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Our Team

Founders’ Story

Accell Foundation was born out of a deep belief that South Africa’s education system has the potential to transform lives but only if we work together.

Wendy Viljoen, a lifelong advocate for education-driven impact and Francois van Louw, an education entrepreneur, partnered to create an organisation that doesn’t simply fund programmes but builds systems of change. Drawing on years of experience in education, business and community development, they envisioned a foundation that could unify stakeholders around a shared mission: equitable, high-quality education for all.

Today, that vision lives on in the people behind Accell—the educators, strategists, technologists, and fundraisers who drive the work forward every day.

TEAM

Board Members

  • Chairperson

Wendy Viljoen

  • Chairperson

Wendy Viljoen

Wendy brings decades of experience in human development, social impact strategy and governance. As Chairperson, she ensures that the foundation remains anchored in its mission and accountable to its communities and funders.
  • Executive Director

Francois van Louw

  • Executive Director

Francois van Louw

Francois leads the foundation’s strategic partnerships and vision. With a background in EdTech and educational innovation, he focuses on system-building, stakeholder alignment and sustainable funding models.
  • Treasurer

Michelle Mert

  • Treasurer

Michelle Mert

Michelle oversees the financial management of the foundation, ensuring transparent and effective stewardship of donor funds.

TEAM

Team Members

  • Pedagogy and Programme Management

Dr. Trevor van Louw

An esteemed academic and education strategist, Dr. van Louw brings deep insight into curriculum development, learner outcomes, and pedagogical transformation.
  • Head of
    Fundraising

Christa van Louw

Christa spearheads donor engagement and proposal development, ensuring that the foundation can mobilise the resources needed to scale its impact.
  • Fundraising and Data Manager

Mario Oliver

Mario supports donor relations with a focus on measurable outcomes, impact storytelling, and analytics.
  • Technical Service Provider, SOCO_ED

Amorei Mouton

Amorei plays a key role in ensuring that the digital learning platforms supported by Accell function seamlessly in real-world learning environments.
  • Technical Service Provider, SOCO_ED

Dane Brink

Dane supports integration and scalability of the foundation’s digital learning tools, ensuring they remain reliable and accessible.
  • Technical Service Provider, Topic

Nicholas Manuel

Nicholas focuses on optimising the learner experience across the Topic platform, ensuring that it meets the needs of diverse South African learners.

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