Shevon Lurie is the Director of The IIE. She holds a BCom Honours and has worked in higher education for the last 20 years holding various positions. Her most recent role being that of Managing Director of The IIE’s Vega School from 2016 to 2022. 

Ms Shirley Ferndale is the Registrar for The IIE. She obtained a Master's Degree in Education (MEd), a Bachelor of Education (BEd) and a Bachelor of Science in Education (BScEd) from the University of the Western Cape. After seven years as Head of the Mathematics Department at a senior secondary school in the Western Cape, she moved to Gauteng in 1997, where she taught mathematics at a senior secondary school in Johannesburg. In 1997 she joined the Gauteng Department of Education as a mathematics specialist at district level and worked there for five years. She then moved to the EDTP Seta for six years, first as a Learnerships and Skills Programmes Advisor and then as a Skills Advisor. In 2006 she joined the Independent Regulatory Board for Auditors as a professional manager. Shirley has been with The IIE since February 2011. 

Mr Peter Kriel is the General Manager of The IIE. Peter joined The IIE on 1 April 2013 as the Head of Faculty: Business and took up the position of General Manager on 1 October 2015.

After qualifying with a National Diploma in Hotel Management in 1989, Peter has worked in all the major South African hotel groups in various positions including Rooms Division Manager at The Cascades Hotel at Sun City. He was involved in the pre-opening training of reception staff of the Palace Hotel.

Peter joined higher education in 1995 and since completed a Bachelor's Degree in Post School Education at the Technikon Witwatersrand (TWR) and a Masters degree in Post School Education at the University of Johannesburg (UJ).

Peter was previously the Academic Head: Department of Hospitality Management at the University of Johannesburg (UJ) and Acting Director: UJ School of Tourism and Hospitality from January – November 2011. 

Dr Gill Mooney is the Dean of Academic Development and Support of The IIE. Gill joined The IIE in January 2016 as the Teaching and Learning Manager. Before that, she lectured in the Department of Psychology at the University of the Witwatersrand.

In 2008 she attained her doctorate, and has since published several papers, in the area of teaching and learning in tertiary education, particularly concerning the use of Vygotsky's theory to understand the transition from school to university and the development of higher-order skills. 

Dr Willy Hannes Engelbrecht was appointed as Dean: Research and Post-graduate Studies at The Independent Institute of Education (The IIE) in 2021. Willy obtained a Bachelor of Commerce in Marketing and Tourism Management, Honours Bachelor of Commerce in Tourism Management, Master of Commerce in Tourism Management and a PhD in Tourism Management from North-West University. In addition, Willy will be graduating with a Masters in Education: Educational Management and Leadership in 2022  from the University of Johannesburg. 

Willy started his academic career as a lecturer at UNISA and was appointed as Head of Programme at The IIE in 2014. In 2016 he was promoted to the Head of Faculty: Commerce. In 2018, Willy briefly left The IIE and was appointed an Assistant Professor at Woosong University, South Korea where he lectured commerce-related modules on hospitality programmes and co-presented a business simulation course in conjunction with Institut Paul Bocuse. Willy returned to The IIE late in 2018 and was appointed as Deputy Head of Faculty Commerce in 2019.  

Willy actively participates in research and has  presented many papers at both national and international conferences related to tourism and education. Willy contributes towards textbook publications and serves as a member of the editorial board of a local academic scientific journal as well as advisory boards for various higher educational institutions. He also acts as an external examiner, postgraduate supervisor, and external reviewer for both national and international academic journals. 

Dr Franzél du Plooy-Cilliers holds a Doctorate in Communication Science and is the Dean: Accreditation and Quality Assurance at The Independent Institute of Education (The IIE). Prior to returning to The IIE, Franzél was the Executive Dean: Academic at the Da Vinci Institute for Technology Management, the Dean: Research and Postgraduate Studies at The IIE, Head of Faculty: Humanities at The IIE and Section Head for Media and Communication Studies at Monash South Africa. She was also a lecturer in the Department of Communication at the University of Johannesburg (UJ). She received several awards for academic excellence, published in accredited academic journals, presented research papers at national and international conferences, was interviewed on radio and television, and is the author and editor of several books. She is a programme reviewer for the Council on Higher Education (CHE), sits on advisory committees for academic institutions, supervises postgraduate students, and is a mentor for the Phakama’s Women’s Academy.

Dr Mario Landman is a seasoned academic leader who has recently assumed the role of Head of Education Technology and Innovation at the Independent Institute of Education's Central Academic Team. He defines himself as an educator with a profound appreciation for technology, prioritizing the fusion of pedagogy and innovation.

His expertise encompasses a wide spectrum of domains, including instructional design, programme development, e-education technologies, faculty enrichment, operational management, academic quality assurance, regulatory compliance, and student support services.

Mario's knowledge of instructional and curriculum design has been instrumental in pioneering groundbreaking academic programmes that leverage the potential of technology to cater to the evolving needs of students and the dynamic demands of the job market. He possesses an ability to discern emerging trends and opportunities within the larger education landscape and collaborates closely with faculty and staff to create curricula and instructional strategies that remain at the cutting edge of higher education. 

In addition to his impactful role in academic leadership, Mario is a committed researcher in the field of digital literacy and the professional development of educators involved in online distance education. His work not only contributes to the Institute's pursuit of excellence but also contributes significantly to the broader conversation on educational innovation and technology integration.

Meet Chantal Ramburan, the powerhouse behind HR at The IIE. With an impressive 13-year journey within the ADvTECH group, Chantal is more than an HR Business Partner—she's a seasoned navigator of the human capital landscape. From the ground up, she has crafted her career, honing her expertise to perfection.

Chantal doesn't just understand HR; she embodies it. Her wealth of experience is the backbone of our people-centric approach, ensuring that every employee's journey is not just a job but a flourishing career. As a trailblazer, Chantal has mastered the art of aligning business goals with the development and well-being of our exceptional team.

Her passion for cultivating talent and fostering a thriving workplace is the driving force behind The IIE’s success in nurturing its most valuable asset—its people. Get ready to elevate your HR experience with Chantal leading the way.

Erna Kruger-Pretorius is the Head of Faculty of Commerce. Erna started her career in higher education at College Campus Parktown in 2002, a campus of The IIE at the time. She became the Campus Principal in 2004 and at the end of 2006 entered the recruitment industry where she consulted as a Human Resource Practitioner in the banking and education sector. She returned to The IIE in 2010 as a Head of Programme in the Faculty of Commerce. 

She obtained her Honours degrees in Psychology and Industrial Psychology from North-West University. After joining the Central Academic Team of The IIE she completed a Postgraduate Certificate in Higher Education in 2012 and since completed a Masters in Philosophy in Education and Training for Lifelong Learning from Stellenbosch University. Erna is currently completing her Doctorate in Computer-Integrated Education at the University of Pretoria.

Erna is the author and editor of various chapters in a variety of books in her academic fields which include psychology, human resource management and education and training. She has a particular interest in teaching and learning and the development of curricula using technology.

Mr Johan Vorster is Head of the Faculty of Information and Communications Technology at The IIE.  Johan has been involved in education and training for over 20 years with various public and private institutions. In his most recent roles he has headed up the IT departments at Monash South Africa, from where he moved to the Academic Institute of Excellence as HOD for the School of IT, before being appointed as Academic Principal. While living in London he taught at the University of Roehampton, and then moved into private industry, where he worked for a multinational company in the field of Business Intelligence, completing various Project Management and Business Intelligence certifications. He holds an M.Sc. Computer Science degree and is currently reading for a PhD in Information Systems, with his major interests being technology adoption and integration of technology in teaching and learning. His paper at the 2018 International Conference on E-Learning was selected as the best PhD paper and presentation at the conference. He has supervised several Honours and Master's research students, and published several conference papers at local and international conferences.

Mr Gerald Pascoe is the Head of Faculty for the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences. Gerald joined The IIE in 2011 as a Head of Programme and was promoted to Head of Faculty in 2020. Gerald holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree and a Bachelor of Arts Honours Degree from Monash South Africa, and a Master of Arts in Communication from the University of South Africa (UNISA). Gerald’s research interests include Gender Representations in Media and Queer theory and has published his research in an academic journal, supervised honours students, and co-authored textbooks in the fields of Business Communication and Research Methodology.

Bronwyn Le-Ann Batchelor joined The IIE as Head of Faculty: Law in March 2021. She holds a BCom in Law Degree from Rhodes University, and both an LLB and LLM Degree from the University of Fort Hare.  After several years in practice, first as a partner in a law firm and then as a Director of her own firm, as an attorney, notary and conveyancer, Bronwyn moved into academia at the University of Fort Hare in 2013 where she ran the Extended Curriculum Programme for Law for 5 years and then became Head of Department:  Public Law. Bronwyn has published articles in her research interest areas of family law, constitutional law and commercial law.  She is a member of the Legal Practice Council and has examined students for the Bar Examinations.

Meet Kamala Pather, Head of Faculty for Education at the Independent Institute of Education. Kamala has achieved many notable accomplishments, of which, two worth mentioning are: she was successful in summitting Mount Kilimanjaro a few years ago, and she is a proud mother of four children, namely Roscoe, Nirvana (aka Bean), Nugget and Joel- her beloved three fury babies and one human child. 

Kamala Pather is an ardent academic and leader who has dedicated her career to enhancing the accessibility and quality of programme offerings in Higher Education. With a background in psychology, language and literacy, as well as Special Education, Kamala has extensive experience in programme design, curriculum and assessment development. Furthermore, she has also been involved in many projects that advance epistemic and social justice in Higher Education, as well as promoting diversity and inclusion. Kamala’s research focuses on how pre-service teachers content knowledge, and pedagogical content knowledge essential for teaching reading for meaning to Foundation Phase learners develops over four years. Part of her research also looks at Pre-service Teachers’ emerging teacher identity grounded in the theoretical framework of Bakhtin’s notion of Ideological Becoming. 

Mathias: Leading the Faculty of Finance and Accounting

Mathias brings a wealth of experience and a forward-thinking vision to his role as Head of the Faculty of Finance and Accounting at The IIE. Joining us on August 1st, 2023, he holds a BSc Honours in Economics and a master’s in finance and Investment.

Combining over five years of industry expertise with a distinguished academic career spanning 15 years, Mathias possesses a proven track record of success. His journey began as a lecturer, followed by a steady progression through key roles such as Programme Coordinator, Head of Faculty, and ultimately Dean of Academics at Lyceum College. Throughout his academic tenure, he has developed a strong strategic acumen and demonstrated a passion for leadership.

Beyond his traditional credentials, Mathias is a firm believer in harnessing technology to improve learning and teaching. However, he advocates for responsible technology use, that encompasses ethical considerations and addressing potential disparities that might arise.

Aligned with The IIE's mission to inspire students through excellence in learning and teaching, scholarship, and community engagement, Mathias is committed to fostering the growth of the newly established Faculty of Finance and Accounting. He aims to cultivate a dynamic learning environment that equips students with the knowledge and skills to thrive in the ever-evolving financial landscape.