Our Team
Desiree Paulsen
I am focusing my current work on facilitation of transformation and culture change processes which includes facilitating transformation journey’s with organisations over a long term. I facilitate Diversity and Transformation processes for leaders, teams and practitioners. My work as an organizational development practitioner includes strategic processes for organisations that assist organisations to align their vision, mission and values with their practices and actual work. I am passionate about ensuring that organisations become spaces where people are able to thrive and have equality, equity and social justice at their core. I have been a staff member and associated of the Community Development Resource Association (CDRA) for over 15 years. Contact [email protected] 
Rubert Van Blerk
I have worked as a development practitioner over the past 15 years in the CDRA. Over these years I have accumulated significant experience in the field of organisational development working with many organisations across a wide field including; community development and advocacy, youth, agriculture, climate change & environment, health, gender and human rights. I also facilitate qualitative and participatory evaluation processes and have worked with a range of organisations and programmes in development. My work in the CDRA has involved the facilitation of numerous training and capacity development events and initiatives. I have also worked for a significant period in the Western Cape Education Dept. as a teacher and educational psychologist. I completed my M.Pscyh (Educational Pychology) at the University of the Western Cape. Contact [email protected] 
Doug Reeler
I have worked as an organisation development practitioner for 27 years, 25 of those for the CDRA before joining with colleagues to form Tamarind Tree. I have accompanied NGOs and social movements across Africa, Asia, Latin America and Europe. I design and facilitate organisational and collaborative social processes with a wide range of actors towards developing more effective social change practices and co-creative, organisational forms. My particular interests are horizontal and action learning processes combined with experimental innovation and whole organisation strategic reviews. I co-pioneered the Barefoot Guide Connection, supporting the publishing of the experienced voices of grassroots leadership and practitioners to contribute to global social change practice. Contact [email protected] |
Nomvula Dlamini
I have worked for the past 25 years as Organisation Development (OD) practitioner, Social Facilitator, Evaluator and Leadership Mentor with a vast range of civil society organisations, networks, social movements and advocacy groups. My accumulative experience is in designing & facilitating organisational development processes, writeshops (writing workshops), stakeholder dialogues & collaborations, evaluation & review assessments and action research processes in search of innovative social change practices and organisational forms that support these. Connected to this work, accompanying and mentoring leaders and creating/supporting Communities of Practice (CoP) to provide a supportive and nurturing space for practitioners remain areas of work I am passionate about. Although the core of my experience is in the civil society space, I have experience in working with government agencies, local municipalities, tertiary institutions, private foundations and corporate social investment programmes. Though my experience is rooted in and focused in South Africa, I have been privileged to work in other African countries as well as in Sweden, Finland, Netherlands, Germany and India. As a proactive, adaptable and conscientious social facilitator I take initiative in situations that demand it. I have the ability to overcome challenges through a questioning approach, an openness to learning and by drawing on the diversity of voices, experiences, perspectives and knowledges when working with people and communities. Transcendental meditation, reading and gardening are passions through which I nurture myself. I hold a Masters degree in Adult Learning and Global Change, an inter-continental programme jointly delivered by the University of the Western Cape (South Africa), Linkoping University (Sweden), University of British Columbia in Canada and Sydney Technologies University (Australia). I have published articles in publications & on web sites and have contributed as writer to various Barefoot Guides (www.barefootguide.org). 
Beulah Tertiens
(Associate) I am a Whole School Development facilitator and curriculum developer. I focus on imaginative and joyful approaches which encourage practitioner health, vitality and artistic expression. I facilitate whole organisation workshops helping to build healthy, purposeful and authentic community. I also work with the Barefoot Guide Connection Social Change Writing School, facilitating writeshops with organisations wanting to write up case studies of their work or to make their practice more visible and accessible., as well as providing writing coaching and editing services. Contact [email protected] |
