MEET THE TEAM
The power behind the Teddy Bear Foundation. We honour and thank them for their tireless work and contribution towards the dream of Abuse No More.
Shaheda Omar
- Qualifications: Masters in Mental Health, Dip. In Marriage Guidance and counselling, Forensic Assessment of child victims of abuse, and has completed her doctoral thesis on young sex offenders
- Position: Director on TTBC Board, Clinical Director
- Experience: Over 30 Years
- Other: Shaheda worked at the Johannesburg Institute for Social Services, Pedimed Clinic in Pretoria, Parktown School for Girls, Centre for HIV and AIDS Counselling at Medical Research Institute, Johannesburg Association for the Aged and Childline Gauteng. She has been working at The Teddy Bear Clinic for Abused Children since 2001 and is the Director of Clinical Services at the clinic.
Rachel Nxele
- Qualifications: BSc; Environmental Science (University of Kwa-Zulu Natal) 2011; PGDip; General Management Gordon Institute of Business Sciences – University of Pretoria 2016; MBA General Management Gordon Institute of Business Sciences – University of Pretoria 2017
- Position: Director
- Other: Rachel completed her BSc at the University of Kwa-Zulu Natal in 2009, her PGDip at the University of Pretoria’s Gordon Institute of Business Science (“GIBS”) in 2016, and more recently her MBA at GIBS. She has assumed several director roles in the financial services and property development sectors owing to her recent appointment as a Non-Executive Director at Prescient Securities. Rachel believes in leading a balanced life. She enjoys travel, networking, the exploration of various cultures and promoting the empowerment of women and children across the continent.
Candice Pillay
- Qualifications: BProc, an LLB and a BA (Hons) (University of the Witwatersrand)
- Position: Chairperson of the Board
- Other: A partner at Routledge Modise, where she heads the firm’s pro bono legal services. She specialises in personal injury litigation, including motor vehicle accidents, medical malpractice, public liability and claims against the state. Candice is a member of the South African Clinical and Neuropsychological Association (SACNA).
Penny Tlhabi
- Qualifications: MBChB(Medunsa), MAP(Wits),AHLF(Pompue Fabra)
- Position: Member on TTBC Board
- Other: Public Affairs & Sustainable development director, Member of Executive Committee and Member of Social and Ethics Committee, Discovery Limited. A qualified medical doctor, Dr Penny Tlhabi has extensive experience at executive level within the private and public healthcare sectors
Patrick O’Flaherty
- Qualifications: BCom Honours (Investments) (RAU)
- Position: Member on TTBC Board
- Other: Partner at African Alliance. He is currently a director of the Botswana Stock Exchange. As a senior executive of the African Alliance group Patrick has a strong network of relationships with senior executives of a large number of institutional investors. He is the CEO of African Alliance Securities and is responsible for oversight of all securities business across the Group. Patrick has previously worked at Investec Bank as an investment consultant, ABN Amro Securities as an Investment Analyst and as an assistant portfolio manager at Melville Douglas Investment Management. Patrick completed a BCom Honours (Investments) from RAU in South Africa.
- Qualifications: PR and Communications Diploma (Damelin College), BA (Hons) Economics & Political Science and MSc in Economics (University of Manchester), Archbishop Desmond Tutu Leadership Programme and Archbishop Tutu African Oxford Fellow (University of Oxford)
- Other: Peggy-Sue has 10 years banking experience with Investec Group. She joined Investec Bank UK, the Investec Asset Management division in 2004 as an Analyst. In November 2006 Peggy-Sue returned to South Africa and joined Investec Corporate and Institutional Banking as an Investment Consultant within the Corporate Business Development division. Peggy-Sue is also an Exco member and now heads up Public Sector Financing. She founded her own mentorship programme aimed at girls from rural communities. In May 2011 she was selected as an Honorary member of the Wits International Golden Key Society. Most notably, in May 2015 she was appointed as a Board Trustee at the Liliesleaf Trust, which is a tremendous honour given the history of the Riviona Trialists. She also works with a number of charities, including Starfish Foundation, and Seeds of Africa.