Our Team
Field Band Foundation has 16 Head Office staff and 73 project staff working in South African communities. Each Field Band is led by 3 full-time staff members, 5 part-time tutors and 1 driver. Our tutors are developed through the FBF’s Tutor-in-Training Programme, upskilling band members to take on leadership roles in the projects. We currently have 132 band members in our Tutor-in-Training Programme.
Management Committee
Ushama Ross Jerrier
Chief Executive Officer
Ushama joined the FBF in 2012 and completed her MBA in 2018. She has extensive expertise in multiple facets of operations, management, and human resources. Having worked in various commercial sectors, including retail, hospitality, facilities management and food and beverages, she currently finds fulfilment in working in the non-governmental sector. Her passion for human development is matched by unwavering discipline and commitment to values-based management and empathetic problem-solving. Her experience in designing bespoke solutions for clients and maintaining a positive and lateral thinking approach despite the challenges of the sector, keep her both successful and highly valued as a colleague. She establishes and fosters productive relationships with internal and external stakeholders, working collaboratively across all levels of an organization. She was appointed National Operations Manager of the Field Band Foundation in 2012 and was the recipient of the prestigious Chairperson’s Award in 2023.
Mervyn Gavin
Financial Manager
Merv has a Bachelor of Commerce Degree (UNISA) and completed his auditing articles in 2005. He held the positions of Audit Manager and Financial Manager at MRM Financial and Property Services and Reebok (South Africa and Lesotho), respectively. He became Financial Manager of Regenerate Investments in 2015, a position he currently maintains. In addition to this, Mervyn joined Burns Acutt Financial Services Inc. in March 2016 as the Financial and Systems Manager where he currently services a wide portfolio of clients in various aspects of: Accounting, Financial Management, Financial Analysis, Taxes, System Implementation and Consulting. He also holds the position of Treasurer of the Mountain Club of South Africa – KZN Section.
Peter Aaron
National Operations Manager
Peter started his musical career at the Salvation Army – Galeshewe Corps in Kimberley and worked with various choirs in the Northern Cape. Skilled in conducting, composing, and playing multiple instruments, he became Bandmaster in 1999. In 2005, he became Project Officer for the De Beers Kimberley Field Band, which won the national championship from 2003 to 2013. Peter led the National Field Band on international tours from 2003 to 2014. He holds a music diploma from the University of the Free State and an Advanced Leadership Certificate from Wits Business School. He worked as a music educator at Kimberley Boys High School and joined the Field Band Foundation in 2000, serving as Senior Operations Manager from 2014 to 2024, now National Operations Manager.
Namhla Stwayi
Accountant
Namhla Swayi joined the FBF team in January 2024 as the Accountant which increased the internal capacity of the head office. With a B. Com in Management Accounting, Namhla has extensive internal and external audit knowledge and skills in compliance and operations within different industry sectors. She has advanced training in risk assessment and management controls and brings a strong knowledge of corporate finance to the environment.
Bono Behane-Pearce
Marketing and Communications Manager
Beyond her technical expertise, Bono is known for her collaborative leadership style and ability to inspire cross-functional teams toward shared goals. She thrives in fast-paced environments, where her strategic foresight and creative problem-solving skills enable her to navigate complex challenges and deliver sustainable results. Looking ahead, she remains committed to shaping impactful brand narratives, fostering meaningful stakeholder engagement, and driving initiatives that blend commercial success with social responsibility.
Board Members
Mathulwane Mpshe (Thuli)
Chairman of the Board
Thuli Mpshe is a distinguished Executive Coach, Consultant, and Independent Contractor with over twenty years of leadership experience across diverse sectors including banking, retail, and aviation. She holds a Post Graduate Diploma in Business Management from Warwick University, a B Com from the University of South Africa (UNISA), and several specialized diplomas in banking and HR management. Thuli also completed the Strategic HR Management Programme at the UCT Graduate School of Business and the Board Leadership Programme at the Gordon Institute of Business Studies (GIBS).
Thuli has a proven track record in transforming human capital and leading organizational change. Her dedication to corporate South Africa has been recognized with a Certificate for Outstanding Moral Courage from the Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (OUTA). Beyond her professional achievements, Thuli is passionately involved in socio-economic development. She serves as a non-executive director and Chairman of the Field Band Foundation NPC and as a non-executive director for the Knysna Institute for Learning and Teaching NPO.
Anthony de Jager
Chair of the Audit & Risk Committee
Anthony is a seasoned legal and regulatory expert with over 30 years of experience in education, corporate law, and compliance. He holds a B.A. in Law, a Diploma in Education, and advanced certifications in corporate law, pension funds, and ethics. Anthony spent 16 years as Professional Manager in Legal and Investigations at the Independent Regulatory Board for Auditors (IRBA), where he developed legal governance and compliance frameworks.
Anthony has also served as a legal correspondent for the SABC and as an educator with the Gauteng Department of Education. A certified Ethics Officer and member of the South African Council for Educators (SACE), he is committed to ethical leadership and professional integrity.
Currently, Anthony leads a boutique consultancy offering ethics and education training. His knowledge of regulatory policies, compliance and mediation, positions him as a valuable asset for rigorous governance and ethical leadership.
Beyond his professional career, Anthony is actively engaged in directorships, trusteeships and volunteer roles, reflecting his ongoing dedication to community enrichment and leadership.
Jayde Troskie
Chair of the Marketing and Communications Committee
Jayde is a marketing specialist with extensive experience in the Asia Pacific region as well as within South Africa. She has spearheaded digital customer relationship management campaigns for acquisition, growth and retention of customers in a variety of sectors. Her qualifications in Strategic Brand Management and Business Administration from Vega School of Brand Leadership lead her to successful experiences within the South African Chamber of Commerce in Singapore, including serving as Secretary of the Board, SYSPRO Software (APAC and South Africa), Roubler Software (Asia and Africa). She is known for her attention to detail, high quality workmanship and her ability to integrate digital marketing, marketing analytics, brand development and content generation to drive successful campaigns with outstanding results.
Nqobile Khumalo
Nqobile is a seasoned finance and impact investing professional with over 13 years of experience in driving social impact through strategic financial management. He has managed over R60 billion in fixed-income portfolios, secured R800 million in fundraising for Pan-African Asset Management, and led successful mergers and acquisitions. Passionate about non-profit success, Nqobile applies his expertise in financial stewardship, strategic planning, and fundraising to help organizations maximize their impact. He has served on the boards of Reimagine South Africa and the Black Professionals Scholarship Fund, expanding educational access for disadvantaged students. Nqobile holds an LLB from the University of Witwatersrand and is pursuing a CFA charter designation. His leadership is guided by a commitment to inclusivity, empowerment, and long-term social change.
Pravashini Govender
Pravashini is a distinguished executive with more than 25 years of leadership at the nexus of law, public policy, and regulatory strategy, shaping outcomes across Africa’s most pivotal sectors — energy, mining, telecommunications, consumer goods, and technology. An Advocate of the High Court of South Africa with an LLM in Constitutional and Human Rights Law, she embodies a rare blend of legal precision, strategic foresight, and deep government relations expertise.
Her career includes senior leadership roles at globally recognised institutions such as The South African Breweries, Amazon, Anglo American Platinum, Heineken Beverages (formerly Distell), MTN, and Eskom. In each, she has steered organisations through complex regulatory landscapes, forged coalitions across government and civil society, and influenced policy decisions with enduring public and commercial impact.
Pravashini’s commitment to public interest has been a defining thread throughout her journey. She began as a researcher at the Parliament of South Africa and at the Labour Court under Justice Raymond Zondo, later serving as a State Law Adviser in the Office of the Premier of Gauteng. Early in her career, she led human rights and conflict management training for the Centre for Conflict Resolution — including UN‑commissioned work — and played a vital role as an electoral mediator during South Africa’s landmark 1999 elections.
A Cambridge Sustainability Leadership alumna, she has consistently championed ESG‑aligned governance, digital inclusion, and socio‑economic transformation — values that resonate deeply with the mission of the Field Band Foundation. Pravashini returns to this Board not only with an insider’s understanding of government machinery but also with a profound awareness of the realities facing communities on the ground.
Risuna Maluleke
Risuna is a youth development devotee with a specific focus in entrepreneurship and education. Currently, he is the Chief Entrepreneurship Officer of the Young African Entrepreneurs Institute and Managing Director of Youth Village Africa. Risuna also serves as an Executive Chairman of Edtek Solutions and has held positions in small businesses, student development, and served on boards. Risuna brings to the board academic and practical skills in entrepreneurship, business science, accounting, marketing, and enterprise development. He is currently pursuing a Master of Management in Entrepreneurship and New Venture Creation at Wits Business School. Risuna has been involved in volunteer work in rural communities focusing on career development through Dyondzo Phambili Foundation and Thusanani Foundation. Additionally, he served in the Community of Practice for Student Entrepreneurship Task Team at the Entrepreneurship Development in Higher Education under Universities South Africa. Finally, Risuna has also served as an Advisory Task Team Member of the Wits Innovation Centre.
Thembi Mngomezulu
Thembi is a seasoned human capital professional with more than 20 years’ extensive experience in both private and public sectors. Her experience covers the entire human resources value chain, including recruitment, learning and management, HRIS and employee relations. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Education as well as a Diploma in Human Resources and Labour Relations. As part of her continuous professional development, she is a business coach certified by the Gordon Institute of Business Science, and recently completed a Change Management programme at the University of Cape Town. Thembi is passionate about ensuring that companies and organisations take care of their employees by maintaining productive and respectful working environments. She also believes in measuring and communicating the value of our human capital, which is the most critical element of an organisation being able to achieve strategic objectives. Her personal values are accountability, integrity, honesty, compassion and perseverance. From these standpoints, being able to give back to communities and serve from her professional expertise, will always be something Thembi incorporates into her life.
Thingahangwi Mulovhedzi
Thinga is an astute professional within the commercial and finance environment, with a career span within private and state-owned entities. He previously held several management roles and also served on various governance committees. He holds an Accounting and Internal Auditing undergraduate qualifications as well as a Post Graduate Diploma in Business Administration (PDBA) from University of Pretoria (UP). He completed the International Leadership Development Programme (ILDP) with Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) with a special focus on Transport development in South Africa. With extensive analytical experience and knowledge, Thinga has led teams in delivering successful turnaround strategies and impactful strategic projects. He is passionate about socio-inclusiveness and community development and participates in various programs that focus on community and development.