IngweNet© NPC

Our Team.

MANAGEMENT:

The Management Team:

Founder and Executive Director (CEO): Hon Dr Wayne “Ingwe” Lourens

Agriculturalist, People Empowerment Developer, Project Developer – a multi-talented person with multi-tasking capabilities and deep experience in all the facets of this program, as well as a number of peripheral facets that support this program.

Experience in the field includes previous contracts with Appletree Flower Farm as Development Consultant and Project Manager; Sherway Estate as Co-Owner, Development Principal, and General Manager; international Developers Amaral-Ferreira Holdings (developing a US$1,2 billion group of projects throughout Southern Africa) as Strategic Planning and Implementation Consultant and Internal Systems Auditor; internationally-known Gili Greenworld (the largest producer of fresh produce in Gauteng) as a Strategic Planning Consultant to their Gili Projects division; Changing Lifestyles (contracted to Provincial and Local Governments, as well as Rand Water and Orion Property Group’s food security and nutrition projects in Gauteng and KZN) as Strategic Planning and Implementation Consultant and Assistant Project Manager; Organic Farms Group as Projects Co-ordinator and Emergent Farmer Development Consultant; and NAFU KZN as Sole Preferred Service Provider and Consultant in a number of disciplines related to project management and administration.

Other experience includes service in Ratepayers and Residents Associations in Pietermaritzburg, and as the Chief Executive and Administrative Officer (Town Clerk / Manager) of a smaller rural Local Authority, in which he dealt with all aspects of the management and operation of the town. This included the functions of Town Clerk, Town Treasurer, Internal Auditor, Town Engineer, Town Medical Officer of Health, Town Planner, Chief Disaster Manager, Head of Legal Services, Head of Library Services, Business Licensing Officer, and Communications Officer. At the same time, Hon Dr Lourens was the inaugural Deputy-Chairperson for the Natal Midlands Local Authorities Training Committee, chaired by the then-Town Clerk of Pietermaritzburg, Mr Des White.

Hon Dr Lourens is currently a registered Service Provider with the recently instituted South African Agri-Crime Prevention Institute (SAACPI), to roll-out a Farm and Rural Safety Initiative, which he has developed since the early 1980’s. He was recently in the KZN Midlands implementing the IngweNet© NPC Farm and Rural Safety Program, partnering the Midlands Security Initiative, before executing short-term development contracts with Karongo Valley Guest Farm near Ixopo, and New England Farm’s Interim Farm Manager, Equestrian Manager of two Studs (one with imported Shire breed horses), Activities Manager for Horse Trails and Paintball, and Coffee Shop Manager.

Pending Executive Director: Ms Theresa Donnelly

Ms Donnelly has recently joined IngweNet© NPC, and brings with her years of experience in her own entrepreneurial business.

She also holds a Legal Secretarial Certificate from Natal Technikon, and a Business Law Certificate from SA School of Paralegal Studies.

Ms Donnelly also has many years of experience as Secretary and Personal Assistant in the SABC, and in the Property, Medical, Leisure, Financial Planning, and as co-Owner and Administrative Manager in an IT company, and the owner of a personal products business.

Her experience encapsulated a sound background of General Office Administration and Financial Management, including in the Hospitality and Tourism industry.

Mrs Donnelly’s attention to detail ensures that she will work closely with the Founder and Executive Director (CEO) in the day-to-day management of IngweNet© NPC’s various initiatives.

Director: Mrs Marie Rondi

Mrs Rondi is one of the 3 original Directors of K2021639764 (SOUTH AFRICA) NPC t/a IngweNet© NPC, and is experienced in community property management and development, based near Ballito on the KZN Dolphin Coast.

During the KZN Riots in 2021, Mrs Rondi was a key person in administering the IngweNet© NPC’s KZN Food Aid Fund, raising monetary donations from donors overseas, sourcing and co-ordinating donations and deliveries of non-perishable foods from unaffected areas, and distributing to over 30 families in the Ballito (Compensation) area, whilst Hon Dr Lourens did the same (including sourcing donated fresh vegetables) for 12 families in the Lions River area of the KZN Midlands.

Director: Mrs Anneli Smith

Mrs Smith is an inactive Director, also one of the 3 original Directors, and is destined to train in the Hospitality and Catering functions of the Sustainable Community Development programs that IngweNet© NPC will be introducing in the next 12 to 18 months.

Senior Trainer: Mr Brian Nhlakanipho Mweli

Mr Mweli, who has a Degree in Correctional Services Management from the University of Zululand, was trained part-time in the fields of People Empowerment and Sustainable Community Development by Hon Dr Lourens in the Dargle Valley between 2014 and 2019 on Aloe Ridge Farm whilst studying for a Degree in Education, also at the University of Zululand.

Mr Mweli also has considerable experience as a Farm Manager in the KZN Midlands, and has introduced the Sustainable Holistic Agriculture modalities that he learned from Hon Dr Lourens.

Senior Trainer: Mr David Katzidzira

Mr Katzidzira has a Diploma in Accounting and Business Administration from Damelin College Pietermaritzburg, and was also trained in the fields of People Empowerment and Sustainable Community Development by Hon Dr Lourens in the Dargle Valley between 2014 and 2019 on Aloe Ridge Farm.

His position on Aloe Ridge Farm was Assistant Farm Manager, and was a trainer to other local staff introduced the Sustainable Holistic Agriculture modalities that he learned from Hon Dr Lourens.

Management Consultant: Mr Thandazani Republic Hlatshwayo

Project Developer and Project Manager of Social Services projects in the Amazizi area of the Northern Drakensberg.

Mr Hlatshwayo is the Chairperson of the Amazizi Youth Development Project, and has immense talents in the field of human resource management. He is also an experienced lecturer with the Amajuba College for Further Education and Training.

Personal Trainer & Nutritionist: Mr Gareth Lourens

Mr Lourens has technical, administrative and financial management skills, and has grown up on farms. He has strong leadership qualities, and leads by example. He is a keen sportsman, representing his school in the 1st or 2nd teams in rugby, volleyball, soccer, and cricket, and captaining some of those teams. He has been a regular player in the Hillcrest Villagers Rugby Club’s 1st Team, and is awarded Man-Of-The-Match Awards regularly. He has strong ties in UK and Europe, and is thus able to fully service this critical function.

His organisational abilities have been lauded by both the Manager (Mr Rod Copeland) and Chairman (Mr Gavin Pollock) of the Villagers Rugby Club, and in the years that he was a member, he has become one of the most accountable members, taking the initiative by organising functions and social matches, as well as promoting the attendance of new players to strengthen the teams when players have been lost through injury or illness.

He is currently based in the UK, plays for an English 1st Division County rugby club Plumpton, and is a highly qualified Personal Trainer. He has skills as a tour organiser, and is linked to tour/safari design companies in London.

Affiliate Consultant: Mr Peter Munns

Mr Munns has a strong background in people empowerment and the development of entrepreneurs, and established the Technology Enterprise Centre at ML Sultan Technikon from 2000 to 2002. His background includes being an engineering consultant; experience in the Petro-Chemical, Marine, Construction, Sugar, Pulp and Paper, Agricultural, Mining, and Commercial sectors of the economy; establishing a seafood marketing initiative supporting ski-boat fishermen on the Lower South Coast of KZN; marketing precious and semi-precious gemstones in Hong Kong; mining diamonds; assisting in establishing the Gold Permit System in Zimbabwe; consulting to the National Traditional Healers of South Africa (NATHSA); establishing business training centres; and establishing a community newspaper (Isibani).

He also established the NUBIS Foundation as an advice centre for the unemployed and a chamber for small business, and was the Fund Raising Director of the Advice Desk for the Abused. He was instrumental in the development of the street vendor markets in Durban, as well as establishing the Coke wagons on the Durban Beachfront. Mr Munns has agricultural ties in having been active in the Livestock Production sector with the old Transvaal Agricultural Union. He is currently active in consulting at the business and entrepreneurial development level, and was the Executive Director of the KwaZulu-Natal Tourism Training Centre.

Five members of the former Management Team have either passed on or retired, however, over the past 10 years, other people have shown that their paradigms and life-philosophies reflect and parallel those of IngweNet© NPC, and thus they have been included as either Affiliate Consultants or Advisors to IngweNet© NPC to replace those who have left.

They include:

The Founder of Umgibe Farming Organics and Training Centre;
An Electronic Security, Reaction, and Personal Protection Specialist / Trainer;
Equestrian Trainers; and
A local community advisor.

The names of the abovementioned persons have been withheld for the moment, at their request and pending the Launch of the IngweNet© NPC Academy for Sustainable Holistic (Organic) Agriculture and Sustainable Community Living.

Any lack in skills or experience:

The immense depth of experience found in the individuals of the management team, as well as combined as a whole, cover all eventualities, and have no lack in the skills required for a project of this magnitude. In addition to the Management Team mentioned above, IngweNet© NPC has a depth of experienced people who have affiliated to the organisation as being available to assume duties under certain circumstances. This depth of expertise (across all cultural groups) provides the Management Team with possible alternatives in the case of any particular member not being able to continue in their duties for any unforeseen reason.

The Management Team’s motivations:

Each individual in the Management Team has as their primary motivation, the non-prescriptive empowerment of people.

The secondary motivation of each member of the Team is committed to mentor other like-minded persons who enrol as a part of either the Learnership or Intern Programs that IngweNet© NPC is ready to roll out. This mentorship process will effectively replicate each Team Member with one or more mentored persons, within a 3 to 5 year process.

They all have the interest of communities at heart, and will check back individually, and as a Team, with community entrepreneurs and the Entrepreneur Development Support Teams on a regular basis.

The Management Team has been carefully selected as having performed exceptionally, and are the cream of the best available personnel for this particular program. They have been selected purely on the merit of their past performance, and their willingness to pass on their knowledge and skills base through the mentorship program.