Our core team
Abongile Mfaku (MA)
Abongile Mfaku is supporting SLFs Township Economic Development (TED) project. Abongile plays a major role in advancing economic development strategies, coordinating project activities, facilitating community engagement events and writing technical reports. She leads on the project social media platform through the Facebook ‘Virtual Imbizos’. Abongile holds a Master’s degree in Development Studies and has experience in economic and social research.
Albida McMillan
Albida McMillan has worked in the SMME industry for 20 years and transitioned into the NPO sector through her employment at SLF. Ms. McMillan documents and reconciles all financial records, submits monthly statutory returns and prepares and assists with the organization’s annual audit. Albida ensures that SLF is consistently tax compliant and upholds all financial obligations in accordance with donor grant agreements.
Dr. Andrew Charman (PhD)
Drawing on his experience as a social scientist and development practitioner, with diverse African experiences, Andrew Charman has advanced projects in a range of fields, including i) the informal economy and urban informality ii) area-based economic development. Andrew is in his element working with multidisciplinary professional teams. He has a particular interest in spatial and design logics, and an appreciation of innovative thinking around social, cultural, economic, and environmental sustainability.
Dr. Gillian Black (PhD)
Gill Black co-founded SLF with Leif Petersen and Andrew Charman in 2010. Gill has extensive experience in leading participatory action research. She is internationally recognized for her work to engage and involve communities in public health and health science research through which she has developed a specialization in visual and creative methods. Gill has worked in Kenya, Brazil, Malawi and South Africa. She has lived in South Africa since 2002.
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Dr. Leif Petersen (PhD)
Leif Petersen has a background in social and environmental sciences with a particular interest in natural resource utilisation, informal economies and resilience in the context of the majority-world. Leif has spent the last twenty years conducting qualitative ethnographic and economic research and engagement across southern Africa, predominantly in township economy entrepreneurship where he is a leading sector specialist with a range of published and creative outputs.
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Sanele Skeyi (MCom)
Sanele is a development economist with a background in economic research, capacity building, and business development. He will be working with the Township Economic Development (TED) team, bringing his knowledge of development research and business development to support SLFs work. Sanele is passionate about inclusive, just transition and has over five years of experience in the field. He holds a Master's degree in Economic Development.
Thireshen Govender (MScUD)
Thireshen Govender is an architect, urbanist and researcher practicing through Johannesburg, South Africa. He was awarded the Chevening Scholarship through which he undertook a Masters in Urban Design at The Bartlett (UCL). Following extensive travels he founded UrbanWorks in 2008, a design-research studio concerning itself with the design and implementation of transformative infrastructures in post-traumatic sites. Thireshen excels in de-risking complex urban issues into innovative clear and tangible solutions.