburg, South Africa, where she lives with her husband and 2 children.  

Prof. Thobeka Nkomo (Ph.D. in Social Work) is a researcher, published author and academic at the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits). Her research interests include spirituality and health concerns, forgiveness, gender issues, ethics, and values specifically related to cultural sensitivity, young women leadership, HIV/AIDS and sexual reproductive health and concerns; and all matters related to social work. She teaches classes on “Ethics and Values”, “Contextual issues in Occupational Social Work”, and is actively involved in collaborative research projects with peers from all over Africa. For example, on menstrual hygiene in partnership with AIDS FOUNDATION SOUTH AFRICA (AFSA), and Women Intellectuals Transforming Scholarship in Education. As an academic at Wits, she supervises undergrad and postgrad students to promote, nurture and advance education in our South African context. Before her appointment at Wits, she worked and practiced as a social worker both in the public and private sectors. She is registered as a member of the South African Council for Social Service Professions (SACSSP). 

Bringing over 20 years of experience in the financial services industry, Garth joined the Apex team in April 2023 to spearhead the strategic product development of their Transfer Agency Services. Previously, as the CEO of Silica Holdings, Garth successfully led the company through its acquisition by the FNZ Group in April 2021 and later assumed the role of Global Head of TA Services for the FNZ Group. Prior to being appointed as the CEO for Silica, a position he held since September 2017, Garth fulfilled the role of CIO, after spending his first year growing Silica’s platform solutions business. Garth was part of the Standard Bank of South Africa Group from 2003 until joining Silica in August 2014. During this time, he took on various roles including Director of Retail Operations at STANLIB, CIO and Business Change Executive at Liberty Life and CIO of the Transactional Products and Services business unit at Standard Bank. 

Having known Dr. Astonishment Mapurisa, Founder and Director of YOSA, for over 20 years, Susy has a true understanding of Astonishment’s passion and vision for YOSA.  

Susy and Astonishment worked closely together when he was Director of a children’s home in Zimbabwe. At the time, Susy was working as an International Flight Attendant with Qantas, the Australian airline.  

In 1997 Susy established an educational child sponsorship program for the children at the home where Astonishment joined in 2021. It was from then that Susy and Astonishment began working closely together to improve the lives of the children in care.  

These days, Susy is no longer working as a Flight Attendant having changed careers during the pandemic, and is now a Marine Conservationist working as a Naturalist Guide.  

Despite her career change, Susy is still very much involved with YOSA, and keeps in regular contact with Astonishment. 

Brolin’s primary focus as a thought leader supports his commitment to reducing poverty and making the best level of education readily accessible to all.  
Brolin began his working life in heavy industry until the age of 23 when he finally achieved his lifelong dream of becoming an Airline pilot. 

Whilst enjoying the privilege of travelling the world, Brolin has been active in various forms of charity work, from working in soup kitchens and providing aid to the homeless in various countries.  

Based in Australia, Brolin is an entrepreneur, husband and father of 2 children. 

A current board member of YOSA, Brolin collaborates with various charities in Australia such as Rotary, enabling him to make a positive impact on a global scale. 

Brolin continues to work to create websites, branding and content contributing to the process of scaling YOSA towards a sustainable model that we aim to recreate all over the world. He wants to inspire others to achieve the great sense of fulfilment by giving - what we are all here on Earth to do.  

Brolin’s only regret is that he hasn’t been able to do enough and to give more. 

Vusi Mashiloane

FNZ Senior Finance Specialist 

Bcom FMN - UNISA