Trustees

Victoria Nel, Chair

Victoria did most of her schooling in Switzerland, finishing in Oxford with an International Baccalaureate. She completed her BS in business studies and biochemistry at Duke University North Carolina in the United States. While there she completed a program called Leadership in the Arts, which brought her to work for the 21st Century Foundation in New York. Victoria later went to study African Sub-Saharan history and literary in Paris, where she met her husband. In 1996, she and her father started a family business in Social Responsible Venture Capital, focusing on clean technologies and Grassroots business.

She married, becoming a stepmother to one and a mother to three, living in Mayotte. In 2003, Victoria opened Songololo children in Barcelona; a children's shop concentrating on the sale of socially responsible and eco-friendly toys, accessories and clothing from all over the world.

She moved to Cape Town in 2005, where in 2007 she became Director of a property company that owns the Heritage Square; and managing director of the Cape Heritage Hotel.

Ian Watt

Ian is the former Managing Director of Old Mutual Properties. He retired after 40 years with Old Mutual and established his own business retail "Xpressions", which consults on new retail projects and concepts internationally.

He has been at the forefront of many of the innovative entertainment concepts that have been introduced in the industry, notably Cavendish Square, The Zone @ Rosebank, Menlyn Park shopping Centre and Gateway Theatre of shopping.

He is frequently invited to address international audiences on the role of entertainment in creating dynamic retail environments and serves as a trustee of the International Council of Shopping Centers.

Ian also serves on a number of boards, Pioneer Property Zone Services PVT Ltd (India), Primedia Lifestyle (Pty) Ltd, Primedia Interactive (Pty) Ltd, Primemedia Interactive Properties (Pty) Ltd, and is a trustee of the MTN Interactive Science Foundation, ICSC (USA).

Saul Chanarin

Saul began his involvement in ZIP ZAP as a parent when his two sons became students at ZIP ZAP in 1993, where they trained until graduating to perform overseas as professionals.

After studying Interior Design at Hornsey Art College, he became personally involved in the performing arts field in South Africa as an entertainer with a touring theatre company.

Saul is a Trustee of the Constantia Waldorf School Association and has been the Speech and Drama teacher at the Constantia Waldorf School for the last sixteen years.

Michael Bagraim

Michael earned a BA in Political Science and an LLB at Rhodes University. He opened his own law practice specializing in Labour Law and Industrial Relations in 1986. He has served many NPOs in a number of capacities, including Glendale Home for the Mentally Handicapped (past chairperson), South African National Jewish Board of Deputies (current chairman), and Epilepsy South Africa. Bagraim, has since joining the ZIP ZAP Board, provided ZIP ZAP with a great deal of assistance around legal matters, such as contract creation.

David Froman

David is a young entrepreneur based in Cape Town. After studying at the University of Cape Town (UCT), David completed his training as a chartered accountant with Deloittes in 1989. Thereafter he traveled for two years before starting a career in the media industry in the UK. David and his wife Lea lived in Amsterdam, London and Tel Aviv until they returned to South Africa in 1994 where David founded the AFS Group, a dynamic niche company focused on partnering the oil industry in the downstream petroleum environment. David has three daughters, loves the outdoors, meaningful relationships, mentoring and making a difference.

Kathy Lee Hilderbrand

Kathy Lee was born in Switzerland and studied there and in Great Britain. Her first degree was in Biochemistry. After realizing that she did not want to spend her life in a lab, she studied Nutrition and Epidemiology, which would give her the skills to work more directly with people.

She first worked in Mali during the severe famine of the 80s where she met her husband also working in the humanitarian field.

This was the beginning of a long adventure taking her from Mali to Chad and then Cambodia, for stays of several years in each country. She has always enjoyed travelling and was involved in several short term work projects in many other African countries.

Kathy Lee arrived in South Africa in 1999 with her husband and two children and fell in love with the country and the dynamism of the people.  

Through her daughter Isaline, she discovered Zip Zap and slowly grew to understand and appreciate the work Zip Zap is doing.  The work with children coming from less privileged backgrounds, the opportunity to develop in a safe and harmonious environment as well as discovering the beauty and magic of circus, was an eye opener and something that was missing in the medical humanitarian work being done in Khayelitsha. 

After several years of dreaming and discussing with Brent and Laurence, the Ibhongolwethu project was started by Zip Zap in Khayelitsha in conjunction with MSF in 2005. 

Beryl Kerr

Beryl is a business woman with a strong community development focus. She is a founder member and director of GEM Investments and  the immediate past Chair of the Council of the University of the Western Cape (UWC) and of the WHEAT (Women’s Hope Education and Training Trust).

She has served on the Wesgro board as the vice-chairperson and the chairperson of the HR/Remuneration Committee.

In addition to that, she has also worked with the Minister of Public Works and Transport in an advisory capacity on Monitoring and Evaluation.

 Clarence Counsell

Clarence started at Haggie Rand 22 years ago and has stayed with the company since. His interest in the community is through his church, visiting the sick and serving various bodies which care for the less fortunate. His boy scout days already revolved around getting the young off the streets and teaching them life skills. Regualtions with regard to safety and risks have become fundemental in any operation and it is in this area where he can be of active support to Zip Zap.The passing of his wife has left a huge void in his life and he will channel his expertise and energy to the continued exsistence of Zip Zap Circus School.