Meet the Orion Organisation Head of Departments Profiles
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CEO: LIZELLE VAN WYK
Lizelle has been the CEO of Orion since 1998. Before
joining Orion, she specialised in Industrial Social Work
and managed the Corporate Social Investment portfolio
for a large corporate company. She is a trustee member
of the SA Mental Health Pension and Provident Funds, and
an executive board member of the Cape Coast Chamber.
During August 2008 she has been awarded by the CEO
magazine for “SA’s Most Influential Women in Business
and Government – Welfare and Related Services Category”.
One of her favourite hobbies is cooking and in 2006 she
was a finalist in the “SA Domestic Goddess” cooking
competition. Together she and her husband, Johan, have 4
children – all of them young, independent professionals
in their own rights. Lizelle’s passion for creating
opportunities for people with disabilities, as well as
breaking down stigmatization and victimization that are
usually associated with “being disabled”, is visible in
the work that is been done at Orion. |
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FINANCIAL MANAGER: MARY-ANN CEDRAS
20 Years ago, Mary-Ann started as a junior supervisor at
the Hangerman Department in the first Orion workshop.
From the beginning, she showed a contagious enthusiasm
for the people at Orion, and this carried her from
strength to strength. She decided to “look and learn”
and was promoted to the administrative offices, and soon
discovered her flair for finances. After thorough
training, she is the financial manager today, keeping a
tight fist on the reigns when it comes to money matters.
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SOCIAL WORKER: CAROLINE JACOBS
Caroline graduated as Social Worker in 2000, worked for
Badisa Elsiesriver and for the Dept of Social
Development prior to joining Orion during 2005. Her days are filled with screening of
residents and trainees, overseeing the job placement
programme, managing the Group Homes and Activity Day
Care Centre for adults, running the Employee Assistant
Programmes, is responsible for the HIV/AIDS prevention
programme, listens to everybody’s joy and heartaches,
intervenes and build bridges between the disabled and
their families, and still finds time to cuddle her own 3
young children at the end of a long day! To us she is
“Super Woman”. |
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PRODUCTION MANAGER: FELICIA JURIES
Felicia is another lady who showed her true passion for
people living with disabilities over the past 20 years.
Like Mary-Ann, she started off as a junior supervisor,
and it did not take long for the management team to
recognise Felicia’s potential. Felicia’s excellent
communication skills make her a true winner with our
customers and clients. She bowls them over with her
beautiful smile and “Customer is King!” credo. She has
been the production manager for the past 6 years,
leading a team of 9 hands-on supervisors. |
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FACILITY MANAGER: SYDNEY DE
VRIES
After being a courier driver for many years, Sydney
started at Orion as the assistant to the groundsman, but
soon became the driver, the handyman, the “Dr Fixit”.
After 3 years of showing his true commitment, Sydney is
now the Facility Manager, taking care of Maintenance and
Transport, as well as the Garden team. . |
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PRO: PRISCILLA CLOETE
Priscilla joined Orion during May 2008, after working at
the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, the National
Prosecuting Authority and Western Cape Network on
Violence Against Women. She obtained a Diploma from the
University of Western Cape for successfully completing
Organisational Development and Leadership including
Trade Union Studies Nationally and Internationally. She
has gained excellent office management and
administration skills from both the government sector
and civil society. Apart from assisting the CEO with
important administrative tasks, she plays a vital role
in Fundraising and Public Relations. Her main focus
became sourcing of new donors and building relationships
and partnerships with Friends of Orion. |
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WILGE PRINCIPAL: VERONICA PERSENCE
After I left school I studied Theology and Early
Childhood Development formed part of my studies. Prior
to joining Team Orion in 2006, I was employed at a Media
and Training Centre, and here I was given the
opportunity to enhance my communication, administration,
finance and managerial skills. At Orion I was appointed
as the coordinator, Income Generating Projects
department. Here I gained experience in working with
people with disabilities for 3 years. When the position
for Wilge Special Day Care Centre’s principal became
vacant, I felt inspired to rekindle my interest in
working with children. Since I started at Wilge during
November, I never looked back! My dream for Wilge is to
play a vibrant role in inspiring the staff and parents
to be sincerely involved with the complex process to
develop and empower our children to believe in their own
abilities and live their dreams. |
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RENE HOMANN
René Homann completed her Bachelor of Diaconiology
degree in 2008 at Unisa. She specializes in Community
Development. During her studies René received a special
award as Community Development Student Of The Year, for
her positive attitude with regards to the development of
people and communities, and her enthusiasm and passion
for the career in this field of expertise. Before
joining Orion during March 2010, René gained experience
working in the Atlantis community as a Community
Developer. At Orion, René’s main focus areas will be
assisting the Social Worker with the organisation’s
Community Development Programmes, as well as managing
the Human Capital Development portfolio. |
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ADMINISTRATIVE CLERKS: ELZENE THYSSEN &
LECRETIA BOKS
(from L to R) ELZENE THYSSEN & LECRETIA BOKS, who joined
the Central Admin team during February 2010. Elzene
completed her Mangement Assistant training course at
West Coast College during 2007. Prior to joining the
Orion Admin Team, she was a personal assistant to a
medical practitioner. Lecretia completed her diploma in
Accounts Administration at CAD Training Centre and will
support our financial manager with the daunting task of
keeping Orion’s finances in a tip-top state. |
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