2024 Cohort

Antonia holds an honours level degree in Actuarial Science. She developed her communication skills through her time working in higher education and sees herself as a translator between disciplines. Flexing broadly across disciplines excites her but she wishes to continue diving deeply into her passion for people and care.

Her research and consulting portfolio spans chronic illness, social equity, the politics of care work, early childhood development, youth programming and the ties between our epidemiological and ecological futures. Beth also loves to experiment with genre, telling stories through narrative non-fiction, poetry, academic journals, memoir, speculative fiction, policy-writing and digital collage.

Claire has a deep-seated passion for making a meaningful impact through her work. She enjoys applying her knowledge to various fields of work, including Early Childhood Development (ECD), climate change and Human Resources for Health (HRH). Her curiosity and her passion for tackling complex problems allowed her to be deeply invested in the work that Percept did.

Dave is an actuary by background, a problem-solver by nature, and a transdisciplinarian by inclination. He’s a big believer in harnessing technology for good and in the power of collaboration, innovation and smart analysis to make the world a better place, and recognises the urgency and zeal with which humanity needs to apply that smart innovation in wholehearted collaboration to address the huge existential crises facing it and the planet on which it depends in the twenty-first century.

With a solid foundation in Actuarial Science from the University of Cape Town, Eugine blends rigorous academic training with practical experience in data analysis and statistical modelling. His work focuses on harnessing data to predict climate impacts and optimise digital marketing, contributing to sustainable and profitable business practices. Committed to bridging the gap between theory and application, he strives to empower organisations to navigate complex challenges through data-driven insights.

Michelle has 12+ years of experience working with children with disabilities, their caregivers and health professionals in rural and resource-constrained settings. It is through this experience that she views the health system and is passionate about creating inclusive health systems and reimagining the sector in a way that empowers users, solves problems and reinvigorates providers to achieve better outcomes for all.

Through her 20+ year career, Ndileka has gained diverse experience through interfacing with most of the key players in the healthcare system: patients, providers in public and private across primary care and acute hospital care, regulators and funders of healthcare services. She is passionate about creating a healthcare system which is centred on and is responsive to the needs of patients.

With a doctorate in Medical Sociology, and a research associateship at the Adolescent Accelerators Research Hub, University of Cape Town, Nicole seeks to bring the rigour of her qualitative training to complex, real-world situations. Motivated by a deep love for our earth and its more-than-human worlds, she is attuned to issues of care, kinship, and affect in the governing relations of our time. Her approach is threaded through with passion for life’s interconnectedness nature, the capability of her body and curiosity of her mind.

Panashe has always had a deep passion for seeing the big picture, while still being grounded by detail. Specialising in computer science and software development has allowed him to develop an eye for detail and clarity, while his roles in mentorship, and cultural development give life to a greater sense of connection to others.

Precious has a broad spectrum of academic interests extending to design thinking and global health, she possesses a relentless curiosity about the world. Precious completed her master’s degree, holding a Bachelor of Arts Honours in History and a Bachelor of Social Sciences with majors in Social Anthropology and Economic History.
Precious has explored the intellectual contributions of Nontsizi Mgqwetho in her master’s dissertation, showcasing her dedication to uncovering hidden histories. Beyond academia, she has contributed as a researcher, translator, guest lecturer, and facilitator, reflecting her versatility and commitment to knowledge dissemination.
Driven by a passion for understanding people and simplifying complex ideas, Precious thrives on tackling diverse challenges.

As an Atlantic Fellow for Health Equity and former co-director of the Tekano Fellowship, and Emerging Voice for Global Health, Shehnaz has demonstrated her commitment to driving systemic change in equity initiatives. She co-founded Africa Health Futures, a collective dedicated to reimagining health systems using transformative, feminist approaches, showcasing her dedication to innovative and inclusive solutions. With a research focus spanning primary healthcare, Universal Health Coverage (UHC), and gender-based violence interventions across diverse contexts including Cuba, New Zealand, India and South Africa, she brings a transnational perspective to her work, which enriched Percept’s global impact.

With over a decade of actuarial experience in financing and delivery of care and protection across a diverse array of Global South regions, Suhavna brought a wealth of expertise to Percept. At Percept, she led diverse projects ranging from Human Resources for Health (HRH) projections, hospital analytics endeavours, and research within the medico-legal space. Her personal ethos, “Lokah Samastah Sukhino Bhavantu”, embodies principles of kindness to all beings, equality, and fostering positive outcomes for everyone, and reflects her values in both personal and professional spheres.

Tahmeed has a background in business strategy and advertising with a bachelor’s degree that she was awarded with honours abroad. She has been the project lead and client liaison for several pieces of work, and for a range of clients, both overseas and in South Africa. Her work is strongly influenced by her multicultural background. She thrives on working on a variety of tasks and projects, and has been involved in various aspects in her field ranging from strategy and concept development, to copy and design content for digital and print, to dissemination.

Yvonne has 3+ years of experience as a consultant, and 7+ years of experience in academic research that have equipped her with an understanding of knowledge synthesis, project management, and systematic thinking. Her work crosses several sectors such as public health, Early Childhood Development (ECD) and nutrition, green energy, youth employment, and engineering education in Kenya and South Africa. Yvonne wants to use her skills to design inclusive and sustainable solutions that have lasting positive impacts on communities.

Machela is an actuary with a decade of consulting, insurance, and asset management experience. She is a product manager where she focuses on innovation trying to build the future and create new experiences for customers applying technology. She is also an angel investor where she focuses on investing in the things that she thinks will help build a better Africa and world – education, healthcare, fintech, agriculture, and climate technology.

Sameera has a diverse professional background encompassing pharmacy, health promotion, education, project management, community involvement, and media. She graduated from the MSc Public Health program at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, and her experience includes advocating for inclusive financing in developing nations and developing community health literacy programs in rural communities. With a strong interest in harnessing the human experience for collective action and impact, Sameera founded Chronicle Health, a creative social impact platform and strategic advising firm that prioritises community voices and storytelling in global health and international development.

Vuyane is the Co-founder and CEO of Quro Medical, where he leads the development of technology-enabled solutions to enhance patient outcomes and healthcare delivery. His background in medicine and strategic leadership fuels his commitment to ethical practices and governance in healthcare. Focused on innovation and community empowerment, he strives to create sustainable, impactful health models that address the needs of diverse populations.