Robert holds a PhD in Entrepreneurship (UP), and is currently Deputy Vice Chancellor Corporate Services at the University of Venda. He is responsible for strategic leadership and management of the following Operations functions; Institutional Planning and Quality Assurance, HR, Marketing, Branding and Communication, Protection Services, and Facilities and Estate Management.
Robert has over 20 years Executive and Senior Management experience in Higher Education as well as most areas of strategic and general management in both the Private and Public Sectors.
Robert started his working career as a Social Worker in the Public Sector and served in various capacities.
He had a short stint as politician and served as the first elected Ward Councilor for Kinross in the Highveldridge Transitional Council in 1995 and served on the Council until 2000 in the capacity of Deputy Chairperson of the Executive Committee and Chairperson of the Finance and Tender Committees.
As an entrepreneur, he created his own Business Management Consultancy in 1997, a consultancy that focused on Small Business Development, Entrepreneurship, Business management and Coaching and Mentoring.
Robert served as the General Manager of the Highveldridge Business Development Centre in Secunda, Mpumalanga, providing business support and development services to SMME’s and Entrepreneurs. He has in the past also served as Director in several SMME’s in different economic sectors such as transport, construction and services.
Robert is a past chairperson of NAFCOC, Secunda Branch, and also served as a chairperson of the BMF Secunda Branch. He had the privilege to serve on the Provincial Boards of both NAFCOC and BMF in Mpumalanga.
Robert also served on the Board of the National Institute of Higher Education in the Northern Cape and appointed of the NIHE in 2015. In 2016 he was tasked by the Minister of Education to lead the de-establishment of the Institute due to the establishment of the Sol Plaatjie University.
At Board level, Robert has experience of serving in the Finance Committee, Audit and Risk Committee, Human Resources Committee and Procurement Committee.
He is a Fellow of the Institute of Directors South Africa (IoDSA) since 2004.
