Meet Our Team

Renske Minnaar has been at the helm of Bergzicht Training and Development & Development as CEO since May 2013. Along with her team, she has worked tirelessly to drive the vision of our founding members and to ensure the financial sustainability of our organisation by focusing on fundraising, programme accreditation, financial control and the relevance of our organisation’s training.

Renske completed a Diploma in  Hotel Management in Johannesburg in 1981, where after she built a career in the Hospitality and Services industries working in various marketing and sales positions at Fedics Food Services, Avis, Teljoy Communications and also at Vodacom. There she was involved in the company’s first cellular phone roll-out in South Africa in 1994 and later in Australia. In 1996 she entered the wine industry focusing specifically on export marketing and also brand development at Spier, a well-known wine estate in Stellenbosch.

She joined our NGO in June 2011 as a Director of our Board and served on the Board until May 2013, when she was appointed as CEO.

Having spent the past 30 years in the hotel industry, Michele has joined the Bergzicht team as Academic and Accreditation Co-ordinator.  Qualifying in Commercial Catering, Michele started her career at Roux Restaurants in London, working alongside Michel and Albert Roux,  igniting her passion for food, hospitality, and service excellence.  She took her knowledge of hotel, guest service and hospitality operations and began a career in Learning and Development of teams.  She joined Sun International Training team at Sun City,   the opening team of the Michelangelo Hotel as Training Manager, before moving to Hilton International to open the Sandton Hilton.  As Training Manager at the Sandton Hilton, Michele became involved with facilitating Management and Supervisory Development programmes within the Hilton International Middle East and Africa region.  During this time, she was involved with the Cathseta Pilot programme, creating Unit Standards and Assessment of NQF’s.   In 2007 Michele took on the role as joint General Manager of The Umngazi River Bungalows and Spa.  Here her passion for people, communities and service excellence were honed, running the day-to-day operation and HR and training of this award-winning family Resort and Spa.  Michele administered the Friends of Umngazi Fund which oversaw all projects which funded various projects within 5 local schools, creches and development in the community.   After a short stint in Botswana as Operations Executive for Mashatu Nature reserve; she developed The River Wellness Retreat & Spa in Haenertsburg, Limpopo, as a covid lockdown project, which they have recently sold before relocating to Cape Town to join the Bergzicht team.

Louisa joined Bergzicht Training and Development & Development in 2016. She is primarily responsible for Fundraising and Training Material Development and also serves on the Student Selection Panel. Aspiring to make a positive contribution through teaching and upliftment, she believes education is a key to future success.

Louisa’s qualifications include a Master’s degree (Cum Laude) in Classical Culture (University of Stellenbosch), a Higher Education Diploma (University of Stellenbosch) and Secretarial Skills (Stellenbosch College), including Office Management.

Louisa has solid experience in empowering the disadvantaged and disabled through involvement in rehabilitation and mental development programmes. She has previously also held positions as Public Relations Officer and Research Executive, where she was responsible for sales and marketing, project management and client relations respectively. Furthermore, she has also worked in Kenya as a Volunteer Group Instructor to facilitate horse riding therapy at Riding for the Disabled.

Minette moved with her family during late 2024, from Bloemfontein to the beautiful town of Stellenbosch and joined Bergzicht Training and Development and Development in January 2025, taking leadership of the academic programmes at Bergzicht.  She holds a master’s degree in social work and has extensive experience in managing her own private practice- focussing on family- and community wellness. Experience includes managing the MBA program at the School of Business UFS, employee wellness and empowering individuals with life skills and coping mechanisms. For the past 5 years she has been involved in training programs for various organizations and facilitating programs for people coming from disadvantaged backgrounds equipping them with skills to break the cycle of poverty. She has a passion for serving people, strengthening families and communities by building on their own strengths and developing competencies.

Corine joined Bergzicht in September 2023 to assist with student placements and public relations and to build and maintain relationships with our WIL (Work Integrated Learning) partners in the hospitality and frail care industries.

She obtained a BA degree in Communications and Psychology in 1988, where after she built a career in sales and marketing.

She is passionate about people and believes in establishing and managing strong professional relationships through building mutual respect, trust and credibility.
She gained extensive sales experience in the car rental, wine and advertising industries, selling advertising space at Stellenbosch Visio, managing the national and international sales portfolio at Hazendal and ensuring excellence in service to corporate customers at AVIS.

Bronwyn who joined Bergzicht during January 2025, is a registered qualified social worker with 19 years of experience. She is committed to creating positive change in communities. After graduating in 20026 from Huguenot College in Wellington with a degree in Social Work, she focused on supporting disadvantaged youth and adults, particularly homeless individuals, emancipated youth, and those with special needs.

Throughout her career, Bronwyn has developed her expertise in family and relationship counseling, stress management, and personal development. Her ability to forge strategic partnerships and build community support has been instrumental in transforming underserved communities. She has collaborated with several highly respected NGOs, such as ACVV, NICRO, Franschhoek Youth Empowerment Action. She also worked at the Kimberley Hospital in the Northern Cape and Dennegeur the Rupert Foundation in Franschhoek where she gained invaluable exposure to diverse experiences, mindsets, and cultural contexts. Bronwyn shares this wealth of knowledge with her team and students at Bergzicht Training and Development. She is married and has four beautiful children.”

Gillian Denyssen joined Bergzicht Training and Development and Development in June 2024. She is responsible for managing the organisation’s facilities, training venues, and assets. Additionally, she provides managerial and operational support to the team. With 20 years of experience as an administration clerk at the Department of Agriculture, Gillian brings extensive knowledge and expertise to her role at Bergzicht. She has completed a Secretarial Course at Boland College and a Personal Assistance Course at CPUT.

Gillian is a resident of Stellenbosch and lives with her family in Jamestown. In her free time, she loves spending time with family and friends.

Roxanne joined Bergzicht Training and Development and Development in August 2024. With six years of experience as an E-Centre Manager in Klapmuts, she has a strong background in administration and client relations. Recently, Roxanne earned an International Computer Driving License and successfully completed a Data Science course, demonstrating her advanced ICT skills. In her current role, she is responsible for ensuring the seamless operation of programs, supporting academic policies and procedures, and overseeing student administration. Roxanne is a resident of Klapmuts and is the proud mother of two daughters.

Monique Pretorius holds a Bachelor of Arts Honours in Linguistics from the University of the Western Cape. Driven by a profound dedication to accomplish positive change, she excels in fostering meaningful interpersonal connections and building lasting relationships, leveraging her diverse life experiences. Her exceptional administrative abilities and meticulous attention to detail empowers her to deliver unparalleled support to her colleagues and the clients of the organization.

As a passionate music enthusiast, she actively volunteers and engages in diverse musical endeavours within her church and the broader community, embodying her strong belief and commitment to giving back. Her integrity, determination, and vibrant spirit distinctly positions her as an exceptional professional poised to make a significant impact. Monique joined Bergzicht during February 2025.