Dr. Simon Geldenhuys, Principal

Dr. Simon Geldenhuys

Principal

Bahria Town

Location
Pakistan - Rawalpindi
Education
Diploma, NASBOP. Strategic thinking, Inter group relations, Management of group processes, Performance management, Financial management, Organizational development, Labour Relations, Marketing management, Systems thinking
Experience
52 years, 10 months

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Work Experience

Total years of experience :52 years, 10 months

Principal at Bahria Town
  • Pakistan - Rawalpindi
  • My current job since August 2009

Principal of total Academy (Cambridge International Examination - CIE), Playgroup to A-level. Head teachers of Primary- and Senior Sections, as well as Manager of Personnel and Administration reports to candidate. Responsible for whole Academy: Academics to budget, students to parents, building to owners, etc.
Was invited by the British Council (BC) to visit universities in the UK during late February 2011. This is a major achievement, because only a selected small group (7) of representatives from the whole of Pakistan went on this mission, more so because all the others were Pakistanis.

NB: Didn’t apply at any of the last three schools (ACE, Al Noor and Choueifat), was“headhunted.”
Other responsibilities are almost the same as it will be described regarding other institutions.

Head teacher: Middle- & Senior British Schools at Al Noor International School
  • Bahrain - Manama
  • August 2006 to July 2009

Offering Cambridge International curriculum. Al Noor was first school who became a Syndicate of Cambridge in Bahrain. Some >145 faculty members, >1450 students (from almost 30 countries) from grade 5 to 12 (A-levels). Span of responsibility of this candidate was very wide, as well as deep. Other responsibilities: Same as in other schools.

Director/Principal, of the Secondary School. at SABIS Internationa Schools Group.
  • Jordan - Amman
  • February 2006 to July 2006

The responsibilities were almost the same as it is described where other schools were discussed..

Consultant at Work for myself as Consultant
  • South Africa
  • August 2005 to January 2006

Leadership, Management, Training, and Education.
Assisted different companies, institutions like Tshwane University of Technology: Faculty of Education, University of South Africa, and Gauteng Department of Education, regarding education, training matters, leadership and management matters

Headmaster/principal/academic director at King Khaled International School
  • Saudi Arabia - Riyadh
  • July 2004 to July 2005

I was virtually offered a position at a university in Abu Dhabi in the UAE, when it was decided by the management to put the process on ice. This all happened during May 2004 and when the position at KKIS was offered to me, I took it but I also see it as part of my quest to get back in a senior position in the "adult" world in the Middle East, especially education. I am in charge of the school in totality, thus from content, staff to buildings etc.
The staff component is more than 45 teachers, the rest are working in administration -, supervision -, or other sections. Students attending the school are more than 650 boys.
At present we (boy’s- and girl’s sections, it is registered as one school at the Department of Education) are in the final process of getting accreditation from the Commission on International and Trans-Regional Accreditation (CITA), situated in the United States of America. More than 32 000 schools, in more than 100 countries and numerous colleges and universities worldwide, are accredited by this very influential and highly regarded institution. KKIS will only be the first school out of more than 75 international and/or community schools in Riyadh.

Consultant at Human Resources Africa
  • South Africa
  • March 2004 to June 2004

Was since March 2004 again involved in Alexandra, as well as with preparations for the General Elections in South Africa (Independent Electoral Commission, IEC), that took place on April 14, 2004, on a consultation basis until the end of June 2004. As part of a bigger team of consultants, we did security planning, training, project-, general- and event management, etc. This operation was performed at the Show grounds in Pretoria, where the Results Operations Centre (ROC), for the Elections was situated. Wide experience in many aspects of administration, dealing with people, budgeting, security, project-, event management, etc, were being acquired.
This was internationally acclaimed as a highly successful exercise in co-operation between the private and public sector.

Headmaster, senior administrator, senior academic quality controller, academic quality controller at SABIS, or generally known as the International Schools of Choueifat.
  • Lebanon - Beirut
  • January 2003 to October 2003

ACADEMIC QUALITY CONTROLER (AQC) (ABU DHABI), SENIOR ACADE-MIC QUALITY CONTROLER (SAQC) (DUBAI), SENIOR ADMINSTRATOR (SHARJAH) UAE & ACADEMIC DIRECTOR (HEADMASTER), KING ABDUL AZIZ INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL, RIYADH, KSA.
Was appointed as AQC in Abu Dhabi in the beginning of January 2003. Very soon, he was sent to Dubai as SAQC and from August 2003 as a Senior Administrator (Deputy Director) in Sharjah. Before he started in Sharjah, he was sent to the King Abdul-Aziz International School in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), as Academic Director (Head Master/Principal). His third promotion in less that 9 months, took him to the position of Director.
This schools group consists of 28 schools worldwide. Resigned to go back to South Africa because of personal reasons (already sorted out), furthermore the candidate’s fields of expertise, experience, education and training are all in management, leadership, training, education, administration, businesses-, project management, etc, thus in tertiary education.

Consultant at Human Resources Africa
  • South Africa
  • January 2002 to December 2002

Consultant, dealing with upliftment programmes like building of new schools, courts, etc in the Alexandra suburb, a former Black township north of Johannes-burg, South Africa. The present government, in partnership with the private sector and international donours, is “rebuilding” the suburb to its previous state, at a cost of millions of dollars. Mainly involved in R & D and project management.

MANAGER: OPERATIONAL,ACADEMIC;PROGRAMME DEVELOPMENT;REGULATORY;COURSEWARE DESIGN;BUILDINGS/PRINTING. at EDUCOR DISTANCE LEARNING-NORTH (EDL-N)
  • South Africa
  • May 2001 to December 2001

Comparable to that of a Vice-Chancellor at a large university or Deputy Director General a government department
Member top management, CEO included, 2nd most senior
± 250 full time & contracted staff reported to me
Day-to-day operations & administration with Registrar. Worked almost daily with Rectors of 7 universities
Responsible for training & academic content, EDL-N as institution of Lifelong Learning
Needs analyses were done almost daily. Offered +300 courses to a wide range of students
Experienced in setting of the curricula, 100% involved
Standard setting & compliance to legal rules & regulations
Made sure material was truly student friendly/accessible to them
Maintained facilities, security & occupation health
Did printing for 110 000 students
Leading & managing 7 senior staff, different KPA’s
General- & academic administration
Member: Academic council of Educor, 15 different entities
Applications for accreditation of programmes (300) at South African Qualifications Authority & registration of Colleges at National Dept of Education
Member: Regulatory Forum of Educor
Did integration & coordination, setting of business plans, visions & missions
Ran colleges’ on project management basis
Fortnightly 1-on-1’s with 7 senior mangers.
3 monthly achievement dialogues
Involved in boards, committees, as member & as chairperson
Results (performance) driven
Experienced in policy creation
Part of all budgeting processes & management thereof
Involved in marketing - & sales strategies & execution thereof
Interpersonal skills
Analytical, strategic thinking, proactive problem solving & decision making
Many SWOT analyses were done
Managed training, progression & succession planning
Relationship management with partners & government.
Communication skills, both verbally and written
Worked in multi-ethnic & - cultural team
Managed all contracts with universities, MOU’s & SLA’s)
Experienced in public-private-partnerships

DIRECTOR: ADMINISTRATION, REGULATORY, PROGRAMME DEVELOPMENT & ACADEMIC at Educar Distance Learning
  • South Africa
  • October 2000 to April 2001

After the merger of NPC and Educor, the new group was named Educor again and the distance learning colleges became known as Educor Distance Learning or EDL.
DIRECTOR: ADMINISTRATION, REGULATORY, PROGRAMME DEVELOPMENT& ACADEMIC; with more than 100 full time and approximately 150 contracted academics at universities and technikons. This position is on the same level as that of a dean of a faculty at a university or a Chief Director at a government department. Reported directly to the Managing Director.
Took charge of all above-mentioned responsibilities for Lyceum-, Success-, Intec- Damelin Correspondence -, Rapid Results College and the College of Insurance Agents.
As director co-responsible for management of EDL up to the point of profit.
Member of the management committee of various career-, and subject associations.
Relationship management with partners, nationally and internationally. (EDL-N))
Appointed by the Minister of Education, as a member of the Correspondence Colleges Council, a statutory body.
Most of the issues referred to in EDL-N, were also part of the responsibilities of the candidate in this position.

DIRECTOR STUDIES: LYCEUM COLLEGE, later HEAD PROGRAMME DEVELOPMENT. at National Private Colleges
  • South Africa
  • August 1996 to October 2000

HEAD PROGRAMME DEVELOPMENT: February 1999 - September 2000)
Management of the three colleges; Lyceum, Success and Mentor, as well as the Centre for Courseware design, in collaboration with College Heads, in respect to administration, academic, regulatory, development, profit, programmes, personnel, maintenance, student affairs, marketing, etc, issues.
Approximately 50 full time staff was involved. If nearly 150 contracted senior staff from universities and technikons is added, the staff component amounts to 200.
Relationship management with partners. (EDL-N).
DIRECTOR STUDIES: LYCEUM COLLEGE. Lyceum-, Success-, and Mentor- college formed National Private Colleges (NPC), a subsidiary of National Press.
(August 1996 - January 1999).
As the head of the college (approximately 65 000 students) responsible for the administration, control, management and operating thereof, from finance to staff.
Member of management committee of NPC and second most senior member of the group.
Leader of the NPC team of the management committee between NPC, University of Pretoria, - Stellenbosch and the Rand Afrikaans University, as well as that of the Technikon of Pretoria and Port Elizabeth.
NPC had a turnover of approximately $ 32M, while Lyceums turnover was round about $ 25M. Turnover, with accompanying profit was constantly expected from the candidate.
In order to achieve the above mentioned, staff had to be motivated regularly. Effectiveness of work performance was thus of utter importance with the aim to increase productivity.
During this period the candidate travelled regularly, at a stage +20% of the year.
Most of the issues referred to in EDL-N, were also part of the responsibilities of the candidate in this position.

Vice – Chancellor (Rector) at Huguenot College in Wellington
  • South Africa
  • April 1999 to May 1999

I was appointed as the Vice-Chancellor (1200 students), but had to withdraw, because the local school could not offer the subjects our children already took at that stage. It was a major disappointment, but then the children played a major roll in our lives, at present it is less so, because only the last one is still in school.
I thought it to be important, that is why I mention it here. I never started there, but the only way I can register this information, is to refer to "April/May 1999", because that was the assumed starting date.

Different ranks. at University of South Africa.
  • South Africa
  • January 1983 to August 1996

DEPUTY HEAD of Department for various years. Did most of the work of the Head of the Department, due to his regular absenteeism for many years.
Managed the department with regards to academic- and general administration, staff (for instance personnel development and training) student affairs, admissions, accreditation, finance, budget, and policies. 35 staff members and approximately 5 300 under-graduate and more than 400 post-graduate students.
Managed departmental annual report to the executive of the university.
Member of the faculty of Arts and Humanities.
Member of the sub-faculty of Humanities.
Supervisor and promoter of several successful masters - and doctoral students.
Did research individually, as well as in departmental context.
Received a merit award, at the end of 1994, for excellent service rendered to the university.
Acquired experience with regard to a multi cultural student community.
Accepted a better position at National Private Colleges.

CITY COUNCILLOR at City Council of Centurion.
  • South Africa
  • October 1988 to October 1995

CITY COUNCILLOR, Centurion (Previously Verwoerdburg). Was elected for a seven-year term of office. Because this was not a full-time position, the candidate was still employed by Unisa.
Attended and actively participated in all executive committee meetings.
Excellent experience in decision making with regards to administration, people, training, finances, policies, marketing, etc.
Most of the work at the council was done on a project management basis.
Centurion’s 1995 budget was already more than $ 110M.
Represented the Council at various nationwide congresses and regularly appeared as speaker.
Represented Council on the Municipal Medical Fund Board (Munimed). This was the medical aid fund for the employees of the different city councils countrywide.
Management committee member of Munimed for various years. Only six councillors represented all the councils on this national board. Funds had to be managed to the benefit of the members. Sound financial management was thus priority.
Completed successfully negotiation - and facilitation course for councillors, presented by the Human Sciences Research Council (HSCR), in 1991. This is a government council or body.
Regularly appeared as facilitator, especially concerning change management.
Involved with the development and execution of various community projects, e.g. the establishment of new schools, community policing, sports clubs, etc.

TEACHING: PRETORIA – WEST HIGH SCHOOL at Transvaal Education Department. South African Government.
  • South Africa
  • January 1976 to December 1982

TEACHER, SENIOR TEACHER & DEPARTMENTAL HEAD.
Head of administration and - Grade.
Departmental head of Educational Guidance.
Teacher responsible for the Prefects (Student Representative Council). Guided and taught them the finer points of leadership.
Trainer: First Rugby team, SA Athletics Champion.
Received merit promotion.
Resigned from teaching for a better position at Unisa.

LEADER: MARION ISLAND (South African weather station in the sub – Antarctic) at Department of Transport, South African Government.
  • South Africa
  • January 1978 to June 1979

EXPEDITION LEADER to Marion Island.
Managed administration, staff, finances, research and supplies.
Acquired very good experience in teamwork and - management, in isolated circumstances.
Then, the project already amounted to millions of $.
Was still in the service of the Department of Education, only seconded to the Department of Transport.
This experience gave the candidate the ability to understand the significance of leadership. On the island “leadership” means: Be prepared to lead your people and not to “push” them from the back, as is the case wit many ordinary managers.

STUDENT at PRETORIA UNIVERSITY & – TEACHERS TRAINING COLLEGE
  • South Africa
  • January 1971 to December 1975

House committee member - 1974.
Chairperson of hostel (Primarius) - 1975.
Winner of the Senior Orators Competition - 1975.
Management committee member of various students’ bodies.
Played rugby for the college.

Education

Diploma, NASBOP. Strategic thinking, Inter group relations, Management of group processes, Performance management, Financial management, Organizational development, Labour Relations, Marketing management, Systems thinking
  • at National Press, International and local South African universities.
  • March 1998

This is a Post Graduate; Advanced Senior Management certificate only for those chosen to do the successor training. After finishing this qualification students were allowed to do their MBA in only one year.

Doctorate, D.Litt et Phil (PhD)
  • at University of South Africa
  • December 1988

This was a thesis finished in 11 months, whilst working.

Master's degree, Magister Artium.
  • at University of South Africa
  • December 1985

Dissertation, finished in 8 months, whilst working.

Bachelor's degree, BEd. Educational management. This is actually a Honnours degree and NOT a Bachelors
  • at Rand Afrikaans University
  • December 1982

Two year part time. Education management and 5 other educational subjects.

Diploma, FDE. Youth Preparedness: POST graduate.
  • at Teachers College for Further Training
  • December 1981

Two year distance education diploma in Youth Preparedness.

Bachelor's degree, HONS. BA. Juvenile Criminology. This is ALSO NOT a Bachelors, but a Honours degree.
  • at University of South Africa.
  • December 1979

Two years distance education degree.

Diploma, THED. All the subject needed to qualify as a teacher. This is a POST graduate diploma.
  • at Pretoria Teachers Training College.
  • December 1975

One year full time post graduate diploma.

Bachelor's degree, BA. Biblical studies & Criminology
  • at University of Pretoria
  • December 1975

Three years full time first degree.

Specialties & Skills

Financial Management
Administration
Management
Preparedness
Education
Very senior management skills.
Board experience
Skilled in dealing with adults, Andragogics
Skilled in the running of a university as well as a private tertiary institution
Fluent in English
With knowledge of the Middle East, there will be no
Academically well qualified
Strong leadership and team motivational skills.
Strongly people - oriented
South African background, culturally sensitive
Strategic thinker
Proactive problem solver
Facilitation skills
Setting of business plans, visions, missions and values
Human resources experience
Innovative leader
Relationship management
Very good in networking
Excellent organisational skills.
Knowledge of contracts, legal affairs, SLA's & MOU's
Skilled in good, transparent, corporate governance.
Creation and development of policies.
Project-, general- and event management
International teaching experience
Programme and courseware design
Local government skills
Computer and internet literate

Languages

English
Expert
Afrikaans
Expert

Memberships

At present none.
  • None
  • January 2005