Our Team

AFRE Staff

Ashika Davechand

Chief of Staff

Ashika Davechand

Chief of Staff

Ashika directly supports the Executive Director by freeing up her time to focus on executive activities and decision making. As the Chief of Staff Ashika ensures strategy alignment by connecting strategic thinking, planning and implementation across the organisation. She facilitates the realisation of AFRE’s vision and priorities in addition to providing problem solving and strategic support.

Prior to joining AFRE, Ashika spent over 10 years in management and strategy consulting in addition to several years supporting founders of scale-ups (companies that have matured and scaled from their start-up phase), and small, medium, and micro enterprises (SMMEs) to grow. Her prior experience includes working for a global non-profit supporting scale-ups and creating impact in developing markets (Endeavor), a global consulting company (Bain & Company) and a national advisory firm that supports the development of small businesses in South Africa (Edge Growth).

In her spare time, Ashika can be found enjoying well made films and television series as well as having fun with her two dogs.

Sebabatso Manoeli-Lesame

Executive Director

Sebabatso Manoeli-Lesame

Executive Director

Sebabatso provides institutional oversight, develops operational policies and supports the strategic direction of AFRE. She served previously as Deputy Executive Director and Senior Director, and currently works with the team to build the fellowship experience and to create AFRE's literary magazine, Moya, and podcast, Race Beyond Borders, both of which explore the global Black experience.

Prior to joining AFRE, Sebabatso was the acting Deputy CEO and Innovation Director at the DG Murray Trust, one of South Africa’s largest private foundations, where she provided strategic management support to incubated nonprofits. She was also a Departmental Lecturer in African history at the University of Oxford.

In her spare time, Sebabatso can be found writing, baking, or listening to jazz and folk.

Nolwazi Laetitia Mbuli

Sr Programme Manager

Nolwazi Laetitia Mbuli

Sr Programme Manager

Nolwazi manages the production of AFRE's magazine, Moya and our podcast, Race Beyond Borders. She also manages the development of AFRE’s IDEA Labs, such as the Senior Fellows Institute, and assists the Nelson Mandela Foundation’s Dialogue and Advocacy programme with coordination. In addition, she coordinates all aspects of the fellowship at AFRE, to support a successful experience for Fellows, including implementation of the virtual and immersive retreats and the administration of scholarship payments.

Prior to joining AFRE, Nolwazi was the Project Manager at WomEng, where her work focused on creating a more diverse and inclusive engineering workforce. She has experience delivering Fellowship programmes across the African continent and abroad.

In her spare time, Nolwazi can be found listening to 90’s hip hop, or watching Black-ish and Insecure.

T.O. Molefe

Director, Publications

T.O. Molefe

Director, Publications

T. O. serves as editor-in-chief of Moya, AFRE’s a literary magazine that explores Black life across time and space. He also stewards the development of AFRE’s new publications and supports organisational communications and community-engagement efforts.

Prior to joining AFRE, T. O. spent nearly 15 years as an independent writer and editor, working editorial projects for news media, publishing houses and international organisations. He has been published in the New York Times, South Africa’s Mail & Guardian, and Africa is a Country, among others, with much of his work focusing on economic and social disparities in post-apartheid South Africa. T. O. is also a social researcher and a Senior Atlantic Fellow for Social and Economic Equity (AFSEE), AFRE’s sister programme.

In his spare time, T. O. can be found reading, trying to beat his personal-best 10-kilometre running time, or attempting a challenging gourmet recipe.

Nigel Richard

Sr Programme Director & Facilitator

Nigel Richard

Sr Programme Director & Facilitator

Nigel leads AFRE’s leadership development supports for Fellows, including coaching and project development, and he co-facilitates fellowship sessions including both the virtual and immersive retreats.

Prior to joining AFRE, Nigel was Managing Director at the Global Teachers Institute, where he led the development of several multi-stakeholder collaborations and initiatives.

In his spare time, Nigel can be found outside somewhere looking for interesting people, places and inspiring spaces.

Yasmeen Rubidge

Facilitator

Yasmeen Rubidge

Facilitator

Yasmeen co-facilitates fellowship sessions including both the virtual and immersive retreats. She also is a Founding Director of Leadership Pathways, which focuses on the intersections of leadership development, systems transformation and the advancement of diversity, equity and inclusion.

In her spare time, Yasmeen can be found practicing yoga in the sunrise or jumping on a trampoline with her daughter.

Amanda Webb

Programme Coordinator

Gil Winters

Director, Finance & Operations

Amanda Webb

Programme Coordinator

Amanda coordinates AFRE’s Fellow selection process and supports the implementation of Senior Fellow community-building and funding opportunities.

Prior to joining AFRE, Amanda was at The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, where she worked in the operations department. She assisted in managing the board of trustees, coordinating local and national events. She also supported the HR team in the recruitment and onboarding of new staff.

In her spare time, Amanda loves listening to audiobooks, watching TV, and planning her next (cruise) vacation.

Gil Winters

Director, Finance & Operations

Gil leads the development of the financial and investment strategy of AFRE, creating necessary processes and infrastructure. Gil is also responsible for AFRE’s operations, organisational risk management, compliance, and certain components of legal and informational technology.

Prior to joining AFRE, Gil successfully developed and executed operation and finance strategies for public and private organisations as an independent consultant with WinterBerry Management Consulting. He also served as Director of Finance and Operations at Frontline Solutions, as Manager at PricewaterhouseCoopers, and as an interim Chief Operating Officer at New Africa Advisors, implementing best practices in financial management, internal financial and business controls, project management, budget analysis, and client and staff education and training.

In his spare time, Gil can be found coaching a local soccer team, spending time with his family, or baking.