Chris Van Niekerk

Experience

• 

  Sandringham School

  Apr 2000 - Mar 2004

  Teacher

  Taught Commerce for Grades 8 to 11 Master of the schools Rugby Programme Additionally coached Athletics, Cricket and Tennis.

• 

  St Benedict's College

  Apr 2004 - Mar 2006

  Teacher

  Taught Commerce for Grades 8 to 11Master of the schools Athletics ProgrammeAdditionally coached Cricket, Rugby and Tennis.

• 

  St Dunstan's College, Benoni

  Apr 2006 - Dec 2015

  Accountable for developing and managing the school’s Academic Support & School Integration Programme, partnering with Unity Secondary School [a Township School in Daveyton] | Directed / drove the funding model and resource allocation strategy of the programme | Defined and implemented various mutually-beneficial strategic touch points between the schools | Managed the complex and often tenuous relationships between various programme stakeholders / role-players.

  • Head of Academy

    Apr 2006 - Dec 2015

  • Head Of Department - Business Studies

    Apr 2006 - Dec 2015
• 

  Independent Examinations Boards

  Jan 2013 - Jan 2014

  IEB Sub - Examinor
• 

  Pinnacle College Founders Hill

  Jan 2016 - Dec 2018

  Founding Principal - Pinnacle College Founders Hill

  Served as Founding Principal in the establishment of a new co-educational independent Grade 0 to 12 school.The school opened in 2016, with 94 students and a staff complement of 10 academic / administration personnel - growing to 765 students and a staff complement of 49 by 2018 [1040 students enrolled for 2019].Defined and initiated all aspects and practises of the school, including operational standards for academics, sporting and other co-curricular programmes.Developed and implemented appropriate school management systems and controls, including policy creation and implementation - creating and maintaining a credible reputation for the school within the community.Established and maintained a winning work culture for the school, championing a healthy, productive, and collegial working culture that uplifted staff members.Built the staff complement through focused recruitment, to provide for year-on-year growth, overseeing all induction processes to ensure that new staff achieved integration and productivity as swiftly as possible.Managed comprehensive financial matters, securing break-even by the second year of operation and showing a respectable EBIT of 22% by the third year.As part of the AdvTech Group, ensured that all requirements for corporate rigor were consistently met in full - including all reporting, stakeholder relationship management and auditing standards. Show less

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  WOODLANDS INTERNATIONAL COLLEGE

  Jan 2019 - Feb 2020

  Principal at Woodlands International College

  Developed and drove the strategic direction of the school, guiding and controlling imperatives for all the key areas of the school, and reporting to the Board of Directors.Created, implemented and maintained school-wide policy relating to all functions - including instruction, culture, discipline, extra-curricular, and health and safety.Maintained full accountability for the overall academic credibility and performance of the school, providing key direction regarding internal systems, structures and quality checkpoints.Managed comprehensive human resource requirements, including planning, recruitment, interviewing and placement of new staff - as well as overseeing performance appraisal and HR administration.Implemented and governed further aspects of HR management relating to staff promotions, restructuring and staff discipline - as well as the ongoing development of staff through career specific courses and generic industry-related upskilling.Defined and controlled the school’s operational budget and related expenditure, reporting to the Board of Directors.Established and upheld beneficial relationships with staff, learners, parents, suppliers, industry players, and the governing and support structures of the school’s parent company. Show less

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  ADvTECH Group

  Mar 2020 - Sept 2024

  Managing Director - Niche Schools

  Maintains overall accountability for directing a Business Unit that oversees performance of a network of schools comprising of Abbotts Schools, The Bridge Assisted Learning Schools and Evolve Online School:Develops and executes business strategies specific to each unique brand and school.Provides strategic advice to Advtech Exco, promoting an accurate view of market and company position to motivate for investment and capital expansion.Ensures that company policies and guidelines are communicated and understood by all parties.Oversees optimal financial performance in going concerns, alongside prudent operational and capital expansion in current and new endeavours.Reviews reporting from various quarters, identifying opportunities and responding to threats.Analyses problematic situations and provides solutions to ensure company survival and growth.Builds and maintains professional relationships with stakeholders across various levels of operation. Show less

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  OneSchool Global Australia

  Oct 2024 - now

  Regional Principal