_edited.png)
.png)
02
Our People. These are the thinkers who bring the GrowZA partnerships to life. Meet our Board
CRAIG KENSLEY
Craig is the founder of GrowZA. He is a development thinker with professional training in industrial Psychology and communications. He has applied his energies across various sectors including community-based tourism, local economic development and in academia working with and in communities to drive the scaling of practical innovation.
Craig has worked in development across 4 continents on projects ranging from sports development and special economic zones strategies to innovative revenue generation vehicles for good. His pragmatic understanding of value chains and business imperatives drives the growth strategy of the organisation.
​
The work of GrowZA is born out of his passion for practical innovation and social progress in real terms.
Follow @craigkensley here
TRACEY LANGE
Tracey celebrated her 15th year in commercial radio and 6th year on National TV in 2022. With a CV that includes all the biggest commercial radio stations in Cape Town, Tracey cemented herself in the hearts of listeners with her spontaneity, quick wit and love for all people.
Her show at Heart FM shot to number 1 within a year and in 2018, she re-enacted that feat at Primedia's KFM. On the small screen Tracey hosts several shows including Bravo! on kykNet. She also co-hosted the glamorous dance extravaganza Dancing with the Stars SA, while starting a new talk show called, Tussen Ons for kykNet. Tracey has most recently secured 3 SAFTA awards as executive producer of the hit movie Griekwastad.
​
Tracey leads the GrowZA access conversations in media, film and creative industries as an advisory board member.
Follow @traceylange here
SANDRO BUCCHIANERI
Sandro Bucchianeri is a Senior Cyber Security Executive who holds two information security focused certifications (CISSP and CISM), as well as an MSc in Information Security from the prestigious Royal Holloway University of London.
​
He has over two decades of security (Information/Cyber/Physical) experience (in both consulting and CISO/CSO roles). In these positions, he has worked with large enterprises and global, multi-cultural organisations where he managed teams and programmes globally in the implementation of major initiatives relating to governance, risk & compliance, architecture and strategy. Sandro has a strong background in security and is able to blend his strong technical ability with a deep awareness of social investment.
​
Sandro is also viewed as a trusted advisor for many of his global clients across the various industries he has worked in. His energy, highly effective communication ability with Board, C-Level stakeholders and relationship management skills, coupled with his passion for security & technology has been key driver for his inputs into our global knowledge conversations. Currently based in Australia, Sandro serves as a strategic board advisor.
Follow @sbucchianeri here
BRANDON PHILLIPS
Winner of the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra’s inaugural Len van Zyl Conductors’ Competition in 2010, Brandon Phillips was appointed resident conductor of the CPO in June 2015.
He studied bassoon and viola at the University of Cape Town, receiving his B Mus Hons in solo bassoon in 2005. Phillips currently is Artistic Director and Conductor of the Cape Town Philharmonic Youth Orchestra.
​
Brandon studied conducting at the Northwestern University in Chicago with Victor Yampolsky and was a conducting intern with the Philadelphia Symphony Orchestra. In 2014, he attended Arjan Tien’s conducting class at the Fontys Conservatoire – Tilburg and was Tien’s assistant conductor in a WDR Rundfunkorchester concert in Cologne in Germany.
​
He works with many South African orchestras and choirs such as the Miagi Youth Orchestra, which he conducted to acclaim in Europe. In 2012, Phillips received Western Cape Government’s award for “ outstanding achievements by the youth”.
​
Brandon guides conversations relating to youth as well as arts and culture on the GrowZA board.
Follow @brandonphillips here
JEROME PETERS
​Jerome Peters is a professional chef with more than twenty years in the hospitality industry. He has worked in Africa and the Middle East. Through his career he honed his skills in the kitchens of prestigious hotels such as Cellars Hohenort and the Mount Nelson.
Jerome spent six years heading up the kitchen at CPUT’s Hotel School where he guided young chefs in the industry. He then returned to the mainstream industry in 2014 as the Executive Sous chef at the One and Only Hotel.
For seven years he was also a regional board member for the South African Chefs Association (serving as chairperson for the majority of his term) which planned and executed expos, social gatherings, product launches and skills transfer workshops to enhance and stimulate the hospitality community. He has also obtained a Degree in Hospitality Management.
In 2017 he moved to Botswana as the Executive Chef at Minor Hotel’s Avani resort in Gaborone. Jerome is currently working as a Head Chef in a prestigious private residence in Saudi Arabia.
​
Jeromes' strategic insight into low-barrier-to-entry industries like tourism and hospitality is key to the access ethos of GrowZA's advisory board.