STAFF
Akademia has outstanding and vocation-driven staff who contribute to a worldclass learning experience.
DEAN
Dr Rachel Maritz
DCom (Business Management)
Dean:
Faculty of Economics and Management Sciences
Dr Rachel Maritz obtained her doctorate in Business Management (specialising in Strategic Management) from the University of Pretoria (UP) in 2008. She obtained a Master of Business Leadership degree (MBL) from Unisa (2002) and a master’s degree in Afrikaans (Media communication) (cum laude) from UP, as well as a BA (Languages)- and an honours degree in Afrikaans (cum laude) from the same institution. She received awards for best honours student, master’s dissertation, and doctoral thesis.
Previously, Maritz was affiliated with the University of Pretoria’s Department of Business Management (Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences) full-time. She served as head of Teaching and Learning at this department, on the Faculty Teaching and Learning Committee, and as the faculty task team for the faculty’s international accreditation. Between 1997 and 2001, she was employed by Telkom as a senior consultant for internal audit and manager for Competitive Intelligence.
Maritz possesses wide-ranging experience as a strategy consultant for PWC, as well as Enterprises UP, and was involved in strategic projects (among which are the development, audit, and implementation of strategy) for divergent companies. She develops courses in strategy for UP, the local industry, as well as the international MBA of the Guglielmo Marconi University in Rome. She acts as academic supervisor for master’s- and doctoral studies, as well as external moderator and examiner for programmes, dissertations, and theses at other universities. She is involved in writing manuals on strategic management and publishes various research articles in international academic journals. Her research is focused on emergent and creative strategy, strategy in practice, and corporate management.
HEADS OF DEPARTMENT
Elize-Mari Coetzer
MCom (Tourism Management)
Head of Department:
Management Sciences
Elize-Mari Coetzer is the department head of Management Sciences at Academia. She obtained a BCom degree in Corporate Communication and Tourism Management (cum laude), as well as an honour’s and master’s degree in this discipline at the North-West University (NWU). Coetzer’s research focuses on market profiles, spending patterns, and economic contributions. Her most recent publication is the article ‘Expenditure-based Segmentation of Visitors to the Wacky Wine Festival’, in the Tourism Recreation Research scholarly journal. Her academic awards include membership of the Golden Key Internation Honour Society. She worked as a conference and spa manager for two years. She also has more 15 years of experience in the higher education environment as a programme coordinator and lecturer, among other roles.
Rika Calitz
MCom (Financial Management)
Head of Department:
Economics and Financial Sciences
Rika Calitz is the head of the Department of Economics and Financial Sciences and the programme coordinator of the Postgraduate Diploma in Management Accounting. She is also a lecturer in Financial Management and Financial Strategy. She obtained a BCom degree in Management Accounting and an honours degree in this discipline from the North-West University (NWU). She obtained a master’s degree in Financial Management with a thesis titled: The Impact of Firm-specific Attributes on Shareholder Value Creation of Listed South African Companies.
Department of Management Sciences
Bernard Odendaal
MA (Security Studies)
Lecturer:
Management Sciences
Bernard Odendaal is a lecturer in Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences at Akademia and obtained the following academic qualifications at the University of Pretoria (UP): a BA degree in Political Sciences, an honours degree in International Politics and a master’s degree in Security Studies. He has worked in various capacities in the private and public sector, and since 2011 he has been the CEO of The Fact Foundry, a consulting and training company. During his professional career he has given presentations on a wide range of topics at various international and national conferences. He currently teaches Sustainability and Responsible Citizenship as well as Ethics and Corporate Governance.
Chané Naudé
MCom (Business Management)
Lecturer:
Management Sciences
Chané Naudé is a lecturer in the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences at Akademia. She obtained a BCom degree in Entrepreneurship and Business Management (cum laude), an honours degree in Entrepreneurship and Marketing Management (cum laude) as well as a master’s degree in Business Management (cum laude) from the North-West University (NWU). Naudé’s research focus is to investigate the management of service quality in the fast-food franchise industry of Gauteng. Based on her academic performance, she was invited to become a member of the Golden Key International Honour Society. She completed an internship at Anglo American Platinum where she then practiced as a project administrator.
Christine Terblanche
MPhil (Management Sciences and Supply Chain Management)
Lecturer:
Management Sciences
Subject head:
Operations Management
Christine Terblanche is a lecturer in Supply Chain Management at Akademia and obtained a BCom degree in Business Management (cum laude) as well as an honours degree in Business Management and a master’s degree in Supply Chain Management from the University of Pretoria (UP). She is currently working on a doctoral dissertation in Supply Chain Management. Terblanche’s research focus is supply chain risk management, integration and information sharing. Her most recent article, “Counterfeiting: Exploring mitigation capabilities and resilience in South African pharmaceutical supply chains”, was published in Acta Commerci. Academic awards include membership in the Golden Key International Honour Society. She has got more than four years of experience in the higher education environment.
Delicia Bezuidenhout-Conradie
MCom (Tourism Management)
Lecturer:
Management Sciences
Delicia Bezuidenhout-Conradie is a lecturer in Business Management at Akademia and obtained a BCom degree in Marketing and Tourism Management (cum laude) as well as an honours and master’s degree in Tourism Management at the North-West University (Potchefstroom Campus). She is currently working on a doctoral dissertation in Tourism Management. Bezuidenhout-Conradie’s research focus is Tourism Management and Marketing. Academic awards include the best student over three years in Tourism Management as well as membership in the Golden Key International Honour Society. She has got four years of experience in the higher education environment as a lecturer.
Jaun Kriel
MCom (Tourism Management)
Lecturer:
Management Sciences
Programme coordinator:
Advanced Diploma in Project Management
Jaun Kriel is a lecturer and the programme coordinator of the Advanced Diploma in Project Management at Akademia. He obtained a BCom degree in Corporate Communication and Tourism Management, as well as honours and master’s degrees in this discipline from the North-West University (NWU). Kriel is currently working on his project management certification at the Project Management Institute (PMI). He has 13 years of experience as a lecturer, as well as eight years as a programme coordinator at Akademia.
Johann Smith
MCom (Communication Management)
Lecturer:
Management Sciences
Johann Smith is a lecturer in Business Management at Akademia. He obtained a BCom degree and an honours degree in Informatics, as well as a master’s degree in Communication Management from the University of Pretoria (UP). He has also attended a predoctoral course in Entrepreneurship at the Open University of the Netherlands in Heerlen. Smith’s research focuses on the identification of business opportunities as a cognitive construct. He practises as a management consultant, but has also been involved in the education sector for almost two decades.
Marthe-Mari Herbst
BComHons (Business Management)
Lecturer:
Management Sciences
Programme coordinator:
Higher Certificate in Office Administration
Marthe-Mari Herbst is a lecturer in Business Management at Akademia. She obtained a BCom degree in Chartered Marketing and a postgraduate teaching certificate (PGCE) from the North-West University (NWU), as well as an honours degree (cum laude) in Business Management from the University of South Africa (Unisa). Her academic awards include Top-4 Student for the PGCE Qualification at the NWU. She worked in practice as an account manager, and she also has experience in tertiary education.
Monique Visser
MCom (International Trade)
Lecturer:
Management Sciences
Programme coordinator:
BCom (Business Management)
Monique Visser is a lecturer in Management Sciences at Akademia. She obtained a BCom degree in International Trade and Marketing, as well as an honours degree (cum laude) and a master’s degree in International Trade from the North-West University (Potchefstroom Campus). She is currently busy with a doctoral dissertation in strategy. Visser’s research focus is the strategy-as-practice. Her article, “Identifying the comparative advantage of products and industries of South Africa’s Mpumalanga province”, was published in the Southern African Business Review. Visser worked for an international import and export company for two years, and she has over nine years of experience in the academic environment at higher education institutions.
Morné Venter
MCom (Labour Relations and Human Resources Management)
Lecturer:
Management Sciences
Morné Venter is a lecturer in BCom (Business Management) at Akademia, specifically Human Resource Management and Labour Relations. He obtained a master’s degree in Human Resources and Labour Relations Management from Nelson Mandela University (NMU). His dissertation focuses on how to break the cycle of poverty. Furthermore, he achieved an honours degree in Industrial and Organisational Psychology from the University of South Africa (Unisa) and a BCom in Industrial Psychology and Labour Relations Management from the North-West University (NWU). Venter holds a postgraduate diploma in Labour Law from the University of Johannesburg (UJ) and a postgraduate certificate in education from Unisa. He has five years of experience as a legal advisor at an employers’ organisation.
Dr. Rina Steynberg
DCom (Leadership, Performance Management and Change Management)
Lecturer:
Management Sciences
Dr Rina Steynberg is a lecturer in the field of Business Management at Akademia and obtained a DCom degree in Leadership in Performance and Change at the University of Johannesburg (UJ) with her thesis focussing on people’s integration processes during mergers and acquisitions. She obtained an honours and master’s degree (cum laude) in Human Resources Management at the University of Pretoria (UP). She published various articles and acted as a speaker at professional bodies with a strong focus on organisational culture and transformation, leadership and team dynamics, and the integration thereof with business processes. Her most recent publication is a chapter on change navigation for the University of South Africa (UNISA) included in the textbook, “Contemporary Issues in Human Resources Management”. She has more than thirty years’ industry experience of which twenty years are as a management consultant. She also enjoys being a study leader for intern industrial psychologists.
Salomien Boshoff
MCom (Business Management, Marketing)
Lecturer:
Management Sciences
Subject head:
Business Management
Salomien Boshoff is a lecturer in Business Management. She obtained a BCom degree in Business Management, as well as an honours degree in Marketing from Stellenbosch University. She obtained her MCom in Business Management from the University of the Free State with a dissertation titled: Teamwork as a Skill for Marketing Graduates. Boshoff’s research focuses on hiring skills and marketing. She serves as the chairperson of Akademia’s Navorsingondersteunings en ontwikkelingskomitee (Research Support and Development Committee) (NOOK). Boshoff has decades of experience in teaching and learning, during which she has received several awards – specifically for her assessment practices and collaboration agreements with businesses.
Stefan Vorster
BComHons (Entrepreneurship and Business Management)
Junior lecturer:
Management Sciences
Stefan Vorster is a lecturer in field Management Sciences at Akademia and obtained a BCom degree in Entrepreneurship and Business Management, as well as an honours degree in this discipline at the North-West University (Potchefstroom Campus). Academic awards include
the following: member of Golden Key. He has more than four years’ experience in higher education as a lecturer.
Jacolene Greyvenstein
MSc (Project Management)
Part-time lecturer:
Management Sciences
Jacolene Greyvenstein is a part-time lecturer in Project Management at Akademia’s Faculty of Economic- and Management Sciences. She obtained a BSc and honours degree in Quantity Surveying, and later an MSc degree in Project Management from the University of Pretoria. Her academic awards include membership in the Golden Key International Honour Society She has been practising for over 20 years, initially as a professional quantity surveyor and later as a project- and development manager in the construction industry. Her professional qualifications include international membership in project management and quantity surveying.
Department of EconomicS and Financial Sciences
Alick Burger
MCom (Management Accounting)
Lecturer:
Economics and Financial Sciences
Alick Burger is a lecturer in Financial Management at Akademia and obtained a BRek degree (cum laude) as well as an honours degree in this discipline at the University of the Free State (UFS). He obtained a master’s degree in Management Accounting from the North-West University (NWU). Burger’s research focus is on qualitative methodologies in the broad field of management accounting and financial management. His most recent published work is an article in Financial Management entitled “Finding the key to strategic cost management” and his most recent paper was on “Strategic cost management in a South African automotive company” at the 13th International Business Conference. He has ten years of commercial experience and has held the prestigious Chartered Accountant (GR(SA)) title for the past eleven years.
Berrie Stoop
BComHons (Financial Accounting)
Lecturer:
Economics and Financial Sciences
Berrie Stoop is a lecturer in Accounting Sciences at Akademia and obtained a BCom degree in Financial Accounting, as well as an honours degree in this discipline from the North-West University (NWU). He is currently working on a master’s degree in the philosophy of higher education at Stellenbosch University (SU). He is the author and presenter of several workshops and seminars offered in the accounting profession and has been practicing as an accountant for two decades. Stoop is currently the chairperson of the Southern African Institute for Commercial Accounting (SAIBA)’s Education Committee.
Chalté Venter
MCom (Finances)
Lecturer:
Economics and Financial Sciences
Chalté Venter is a lecturer in Statistics, Investment Management and Economics (with specialisation in Econometrics) at Akademia. She obtained a BCom degree in Economics and Econometrics, an honours degree in Econometrics, as well as a master’s degree in Finance and Investment Management at the University of Johannesburg (UJ). Venter’s master’s thesis is titled “An empirical analysis of information efficiency in financial markets”. Her most recent published work is an article on “Volatility modelling and trading volume of the CARS equity indices” in the conference proceedings of the International Conference for Applied Economics, which was also presented as a paper at the University of Milan in Italy. She practiced as an educator in the private education sector for four years.
Daniëlla du Preez
MPhil (Higher Education)
Lecturer:
Economics and Financial Sciences
Subject head:
Financial and Investment Management
Program coordinator:
Postgraduate Diploma in Management Accounting
Daniëlla du Preez is a lecturer in Accounting Sciences at Akademia and has a BCom degree in Management Accounting, as well as an honours degree in Financial Accounting from the North-West University (NWU). She completed three years of clerkship and passed the SAIPA (South African Institute of Professional Accountants) board exam. Du Preez has got five years of international corporate experience in, among other things, human resource management, accounting, taxation and contract negotiation.
Edward Blight
MCom (Local Economic Development)
Lecturer:
Economics and Financial Sciences
Subject head:
Economics
Edward Blight is a lecturer in Economics. He obtained a BA (Politics, Philosphy, and Economy), as well as an honour’s and master’s degree in Economics at the University of Johannesburg (UJ). His master’s degree is titled Prevalence of a Mineral Resource Curse in South Africa: A Critical Analysis of the Gold and Diamond Sectors. He received further training in Heterodox Economics at Mises University in America. He delivers presentations at various national conferences. Blight works as an opinion writer for Maroela Media, and publishes several articles about the South African economy.
Mariska Wannenburg
MPhil (Fraud Risk Management)
Lecturer:
Economics and Financial Sciences
Programme coordinator:
BCom (Financial Planning)
Mariska Wannenburg is a lecturer in Taxation and Accounting at Akademia and is currently the programme coordinator for the BCom (Financial Planning)-programme. She obtained a BCom degree in Accounting Sciences and an honours degree in Internal Audit from the University of Pretoria (UP). Her research focus is cyber security and specifically the feasibility of phishing in a South African context. She has published an academic article in the Southern African Journal of Accountability and Auditing, and delivered a paper on white collar crime investigations at the Southern African Accounting Association’s international conference. Furthermore, she has international corporate experience in internal auditing and has practised at the auditing firm Ernst & Young in the Netherlands and South Africa; thereafter, she continued her career as an internal audit operational manager at Investec Bank.
Michelle Coetzee
MCom (Computer Auditing)
Lecturer:
Economics and Financial Sciences
Subject head:
Accounting, Taxation and Auditing
Programme coordinator:
Higher Certificate in Accounting
Michelle Coetzee is a lecturer in Taxation and Auditing at Akademia. She obtained a BCom degree in Chartered Accountancy (cum laude), as well as an honours degree in this discipline from the North-West University (NWU). She is currently working on a master’s dissertation in auditing. Coetzee’s research focuses on the auditing of cryptocurrencies. Her most recent published work is an article in the Accountancy SA professional journal concerning the accounting considerations related to the coronavirus. She is a registered Chartered Accountant (South Africa) and an assessor at the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA). She is also the regional vice-chairperson for the Southern African Accounting Association. Her academic awards include membership in the Golden Key International Honour Society.
Nadia Hunt
MCom (Investment Management)
Lecturer:
Economics and Financial Sciences
Programme coordinator:
BCom (Economics and Law)
Nadia Hunt is a lecturer in Economics and Financial Planning at Akademia. She obtained a BCom degree in Economics and Econometrics, as well as an honours degree in International Trade and Financial Economics from the University of Johannesburg (UJ). She has approximately two years of experience practising as an economist in the commodity sector of South Africa.
Nicolene Coetzee
BCom (Accounting Sciences)
Lecturer:
Economics and Financial Sciences
Nicolene Coetzee is a lecturer in the Department of Economic and Business Sciences at Akademia and obtained a BCom degree in Accounting Sciences as well as a postgraduate diploma (CTA) in this discipline at the University of South Africa. Coetzee’s research focus is professional scepticism in auditing. She worked as an auditor for three years and has a decade’s experience in the academic environment at higher education institutions.
Nikki Kennedy
MCom (Taxation)
Lecturer:
Economics and Financial Sciences
Programme coordinator: Postgraduate Diploma in Taxation
Nikki Kennedy is a lecturer in Management Accounting and Taxation at Akademia. She obtained a BCom degree in Accounting Sciences from the University of Pretoria (UP) and an honours degree in this discipline from the University of South Africa (Unisa). She also obtained her master’s degree in Taxation from the University of Pretoria. She has completed the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) exams up to the TOPCIMA level. Kennedy has also completed a postgraduate programme in Advanced Taxation and Tax Legislation through the North-West University (NWU). She practises as an accountant and is a member of CIMA, the South African Institute of Professional Accountants (SAIPA), and the South African Institute of Taxation (SAIT).
Roelien Botha
MCom (Financial Management Sciences)
Lecturer:
Economics and Financial Sciences
Programme coordinator: BCom (Management Accounting) and BCom (Financial and Management Accounting)
Roelien Botha is a lecturer and the acting programme coordinator of the Higher Certificate in Accounting and BCom (Management Accounting) at Akademia. She obtained her BCom Law degree (cum laude), as well as her honours and master’s degrees (cum laude) in Financial Management from the University of Pretoria (UP). Botha’s research focuses on the financial management activities of small businesses. Her academic awards include academic colours, Dean’s Merit List, and membership in the Golden Key International Honour Society.
Dr Sandra Adendorff
DCom (Economy)
Lecturer:
Economics and Financial Sciences
Sandra Adendorff is a lecturer in Economics at Akademia and obtained a master’s and doctoral degree in this discipline at the University of Pretoria (UP). She was previously employed at the UP, as well as the Reserve Bank. Adendorff’s research focus is economics, financial markets and instruments, as well as macroeconomic policy. As a researcher, she is co-author of a number of textbooks, including Economic Indicators and Understanding South African Financial Markets (Van Schaik) and Monetary Economics in South Africa (Oxford). In addition, she has written articles and publications for various institutions, and delivered a number of papers at international conferences. She has also been involved in a number of research projects, among others focused on financial integration in Southern Africa, and is a fellow at the South African Institute for Financial Markets.
Shaun Coetzee
MBA
Lecturer:
Economics and Financial Sciences
Shaun Coetzee is a lecturer in the department of Economic and Financial Sciences at Akademia. He obtained both a BCom Accounting degree and an honours degree in Management Accounting with distinction from the North-West University (NWU). He obtained ACMA (Associates of Cost and Management Accountants) and CGMA (Chartered Global Management Accountant) recognition from CIMA (Chartered Institute of Management Accountants), an MBA from the University of Derby, and an MSc (Strategic Business Management) from Manchester Metropolitan University. His academic awards include academic honours, Best Honours Student, and membership in the Golden Key International Honour Society. For the past 18 years, he has worked in the mining-, consumer goods-, recycling-, and manufacturing sector, during which he was responsible for businesses in South Africa, Australia, and the United Kingdom.
Yolandi van Wyk
MCom (Accounting Sciences)
Lecturer:
Economics and Financial Sciences
Yolandi van Wyk is a lecturer in Financial Accounting at Akademia and has a BCom degree in Accounting Sciences, as well as an honours degree in this discipline at the University of Pretoria (UP). She later also obtained a master’s degree in Accounting Sciences at the UP in 2019. She practiced as auditor with Deloitte and holds membership with SAICA.
Thinus Nienaber
BComHons (Economics)
Lecturer:
Economics and Financial Sciences
Thinus Nienaber is a lecturer in the field of Economics and Financial Sciences at Akademia and obtained a BCom degree at the University of Free State (UFS) as well as an honours degree in Economics at the University of Pretoria (UP). He also obtained a Postgraduate Diploma in Financial Planning from Milpark Education and is busy with his MBA. He practiced four years as economist and for more than twenty years as tax and financial consultant. Furthermore, he spent seven years as senior manager in the corporate environment and has already lectured for twelve years.
Alicia Kamfer
Part-time lecturer:
Economics and Financial Sciences
Alicia Kamfer is a lecturer in Financial Planning at Akademia and obtained a BCom degree in Law in this discipline at the University of Pretoria (UP). She is currently working on her LLB degree. She has got a few years of experience in the insurance industry and currently practices as a registered compliance officer.
Andria de Wet
Part-time lecturer:
Economics and Financial Sciences
Andria de Wet is a lecturer in Project Management at Akademia. She obtained a degree in City and Regional Planning, as well as an honours degree (cum laude) in this discipline, from the North-West University (NWU). She is a professional town planner registered with the South African Council for Planners (SACPLAN) and practiced as a town planner for seven years. She is currently a project coordinator in the construction industry.
Johantie du Preez
Postgraduate Diploma (Accountancy)
Part-time lecturer:
Economics and Financial Sciences
Johantie du Preez is a lecturer in Economic and Financial Sciences at Akademia and obtained a BCom degree in Accounting as well as a postgraduate diploma in this discipline at the University of Pretoria (UP). She is a chartered accountant that is registered at SAICA and is currently a financial manager at an international company. Du Preez has five years’ practical experience.
Monique Brasler
Part-time lecturer:
Economics and Financial Sciences
Monique Brasler is a lecturer in the BCom (Financial Planning) programme at Akademia. She obtained a BCom degree in Finance, as well as an honours degree in Financial Planning from the University of Johannesburg (UJ). Brasler currently practises as a financial planner.
Surina Cloete
Part-time lecturer:
Economics and Financial Sciences
Surina Cloete is a lecturer in Investment Management at Akademia. She obtained a BCom degree in Investment Management and an honours degree in this discipline from the University of Pretoria (UP). She is also a practising financial analyst.
Tho-Marie Stoltz
Part-time lecturer:
Research methodology
Tho-Marie Stoltz is a lecturer in the Postgraduate Diploma in Taxation at Akademia. She obtained a Bcom degree in Tourism Management and an honours in this discipline from the North-West University (NWU). She also obtained a postgraduate teaching certificate from the University of Pretoria (UP). She is currently working on a master’s dissertation in Education (Information, Technology, and Communication) at the University of Johannesburg (UJ).
ACADEMIC ASSISTANTS
Elizma van Zyl
Academic assistant:
Management Sciences
Marli Erasmus
Academic assistant:
Economics and Financial Sciences
Rochel Oberholzer
Academic assistant:
Economics and Financial Sciences
Theuns Strydom
Academic assistant:
Management Sciences
Zandie Esterhuizen
Academic assistant:
Economics and Financial Sciences
