* Jabhile Grace RAPHOLO.– Director (Chairperson) Ms. Rapholo is an independent development consultant. She was previously employed with The Independent Development Trust as Regional General Manager for Gauteng and  IFES Washington before moving to DBSA where she held various strategic and management positions. She holds masters degrees. In Social Science, Clinical Psychology and Philosophy.

* Christian SCHMITZ – Director – Mr. Schmitz is a civil engineer by profession and he is currently is both the CEO and Chairman of SIDI. (Solidarity for Investment and Development International). SIDI is based in France and actively supporting mfi’s and wholesalers like Tembeka in more than 30 countries in Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe and Latin America. SIDI has recently celebrated 25 years of operation and is a living example of what Tembeka could become.

* Richard BATES - Director – Dr. Bates is a microfinance and development consultant with extensive expertise and experience in agriculture development and microfinance. Over the years Dr. Bates has worked extensively with local and international organisations such as USAID, DFID, DGRV, SCC and Canadian Cooperative Association and many other international organisations. His current work is mainly with commercial and small-scale sugar cane growers and related developmental financing schemes.

* Bernd HARMS - Mr. Harms is an independent development consultant with a wealth of knowledge and experience in co-operative development and co-operative banking design, development and regulation. Mr. Harms is the past representative of the German Co-operative and Raiffeisen Federation (DGRV) in South Africa since 2001; his tasks among other includes the promotion of Co-operatives in South Africa, Namibia and other African Countries. He advises co-operative structures and other public bodies on co-operative law, taxation, auditing and supervision of co-operatives. He holds a Master of Arts in Economics, Philipps-University Marburg, Germany, and a postgraduate studies in Economics 1977-1981, Philipps-University Marburg, Germany. From 1977 to 1981 Bernd was Assistant Professor at the Institute for Cooperation in Developing Countries at Philipps-University Marburg, Germany.

* Jeremy KLAASEN - Dr. Klaasen is Associate Prof. at UWC (University of the Western Cape) S.A. Herbal Science and Medicine Institute. Dr. Klaasen is also actively involved in developing bio-fuels from indigenous “Kraalbos” and alternative small-scale energy from Kraal manure. He also works closely with small-scale farmers from from disadvantaged backgrounds.

* Michael BRAND – Managing Director of TEMBEKA, Michael BRAND, has a small business management and engineering background. Mr. Brand has a diploma in business administration and has worked in the field of development microfinance for the past eighteen years.