Global South Africans

Guy Lundy, CEO of Accelerate Cape Town, speaks at the GSA event at Kendall College in Chicago on April 24. To his right is Martine Shaffer of Homecoming Revolution.

The Global South Africans project and partners are putting on a series of events in Chicago, New York and Washington over the next couple of weeks. There’s a reception at Kendall College in Chicago on April 24, co-hosted Kendall CFO David Donnenberg and catered by the college’s famous restaurant school. We’re hosting a tea for GSA members at the New York Stock Exchange on April 29 as a precursor to cocktails on the floor of the stock exchange and the premiere showing of Carol Pineau’s new film, African Investment Horizons. On April 30, the World Bank is hosting a workshop in Washington on mobilizing the South African diaspora. On May 1, there will be a GSA lunch hosted the by South African embassy in Washington at which Ambassador Welile Nhlapo will speak. We will be joined at each event by Martine Schaffer and Guy Lundy of the the Homecoming Revolution.

GSA Richard Rabins discusses the business advantages of being able to talk knowledgeably about cricket on his company blog  — and is quoted in the Wall Street Journal.

GSA David Donenberg is Kendall College’s Chief Operating Officer. The College is a premier culinary arts, hospitality management, business and education facility situated in the heart of vibrant, entrepreneurial Chicago.

GSA members, and potential members are invited to our Chicago event, co-hosted with Homecoming Revolution to be held on April 24 at 6:00 to 8:00 pm at the Brookhaven Wine Room at Kendall College.

GSA has heard from many groups in South Africa how they would be thrilled to have our members deliver lectures or address roundtables when you visit South Africa. Universities, Chambers of Commerce, Business support groups etc. have all said they would welcome your insights into best practices, models, business or professional challenges. So, if you are planning a visit, please let us know so we can coordinate with them to have you share your experiences.

GSA will join with Homecoming Revolution — www.homecomingrevolution.co.za on their upcoming Canada/North America trip to host several events in Chicago, New York and Washington, DC.

Homecoming Revolution tries to encourage South Africans living abroad to return home and provides support for their return. GSA recognises that some South Africans have made the US their home and will not be returning. We aim to encourage goodwill toward the country by facilitating the provision of your assistance to South Africans at home.

The objectives of the two organisations have synergy. We have thus decided to host events at which we meet you, talk to you, hear from you, exhange ideas etc. Details of event dates, times and venue will follow by invitation and on this website soon.

The Colleges of Medicine South Africa (CMSA) was founded in 1954. It has provided support for doctors since then specifically by offering specialist qualifications (fellowships) recognised by the Health Professionals Council of South Africa and by offering financing, governance and infrastructure support for academic medicine. Read the full article

Steven Dubner, one half of the Freakonomics team, asks what Houston pensioners and South African schoolchildren have in common. The answer is Cyril Wolf, a GSA. The explanation.

Geoffrey Bradfield was raised on a farm in South Africa. He proved himself as a star designer in Johannesburg before arriving in New York. Now he designs interiors for the elite in the US, Canada, Mexico and Europe. His work has included the Kennedy Library in Boston, the residences of Queen Noor of Jordan and the late King Hussein. His portfolio includes a major design overhaul of Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitnet’s estate on Long Island and he recently was commissioned to restore the gallery in Edith Wharton’s former country estate, The Mount.

Geoffrey’s work can be viewed at www.geoffreybradfield.com. A superb brand ambassador for the country, he is also exploring ways with GSA to include aspiring South African designers in a scholarship program he has developed. He was honoree at last December’s gala dinner in New York to raise fund for the Phelophepa health care train.