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Jacquie Le Roux is an architect and director of JLR Architects a firm based in Clarens. She works on residential and commercial projects of all sizes. Jacquie is also the Chairperson of the Clarens Ratepayers Association which works with all the residents to engage in the decisions and planning at the local government level that affect the lives of residents. Jacquie strives to take part and assist in making the town and all its people that she has grown to love, into a success story

Vicky Ramela is a seasoned financial manager with over 30 years of experience in the private and public sectors. She’s worked with profit and nonprofit organizations, focusing on financial management and leadership. As a servant leader, she mentors and develops leaders, sharing her expertise in business leadership. Vicky finds inspiration in the community of Clarens, where she enjoys sharing love and peace.

Verne’s philosophy is to make the world a better place by being positive, engaging, and adding value to people and situations. A Certified Chartered Secretary, she founded her own company in 2007 to support small businesses lacking compliance expertise. Passionate about helping startups, she uses her cross-industry experience to guide entrepreneurs, ensuring regulatory compliance and handling non-core services like administration, so they can focus on growing their business.

François Pieneman’s mission is to empower filmmakers and creative entrepreneurs to turn powerful stories into sustainable projects that create real-world impact. With over 20 years of experience producing acclaimed international documentaries, developing financing strategies, and leading impact campaigns, he guides projects from concept to global reach. As founder of Worldvisuals Film in the Netherlands and co-founder of Worldvisuals South Africa, he combines high-level strategy with hands-on execution, using film as a catalyst for change. Creator of Cinepreneur and Head Lecturer at the Dutch Filmers Academy, François connects creativity, strategy, and education to inspire the next generation of storytellers.

Leana Leonard is an independent consultant, Gallup-certified Strengths Coach, and Chartered HR Professional with over 20 years of experience in human resources, organisational development, and leadership coaching. She is the founder of Geared2Solve, a consultancy that partners with businesses to drive strategic growth, navigate change, and develop people-centred solutions that deliver real impact.

Gertjan Holtzhausen is an entrepreneur, project manager, and specialist theatre-maker with a career spanning education, community development, and the performing arts. He holds a cum laude B-Tech degree in Performing Arts and a Postgraduate Certificate in Education, and has taught Drama at leading schools while presenting various workshops for teachers. As former Regional Manager at the ATKV, he directed large-scale cultural, language, and community projects, and as former Artistic Director of the LOTTO-funded Vukuzakhe! project, he trained and equipped young performers. With more than fifty productions to his credit as actor, director, playwright, and producer, Gertjan serves as shareholder and Production Manager at Full House Productions, where he combines creative vision with entrepreneurial drive to deliver innovative, large-scale theatre.

Nyalleng is a machine learning research fellow at The Distributed Artificial Intelligence Research (DAIR) institute. She is also an advocate for Africa’s AI community and is a co-founder of the Deep Learning Indaba, the largest machine learning consortium of AI practitioners in Africa.

Julius Nhlapo is a supervisor at the Protea Hotel in Clarens and the founder of Nhlapo Catering and Hospitality. His company specializes in organizing events in Clarens, from birthdays to weddings, and was proudly involved in the Clarens Festival of Flavours. Deeply committed to his community, Julius is passionate about empowering young people with skills in tourism, helping them find employment, and fostering a strong sense of pride and unity in Clarens.

Linette Retief is a seasoned storyteller with over three decades of experience across South Africa’s private and non-profit sectors. Her career spans Advertising, Agriculture, Communications, Insurance, Property, and Consumer Affairs—each chapter marked by precision, adaptability, and a passion for impactful narratives. As the published author of three books and co-author of one, she brings a journalist’s curiosity, an editor’s eye, and a communicator’s heart to every project. She delivers work that’s not only on brief, on budget, and on time—but also on point. Whether crafting a compelling article or shaping a strategic campaign, she brings clarity, creativity, and commitment.