Directors

Executive Directors

 Gita Goven | Chairperson (Director at ARG) 

Gita Goven is one of South Africa’s foremost sustainability thinkers. As founding partner and CEO of ARG Design, she has pioneered a practice of socially and environmentally transformative design. She currently serves as chairperson of the Sustainability Institute, is a member the Green Building Council of South Africa, was a reference group member of the City of Cape Town /UCT’s African Centre for Cities/ and Sustainable Energy Africa Partnership’s Climate Change Research Reference Group – Understanding and Preparing for Climate Change: Mitigation and Adaptation, and serves on the Western Cape Provincial Ministerial Advisory Board of the Green Cape Economy.

Dr Ruben Richards | Managing Director (Director at Pact Developers) 

In his varied and eventful career, Ruben has obtained a Bachelor in Social Sciences as well as Doctorate in Philosophy at the University of Cape Town, and a Masters in Theology at the Western Theological Seminary in the USA, amongst others.  Ruben’s breadth of experience and skills enables him to advise governments as well as agencies of the United Nations and other international development agencies, academic institutions, civic organisations, and organised business on topics linked to sustainable nation building for societies and communities in transition. Ruben is also a public speaker, social commentator and author of the recently published: BULLETS OR BALLOTS-the ultimate solution to crime and unemployment in South Africa.

Jalal Allie | Financial Director (Financial Director at Bellandia) 

Jalal Allie is the Group Financial Director and has 25 years of experience as a financial manager of various companies, which include: Seeff Trust (Pty) Ltd, Spearhead Properties Limited (listed on JSE), Redefine Income Limited (listed on JSE). Jalal and David Pearson have known each other for over 20 years.

 David Pearson | New Business Development (Director at Pact Development)

David Pearson has 26 years of experience in local and international property and finance. David has travelled extensively and credits his time in India, China, Canada, the USA, Brazil, Europe, Australia, Russia but mostly Africa, for his understanding and commitment to the establishment of sustainable entry-level communities, where industry and skills-transference are key to developing sustainable communities.

 

Non-Executive Directors

Terence Smith (Director at Target Projects)

Terrence has 35 years’ experience as a built environment professional in the construction, consult, project development and management fields.  He believes in building and serving civil society and is firmly committed to using his skills for and being a participant in Africa’s development.

 Sigi Naidoo (Director at Ariya Projects)

Sigi is the founder and CEO of Ariya Project Managers.  He spent many years with Murray and Roberts, serving an Executive Director of the Construction Division. He is an experienced in leading in diverse teams of highly skilled professionals in a variety of competitive and demanding projects in fast paced environments. Good technical and business finance related experience of more than 20 years of hands-on experience in supply chain management, strategic planning, business unit development and project and development management.

Alastair Rendall (Director at ARG Design)

Alastair Rendall is a founding partner of ARG Design. He completed his Bachelor of Architecture at the University of Cape Town in 1985 and a Master of City Planning and Urban Design in 1989. Since his early work with the Urban Foundation and the Development Action Group (1986 to 1996), he has been concerned with the complex interplay of institutional, economic and environmental sustainability.

Andy Bush (Director at Bellandia)

Andy joined Bellandia Plot and Plan Division in 1980.  In 1991, Andy was appointed as Project Manager and has since delivered over 25 residential and commercial projects.  He has served on the Board of Directors as Projects Director since 1999.

Paul Jones (Director at Tax Radar)

Paul started his career in retail where he completed his studies in retail management, and then completed a degree in Psychology. Paul has founded many companies and currently acts as the Managing Director of Tax Radar Underwriting Managers, a specialized tax insurance business.  Paul is also the Chairman of Kairos Projects which is a foundation focusing on youth leadership development which he established 14 years ago.  Paul has consulted on four continents in twenty three countries. He has authored numerous training manuals reaching in excess of 300,000 people.

Drew Danford (Chairman at Bellandia)

Drew joined Bellandia in December 1974 as Quantity Surveyor / Estimator after graduating with a B.B.Sc (Building Management) from UCT. His career within the firm progressed with his appointment to the Board responsible for Construction in 1985, overall Operations in 1992 and was appointed as the Managing Director in 2001.  Under his stewardship the company strengthened its position as one of the largest and most reputable residential developers in the Western Cape.