Manco Team
Nicolette Du Plessis
CEO
Appointed CEO of Field Band Foundation in May 2014, Nicky holds a Master’s Degree (Rhodes) and Post-Graduate Diploma (Stellenbosch). Prior to this she was an independent arts consultant for 17 years, specializing in the design and management of cultural development projects, project evaluation and training. Clients included the Nordic Council of Ministers, Sida, Norad, the Swiss Development agency, Africalia and Hivos, for whom she has worked throughout Africa, and various tertiary education institutions in South Africa and Europe. She co-edited The South African Handbook on Arts and Culture in 1998; was a member of the Executive Committee of the Board of the South African National Arts Council (2008 – 2010); and the Chair of Art Moves Africa, the only mobility fund for African artists travelling within Africa from 2007 – 2011. She won the Arts Administrator of the Year Award from the Arts and Culture Trust in 2005.
Eva Bortne
Education Manager
Eva holds a Master’s Degree in Music Performance (University of Stavanger). Her professional qualifications in music, and in particular music education, have provided her with extensive teaching experience in various schools and bands in Norway. She has worked as a professional freelance trumpeter and played in two of Norway and Europe’s leading brass bands as a solo and principal cornet player, and she is therefore very familiar with the education issues that brass bands face. She has specific skills in mentoring young musicians and has been working in developmental projects in South Africa since 2012. She has taken voluntary leadership roles in the Norwegian Band Federation and has strong administrative skill as well.
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.
Ushama Jerrier
National Operations Manager
Ushama holds a Bachelor’s Degree (Honours) in Music (University of Cape Town) and completed her Master’s in Business Administration (Henley) in 2017. She has undertaken various leadership courses in Dubai and Australia as part of her career with MacDonalds – she was part of the mobilisation team that opened the first stores in South Africa in 1997. She has been employed in several sectors of business and occupied management roles in the Foschini Group, OR Tambo International Airport, the Kruger National Park and Johnson Controls. She has worked internationally in Operations and Hospitality, and brings a wealth of experience in Human Resources, Logistics and Systems Management to the challenges of the development sector.