The Board
Prof Francis Petersen:
Chairman
Prof Francis Petersen is Chairman of Riskflow Holdings Trust and Dean: Engineering and the Built Environment at the University of Cape Town in South Africa. He was formerly the Executive Head: Strategy at Anglo Platinum Corporation and Executive Vice-President: Research and Development at Mintek. He is a recipient of the Ernest Oppenheimer Memorial Trust and the Cape Technikon Researcher of the Year Awards. Petersen serves on various national and international technical, editorial and advisory committees, is actively involved and has consulted widely to the South African engineering and the built environment industries. Petersen is also a registered professional engineer with ECSA. He has published over 150 technical papers and conference proceedings in international journals. He holds a B. Ing (Chem), M. Ing (Metal) and Ph.D (Ing) from the University of Stellenbosch.
Daan Maré:
Group CEO
Daan Maré started his career working in the Department of Justice before switching to banking in 1978. He worked for numerous South African Banks from 1978 to 1988. Maré’s career as an entrepreneur started in 1980 with an export company and by 1988 he had launched Financial Risk Systems (Pty) Ltd (FRS), which became Riskflow (Pty) Ltd, as well as Datacomp Training (Pty) Ltd. From 1990 to 1997 he also served as chairman and non-executive director of Bigger Liquor Ltd. In 1994 he became regional director for SPL WorldGroup BV in Singapore. He is also the co-owner of a property portfolio and property estate agency. Maré has had various interests in different businesses over the years. He serves as a business coach and mentor to CEOs and employees in all the companies he is involved with. He is a registered member with COMENSA (Coaches and Mentors of South Africa). He holds a B Comm. (Law), Hons (Econ), and MBA
Danie de Villiers:
Group CFO
Danie de Villiers completed his articles with Brink, Roos & du Toit in 1986. From as early as 1989 he served as Financial Director in various companies including Siltek Ltd, as well as other companies in the Siltek Group; City Investment Holdings Ltd and Spicer-Mitchell Ltd which later became known as Spicer. In 1995 he was the founding member and director of MD Consultants. He is also a trustee for The Emseni Trusts, which focus on assistance to previously disadvantaged people. He holds a B Com Acc, Hons, CA (SA) from RAU. De Villiers is involved in community work and serves as board member of Abraham Kriel Childcare, his church and as advisor to Homo Novus, an NGO. De Villiers further has a keen interest in entrepreneurship for children and environmental care.
Prof Pierre Strydom:
Trustee
In 1999 Prof Pierre Strydom joined Business School Netherlands (BSN), later becoming Managing Director of BSN in South Africa. He was instrumental in founding three active BSN ventures overseas. He further activated the BSN International Action Learning MBA and negotiated a validation process in the UK towards an International double degree DBA. His business activities evolved towards becoming Business Development Executive worldwide, and he was CEO of BSN until 2009, leading an accelerated internationalization process. He is often involved as facilitator in strategic sessions, team and leadership development processes and as coach. He is also part of the African Institute for Mentoring. Strydom is a Certified Executive Leadership Coach and a Certified Action Learning Coach. He has done business school conferences, conference presentations and has led national and international workshops. Strydom has a Masters degree in Education.
Izak Petersen:
Vice Chairman
A qualified Chartered Accountant, Petersen completed his traineeship with Deloitte South Africa. He gained valuable experience working at various financial services companies and is currently heading up Mergence Africa Capital and Mergence Africa Properties. Petersen has in the past served as an EXCO member of various bodies, including ABASA, Trainee Accountants Forum and ABSIP. He also represented ABSIP on the BUSA Economic Committee. Petersen is a registered SAICA and IOD (Institute of Directors) member. Furthermore, Petersen serves on the Management Committee of SAICA Members in Business. He also serves on various boards in the Mergence Group. He holds a CA (SA).
