The ACCORD Team
In true African tradition, ACCORD is a family extending across the African continent. The founder of the organisation, Vasu Gounden, is still at the helm 17 years on.
Much of the success of the organisation has to do with its historical links and strong foundations. The founding trustees of ACCORD were the then principles of South Africa's "black" universities. Sibusiso Bengu, Jakes Gerwel, Jairam Reddy, Chabani Manganyi and Wiseman Nkuhlu went on to take up prominent positions in the new government - from Education Minister to Director General in President Mandela's office, but have remained loyal to the work of ACCORD and played a major role in the organisation's success over the years. In 1998, Graca Machel joined the ACCORD team as it's sixth trustee.
Many of our staff team have been with the organisation more than eight years, and ACCORD maintains a strong team of associates and consultants who work regularly on ACCORD projects - consistent with the modern ideal of virtual teams.
Board of Trustees
ACCORD’s Board of Trustees, headed by the current Chair of the Board Madam Graca Machel (President FDC, Mozambique), and the board comprises H.E. Ambassador Sibusiso Bengu (the former South African Ambassador to Germany and former Minister of Education), Professor Jakes Gerwel (Chair, Mandela-Rhodes Foundation and the former Head of the Office of former South African President Nelson Mandela); Professor Wiseman Nkuhlu (Chairperson, Pan African Capital Holdings and the former Economic Advisor to former President Mbeki), Professor Jairam Reddy (Director, United Nations University International Leadership Institute), Ambassador Billy Modise (former South African Ambassador to Canada and former South African Chief of State Protocol), Mr Josias de Kock (Chief Financial Officer for Premier Foods and a former Chief Risk Officer for Sanlam) and Mr. Vasu Gounden (Founder and current Executive Director of ACCORD).
Besides our Board of Trustees, since 2007 ACCORD now also has an EXCOM of the Board, which meets twice a year and which reports at the two full Trustees meetings held each year. The EXCOM Board comprises of:
- Vasu Gounden, Founder and Executive Director
- Sunitha Singh, General Manager: Finance and Administrator
- Madam Graca Machel (Chair of the ACCORD Board of Trustees)
- Professor Wiseman Nkuhlu (Chairperson, Pan African Capital Holdings and the former Economic Advisor to former President Mbeki). Prof Nkuhlu is the Chair of the EXCOM
- Mr. Josias de Kock (Chief Financial Officer for Premier Foods and a former Chief Risk Officer for Sanlam)
- Hayden Allen (Board Secretary and General Manager: Corporate Affairs)
Our Profiles
Please click on the links, at left, to find out more about our team, and to contact them if necessary.