Prof. D.L. Viljoen

Background: 

Board Member: Prof. Denis Viljoen is Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer of the Foundation for Alcohol Related Research (FARR), Rondebosch, Cape Town. Dr Viljoen is the founder member of FARR and became Chief Executive Officer after retiring as Professor and Head of Department of Human Genetics, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg. Other appointments and involvements: Deputy Chairman of the South African National Task Group for Genetic Services, Chairperson of the South African Society of Human Genetics (*SASHG), Advisor to South African Department of Health on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, Scientific Committee Member of Pseudoxanthoma Elasticum (PXE) International, Scientific Advisory Committee Member of the Retinal Preservation Foundation

Ms. Leana Olivier

Background: 

Board Member/National Manager: Leana Olivier has a background in nursing and psychology.  She is the National Manager of the Foundation for Alcohol Related Research (FARR) since 2006.  In her previous position as a senior Provincial Health Manager at the Department of Health she was actively involved in the field of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome since the first work in this regard started in South Africa.

Leana manages the Fetal Alcohol research, awareness, prevention and intervention projects and centres in De Aar (since 2002), Upington (since 2003), Ceres (since 2006) and various other smaller initiatives. 

Prof. J.P. van Niekerk

Background: 

Board Member: J P van Niekerk: Emeritus professor ‘JP’ is Managing Editor of the HMPG that publishes the South African Medical Journal and several specialist medical journals. He is a former Dean of the UCT Faculty of Health Sciences where he first became involved with FARR.

Other appointments include: Past President of the South African Medical Association; Health Professions Council (1990-2004); President of the Association of Medical Schools of Africa; Executive Council of the World Federation for Medical Education, and Chairman of the Hospice Palliative Care Association of South Africa (1993-2006).

Adrian Botha

Background: 

Board Member: Adrian Botha is currently a consultant to the Industry Association for Responsible Alcohol Use (ARA) and carries the title of Director of the association. He was a founder member of ARA and has been associated with ARA since its inception. Adrian was part of the team that agreed to fund the establishment of FARR in 1996 and has been a great supporter of the Foundation’s work ever since.

Dr. L.  Bhengu

Background: 

Board Member: Dr Louisa Bhengu: Academics - Louisa is a specialist paediatrician and a clinical geneticist. At present she is employed by NHLS Central (NGO), School of Pathology, Wits, Johannesburg, Department of Human Genetics as a senior consultant in the Clinical Unit. She joined FARR last year as a new board member. Previously worked with Prof Viljoen whilst he was the Head of Department at NHLS from 2000 until 2006 when he retired. During that time she was actively involved in partaking in FASD research done in the GAUTENG and Northern Cape (De Aar and Upington). As part of a study, for her Masters Degree in Genetic Counselling she assessed the photogrammetric (videometric) method and clinical method for diagnosing/screening FAS/FASD in children.

Other academic activities: She was employed by Wits University as a senior lecturer for undergraduate medical students, masters students, registrars and counsellors in the Department of Human Genetics. She participated as an examiner in the undergraduate and College exams for Certificate of Medical Genetics (SA).

Interests: A staunch Christian, actively involved in preaching, teaching and motivational speaking. she is also a member of a Christian Tourist Club for church members and organiser of holiday getaways.

Background: 

Board Member: Millicent Maroga is a Public Policy Projects Manager at the South African Breweries. She is a young and dynamic alumnus of the Brightest Young Minds and the Golden Key International Society. Millicent comes from a strong academic and NGO background where she worked as a researcher on Criminal Justice issues, Youth Development, Race and identity and Gender based Violence. She has also served as a Commissioner on the Gauteng Youth Commission on Youth Development, an advisory body to Primier Shilowa on youth development issues.

Ms Angelique Rossouw

Background:

Completed my BCOMPT through UNISA and then worked for 6 years at an auditing firm. I completed my articles and stayed on permanently as a Senior Manager with experience in all aspects of business ranging from bookkeeping, auditing and tax.

Been the Financial Manager at FARR since January 2008.

Yumna Martin

Background:  

Yumma completed her studies at the University of Cape Town with an Honours degree in Social Work specialising in psychology and social policy and management.

Retha Benadé

Background: 

Leigh-Anne Fourie Davies, Johannesburg: She completed her studies at the University of Johannesburg in 2000 with an Honours degree in Psychology. She has a Masters degree in Play Therapy obtained from UNISA and is currently registered for her PhD in Psychology through the University of Witwatersrand. She has been a member of the FARR team for over 6 years involved in various research, prevention and awareness projects in De Aar and Upington. She is passionate about the children in South Africa and have presented various academic papers at international conferences on behalf of FARR.

Zelia Gomes, Johannesburg: Zelia Gomes is currently a Neurodevelopmental Psychometrist at FARR.  

Formal qualifications consist of a BA HRM with majors in Industrial Psychology, Psychology and Communication Studies (2001), BA (Hon’s) Psychology (2003) at the University of Johannesburg and currently completing her M. Diac (Play Therapy) at the University of South Africa.  

Zelia is registered as an Assessor with SABPP – the ETQA for SA (SAQA – NQF); the HPCSA as an Independent Psychometrist and as a Counselor with the Council for Counselors.  

Her career milestones pertain to presenting issues of Sexual Exploitation & Child Trafficking in SA at the UN (United Nations) Conference: Working Group on Contemporary Forms of Slavery in Geneva (June 2003).  

Dr. Mahesh Veezhinathan

Background:

Post Doctoral Fellow
Faculty of Health Sciences
Department of Human Biology
University of Cape Town
Observatory 7935
South Africa

Dr. Mahesh Veezhinathan

Background

Matthew is an epidemiologist and has done research in South Africa, East Africa as well as with international organisations in Switzerland and Belgium. As an alumnus of the Faculty of Health Sciences University of Witwatersrand (MBBCh 1998 & DTM&H 2002), Matthew is well at home in his current post as Associate Professor at the Centre for Health Policy in the School of Public Health. He has about 50 publications, seven academic qualifications from leading institutions (including a doctorate in medical science) and international standing as a researcher and technical writer. Matthew’s also holds an appointment as Visiting Professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the University of Gent and frequently provides technical advice to WHO and other international organisations. In addition to fetal alcohol syndrome, research interests include maternal health and prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV; and investigation of associations between alcohol, sexual behaviour and HIV.

Background

Current position: Associate Professor of Biomedical Engineering, University of Cape Town Education: BSc in Electrical and Electronic Engineering, PhD in Bioengineering
Research interests: Medical image computing

Tania Douglas collaborates with FARR on computer-assisted identification of the facial phenotype associated with fetal alcohol syndrome; distances and shapes are derived from three-dimensional facial landmark coordinates obtained from stereo digital photographs.

Background

Sandra Marais is a senior specialist scientist at the Medical Research Council in the Crime, Violence and Injury Lead Programme. She has a D Litt et Phil in the Sociology of Health and has worked extensively in rural areas in South Africa. Her areas of interest are causes and prevention of injuries and violence, and the alcohol-relatedness of injuries and violence. She has been principal investigator on a number of research projects amongst others a randomized control trial measuring the impact of screening and brief interventions on the drinking behavior of pregnant women in a high risk rural community in SA. The latter project was conducted in partnership with FARR. Together with FARR the possibilities of practical application of the findings from this project is being negotiated with stakeholders.

Background: 

Sylvia Swarts, De Aar: Sylvia was born in De Aar. She is the second of seven children. She matriculated in 1995 at Orion High School, did computer training in 1996. She is married and has three children, two sons and one daughter. She volunteered for a year and eight months at the local office of the Department of Social Services as a social auxiliary worker. In 2004 she started as a coordinator at FARR in De Aar and found that her experience as a social auxiliary worker enabled her to understand and do the work. I have been the local coordinator of the project since August 2007.

Background: 

Lena was born in the Gordonia District, Upington, on a farm as part of a family of 14 children. She obtained her Senior Certificate at the Carlton van Heerden High School in 1975. She completed a training course in Fetal Alcohol Syndrome in 2002 and was appointed as community worker in 2003. Lena enjoys speaking to groups at the clinics, churches, schools or the community at large.

Lena is excited about what she learnt while working on the Healthy Mother Healthy Baby project.  She is fascinated by the development of the fetus over the different weeks and the strong bond between mother and baby (via the umbilical cord) so that everything the mother eats, drinks or even feels has an impact on the unborn baby. She strongly believes in the cord (of the FAS knot) connecting mother and baby but also the cord of caring connecting all of us together. 

She is in awe of the wonder of creation.  Although the baby was ‘made’ by a mother and father through conception, the baby was perfectly formed by our Father in Heaven.

Background: 

Annelize was born in Upington and matriculated in Louisevaleweg, Upington during 1999.  She attended Upington college and qualified in computer literacy.  She is the mother of one child who is growing up with her grandmother in Upington.

She volunteered for the Department of Health after completing training in HIV/Aids, TB, caring for the elderly. 

Annelize joined FARR during 2003 as a community worker.  During 2008 she moved to De Aar and currently she works on the Healthy Mother Healthy baby project, supporting mothers not to drink during pregnancy.  She enjoys the strong relationship with the pregnant ladies and maintaining this relationship even after the birth of the baby.  She feels very involved with these women and carries their burdens with them

Annelize has a heart for the community and community development.  She hopes to further develop her skills in community development through studies.  She dearly misses her family in Upington and hope to return to her home town soon, continuing her work for FARR there. 

Ms Agnes Pidja