Our Team

FOUNDERS-1

Gil Harper

Founder and Executive Director

I have been involved in gender most of my career, whether working at a feminist media project, in corporate public relations, parastatal and the NGO sector. I am as comfortable giving a speech at a United Nations event as I am listening to indigenous knowledge in a rural village in West Africa. My skills involve: organisational strategy, full-spectrum communications, programme management, training and facilitation, knowledge management, and evaluation. My relationships with the Asante team span decades of us working and engaging in different roles and spaces – the thread of gender justice has weaved us together. My journey with Neliswa Mncube has been one of work, mentoring and friendship, and is a true women’s empowerment story, from our times together when I first mentored her to our exciting journey now as she heads up Asante as our Chairperson.

FOUNDERS-2

Neliswa Mncube

Chairperson

I discovered my calling in gender advocacy while pursuing my passion in marketing, brand and communications. I realised that the opportunities afforded to me by my organisational responsibilities were not enough to make impact. I had to become an active citizen who contributed to the change I wanted to see. Armed with over 15 years of senior marketing, brand and communications experience gained in multinational organisations, I joined my long-time mentor, friend and founder of Asante, Gil Harper, to pursue gender justice. My strengths lie in my ability to translate strategy into sustainable measurable action.

1

Sherwin Nel

Fundraising Director

I am an entrepreneur with a passion for development. Holding key leadership positions in NGO organisations, I have shaped youth empowerment that is based on personal and skills development, complemented by linking youth to opportunities. My board experience spans governance leadership, programme development and international relations. Key to youth development is my focus on gender-based violence, and the need for positive masculinity. I am passionate about training and run training programmes with a focus on leadership. You will also find me behind a camera taking photos and on the air presenting radio and online programmes.

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Aron Corton

Marketing Officer

I have a passion for branding and communications, and have been involved in various aspects from logo design to editing books to customer relations. My core career focus thus far has been on ICT. I have taken part in projects on masculinity with a focus on young men, and believe that developing positive masculinity involves men holding each other accountable as well as positive role modelling. 

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Leigh Jacobs

Programme Director

My passion lies in my calling as an educator. My involvement in education spreads across the public and private sectors as I am both a teacher but a proud director of a private educational practice. I have been involved in several youth development programmes, where I have trained, facilitated and mentored young people in different spheres of their lives. I believe in the empowerment of young minds and participating in the narrative of changing gender norms. I am an active GBV activist and feel strongly about educating the youth in order to facilitate and develop positive identities to transform others. As a GBV activist I believe that it is my core duty to advocate for systemic change.

FOUNDERS-5

Thuks Khanyile

Stakeholder Relations Manager

My experience is broad, spanning careers in sports, security and insurance. My calling is as a pastor and in this role, I have taken a pastoral approach towards youth development. I have done so by training and holding men’s dialogues around masculinity in Africa. I am a motivational speaker and am confident and comfortable speaking to diverse groups ranging from corporate to civil society to the factory floor. A passion of mine is race relations in South Africa and I explore our realities and challenge racial norms in and through the different roles I play.