All Profiles

Head of Environmental Science

Head of Engineering

I am a full-time lecturer in the School of Law at Varsity College.

Warren graduated with his BA Journalism degree in 2004 from the former Rand Afrikaans University (RAU). He went on to graduate with his BA in Law in 2009, a postgraduate LLB in 2011 and his LLM (Master of Laws) in 2014, specialising in Human Rights Law and passed with distinction.

Head of Programme

Riyaadh has completed the following degrees: Bachelor of Laws (LLB), master’s in Criminology, Law, and Society (LLM) and is currently completing his Doctor of Laws (LLD) in public law (Stell). His LLM research focused on the rehabilitation and reintegration of ex-inmates into society. He conducted face to face interviews with incarcerated inmates across various prisons in Cape Town. Riyaadh’s LLD research will expand on his theoretical approach to reducing recidivism rates within South Africa.

Amanda completed her B.Proc in 2003 at the University of South Africa. Prior to completion of the undergraduate qualification, Amanda spent many years working in legal administration which included the Black Lawyers Legal Education Centre (Law Clinic), the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and the Land Claims Commission.

Lethola is an ICT lecturer at IIE Rosebank College with a strong academic background, holding a BCom in Information Systems, BCom Honours in Information Systems, and a Master of Commerce in Information Systems, all from the University of Fort Hare. Specializing in Software Engineering, Databases, and Information Systems, Lethola brings practical expertise in web design, cybersecurity, and data management. Their research is focused on using Natural Language Processing (NLP) to improve healthcare data quality and service delivery in rural areas, aiming to drive impactful changes in healthcare technology.

Fiona completed her Bachelor of Arts in 1993 and her LLB degree at the erstwhile University of Natal, Durban. She completed her LLM in Mercantile Law in 2017 at the University of Free State. She is also currently a PhD candidate in at the University of the Witwatersrand and is on the practising roll of legal practitioners in South Africa.

I am an avid questioner of the status quo and always curious about why things are done one way and not differently. My interests lie in understanding the narrative of design in Africa.

Maretha Geyser holds an BSc Honours degree in Interior Architecture from the University of Pretoria. She started her career in 2006 as a junior Interior Design lecturer at the Design School Southern Africa.

Experience Design Navigator at Vega Bordeaux.

Mandy Speechly is the national head of programme and lecturer in copywriting at IIE-Vega. She has a master’s in media studies from the University of Cape Town, specialising in writing for mobile media.

MA in CBL (2016)

Design Lecturer, Researcher, Practitioner and Consultant with a passion for creative problem solving, creating meaningful experiences, and design education. I am on a lifelong mission to inspire, guide and develop THE FUTURE OF DESIGN.

I am the Information Centre Manager for The IIE’s Vega School. I am responsible for the leadership and support of the brand’s five decentralised campus libraries. I hold a master’s degree in information and library science from The University of Cape Town (UCT) and The IIE’s Post Graduate Diploma in Higher Education.

Farrell West is a dedicated tertiary educator and scholar, currently serving as a Digital Design and Graphic Design Lecturer at the IIE Vega in Johannesburg, South Africa. With an undergraduate degree in Multimedia Design and an honors degree in Animation, Farrell brings a unique blend of creativity and technical acumen to the educational sphere. At IIE Vega, Farrell is celebrated for designing innovative curricula that foster a dynamic learning environment. Her instructional methods are aimed at cultivating critical thinking,

Courtney de Villiers is a full time lecturer at Vega School Pretoria. She has worked in both public and private tertiary education institutions since 2016 in various roles including lecturing, moderation, postgraduate supervision and research coordination, courseware development and instructional design. She is currently enrolled as a PhD candidate in Information Design at the University of Pretoria. Additionally, she holds a Masters degree in Information Design, an Honours degree in Fine Art and a Postgraduate Certificate in Education specialising in Further Education and Training. Her research navigates meaning-making at the intersection of metaphysics, education and visual culture.

I have been involved in education at Vega School for the last 10 years. From 2021 I have made the jump from Graphic Design Lecturer to National Programme Manager for Graphic and Communication Design. I have been involved in research through my qualifications which include an Honours in Information Design at the University of Pretoria, an Honours degree in Brand Leadership at Vega, a Post Graduate Diploma in Higher Education at the IIE and at present I am finishing my master's in creative Brand Communications from Vega. In 2023 I have co-authored an article called Flipping the Script: Using Artificial Inteligent's to Design Assessment Rubrics for DEFSA.

Novice researcher, I love to collaborate with others. I have not published any papers yet, but I am keen to get going. I have presented at a number of symposiums, so I am ready for the next step.

I am a curios person that loves learning. I have studied a variety of courses, most notably a Masters in Corporate Communications, a Post Graduate Certificate in Education and Bristish Sign Language Level 1 & 2, and hope to continue studying further.

Game and Interative Design Lecturer I am a dedicated lecturer with a background in 3D animation and game design. I am committed to merging innovation and ethics in game and interactive design.

I am an Academic Programme Manager with more than 7 years' experience in Instructional Design, and 14 years’ experience in higher education. Currently, I hold a Postgraduate Diploma in Educational Technology from the University of Cape Town and a Master’s degree in Fine Art which was achieved at the University of Pretoria in 2019.

Senior Academic Navigator and Researcher with a passion for Branding and Marketing. Areas of expertise: Consumer-Brand Relationships and Consumer Behaviour; with a specific interest in the antecedents and outcomes of brand hate, and customer involvement.

BA (Psych), LL.B., MBA in Strategic Marketing, F.Dip.Ed., Brand and Marketing Consultant and Lecturer, Programme Portfolio Manager, Brand and Human Rights Activist.

I have always been the guy coming up with the strategic ideas and concepts that go places – but haven’t taken the credit. It’s only recently – through teaching at Vega that I’ve realised where my strong skill set actually lies. My undergraduate degree is in architecture and I love the built environment and thinking in terms of (real) three dimensional spaces. My recent master's study in creative brand leadership was an attempt to marry my undergraduate degree with my current role and involvement in the world of brand.... next stop Phd.

I started my career as a communication designer working on voter education material for the Independent Electoral Committee for South Africa's first democratic elections. My career migrated organically into Digital and UX Design after joining Qmuzik Technologies - a subsidiary of QData and Comparex where I was responsible for designing interactive training material and strategically managing brand collateral.

Lailah is the National Research Manager at IIE Vega and is highly accomplished as both an Academic as well as a senior manager in higher education, with an intrinsic understanding of assessment governance in higher education. Lailah obtained her Master of Commerce in Management from the University of Natal (UKZN) Durban (Howard College) and her PhD in Business Administration from the North-West University (Potchefstroom).

Dr. Wilhelm Neuland started his career as a Combat Officer in the South African Navy in 2001. He obtained a BMil (Stellenbosch) degree in 2005, after which he served as Assistant Weapons Officer and Navigation Officer on Strike Craft until 2011. In 2007-2008 he served as an exchange officer with the French Navy onboard the helicopter carrier Jeanne d’Arc, specializing in anti-submarine warfare. From 2011-2014 he was a Navigational Instructor at Maritime Warfare Training Centre in Simon’s Town.

Ria van Zyl started her career in 1985 as a communication designer and product developer. After this, she spent time at Woolworths, a South African retailer, in the capacity of Packaging Co-ordinator and Technologist before starting her own communication design consultancy. Ria joined the University of Pretoria in 1999 as senior design lecturer and researcher. She completed her Master’s Degree at the University of Pretoria with a dissertation on the development of a service quality framework for the communication design industry. She published several articles and conference papers, and wrote a “pocket” book in 2007 aimed at the SMME market and entrepreneur: Brand your business. Looks are important. In 2014 she developed the academic contents of the Independent Institute of Education (IIE)’s Design School Southern Africa’s (DSSA) courses. DSSA has since then integrated with IIE-Vega where Ria is now academic programme manager in the design department and national post-graduate research co-ordinator.

Dr Ayanda P Letsoalo is a lecturer and researcher specialising in developmental psychology, neurodevelopmental disorders, mental health challenges of parenthood. She is currently working as a Lecturer in Psychology, School of Social Science, IIE MSA, Johannesburg, South Africa. Dr Letsoalo obtained her Doctorate Degree (2021) from the University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa. Prior to that, she earned her Bachelor’s and Honours Degree from the University of KwaZulu Natal (2010-2013) and a Master’s degree from the University of the Witwatersrand (2014) in Psychology. Dr Simelane has extensive experience in lecturing/teaching, and mentorship. Her research interests are autism spectrum disorders, and parenting. She is an established researcher, with over 5 years of experience in the field.

With over 10 years of experience in Higher Education, I am dedicated to driving innovation in teaching and learning. Currently serving as an Instructional and Learning Designer at The Independent Institute of Education, I play a pivotal role in shaping impactful learning experiences. My journey began as a Peer Tutor and evolved through roles such as Senior Learning Designer at the University of the Free State (UFS), where I led curriculum design, client relations, and training development in the Faculty of Law. My academic background includes a work in progress Master of Higher Education and completed a BA Honours in Sociology and a Postgraduate Diploma in Higher Education, providing a solid foundation for my commitment to student and staff development. I have been actively involved in various student development initiatives at UFS, showcasing my passion for educational technology, tutoring, mentorship, research, and the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL). Beyond my current role, I am also the Digit

Cymbeline Harilal is an instructional designer at the Independent Institute of Education. She completed her Masters in Education (ICT) in 2024 (to be conferred). Cymbeline's areas of research are technological education as a means to eradicate unemployment in South Africa. Cymbeline is a South African registered educator approaching the PhD phase in STEM as her goal to be achieved by 2027.

Michelle Wolfswinkel is a PhD candidate with Stellenbosch Business School and a Stellenbosch University merit scholarship recipient. She holds an MA in Brand Leadership (cum laude) from the IIE Vega School, where she is a research associate and postgraduate research supervisor. Her lecturing and learning design portfolio spans business management domains across several tertiary institutions.

Dr Carla Enslin is the Academic Head of The IIE Vega School. Vega offers qualifications in design, brand and business studies. Carla’s interest and experience in brand building include the design and implementation of brand identity systems, brand alignment, and contact strategies. She lectures widely in Africa and abroad and conducts corporate training, consulting, and coaching. Carla is also a keen researcher and manages the Master of Arts and the Doctorate in Brand Leadership at Vega.

I am currently completing my Masters in Business Leadership. I have already completed all coursework based modules with only my research module remaining. My focus will be in ethical leadership. A self-motivated and driven professional offers extensive experience providing administrative, operational and customer service support across the education industry. Wish me luck!

My name is Alvira Prakash and I am a Full Time Lecturer for Education at Varsity College Pretoria. I am currently in the process of submitting my Masters dissertation in Life Sciences Education, where I explored teaching on online platforms in a university and school context. In the past I have obtained a B.Ed. Honours in Life Sciences Education, a PGCE and a BSc in Human Genetics. My goal is to strengthen my research skills and publish articles in the field of Education. I also hope to enroll for a PhD in the near future.

Currently a Head of Programme for the IIE, Lesego joined the hospitality industry having been inspired by one's relationship of and experimentation with food. Lesego has followed her passion into the foodservice industry at large; she further engages with the general management within hospitality industry segments and matters related to both education and teaching and learning. With over 10+ years of industry and academic experience, Lesego completed her Masters in Consumer Science and will further her PhD Studies, in the Consumer Science (Hospitality Management) with particular focus towards sustainability related topics. A journey from being a “display” chef, a cost controller, food and beverage management and product development, Lesego changed her direction to becoming more hands-on in the training space of the industry and is now fully committed to the education and development within the Commerce space at the IIE. Lesego strongly believes that those who wish to grow within this industry need to be aware

Candice Wepener is the Head of Humanities at the IIE’s Varsity College Pretoria Campus. Her research passions are situated within the broad fields of social inclusion, community psychology, and design psychology. Candice has explored various schools of thought in the field of psychology by studying her honours in psychology at North West University and is completing her second masters in psychology at the University of Pretoria.