Director: Governance and Communication
Celeste Strydom’s story reflects her personal journey as a South African expatriate living in the United Arab Emirates. Growing up in Cape Town under the care of a single mother within the South African public school system, Celeste has experienced firsthand the challenges and opportunities of the local educational landscape.
As a successful and published writer, Celeste brings her unique perspective and passion for education to her role as a board member, where she shares the vision of igniting a fire that lights the way for levelling the educational playing field of South Africa so that every child has access to an elevated and quality education.
Executive Director
Shannon Hiemstra’s educational background and professional experiences have shaped her deep appreciation for the value of education and the privilege it represents for the fortunate few. With a master’s degree in international relations from the University of Cape Town, Shannon’s career as an Economic Development consultant has focused on collaboration with government institutions and local businesses to identify and capitalize on opportunities for economic growth and job creation across South Africa.
As a mother of two young girls, Shannon’s personal experiences have further solidified her belief in the importance of education and how a more equitable and sustainable education system has the potential to alleviate the broader socio-economic challenges faced by the country.
Director: Finance & Governance
Mbuso Christian Mkhize has an Honours degree (Cum Laude) in communication and media. He is an entrepreneur based in Ballito. After spending four years working in South East Asia, he returned to South Africa and founded his own business ventures, using his international experience to guide his entrepreneurial approach.
As a husband and father of two young boys, Mbuso is driven by a desire to create a better future for his community. His understanding of cultural dynamics, coupled with his dedication to youth mentorship and community development, brings a unique perspective to the board of Lodestone.
Education Convenor
Joe has 40 years in Education of which 30 years have been in Management. He has a passion that extends far beyond the classroom and believes that every child is unique in their own way, irrespective of their circumstances. He has a genuine love for changing the narrative, particularly for those who are faced with challenges beyond the educational realm.
He thrives on building relationships and has a collaborative approach to improve circumstances that enhance a learning opportunity for each individual. Joe has experience both within the Government and Independent Schools and covers both Primary and High Education.
Community Convenor
Jeanne has a Master’s degree in Community Psychology and Psychology in Society from the University of Kwazulu-Natal. She has 15 years experience in coaching, facilitation and leadership in the education space. Her main areas of interest are cultivating resilience in children and young people and encouraging active citizenship. Jeanne is a founding member and the programme curator for Brighter
Future Group, a Durban based co-operative of life coaches and narrative practitioners working predominantly with youth in schools and organisations to facilitate young people’s realizing and developing of their own agency. Jeanne is also the founder of Mpower (established 2009), the non-profit arm of Brighter Future Group focusing on youth empowerment and personal development in addition to educator wellbeing and capacity to nurture learner resilience.
Jeanne joined the Citizen Leader Lab community in 2022 as the North Coast facilitator of the Leaders for Education programme. Her experience as leadership development coach to school principal/business leader partnerships has deepened her understanding of the public school system and given her insight into a variety of stakeholder perspectives. She believes in collaboration and that by thinking and acting together we can make a significant impact in improving educational outcomes in our country.
Programme Coordinator
Colin Mitchell brings a wealth of experience in Social and Economic Development, Strategy Formulation, Organisational Transformation, and Monitoring and Evaluation, with over 26 years of dedicated work in these fields.
His professional journey in developing countries has given him insight into the complexities and challenges faced by a range of communities. Critically, it has reinforced his belief in the transformative power of education and the importance of providing opportunities and support to help individuals thrive.