The IBF SA Team

Theo Vorster

B.Comm. Law (University of Pretoria)
Hons. Investment Management (University of Johannesburg)

Chairman

Theo is the CEO of Galileo Capital and has been in the financial services industry for more than 16 years. Most recently Theo was the Managing Director of the largest private stock broking firm within South Africa. He is also a regular commentator on Moneywebs� radio programs on RSG.

Theo attended an executive program on Investment Decisions and Behavioral Finance at the Harvard University, Cambridge USA.

He is a practicing member of the South African Institute of Stock Brokers and a member of the Financial Analyst Society of South Africa.

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Professor Zak Nel

M.A. Counselling Psychology (University of Stellenbosch)
D. Phil. (University of Orange Free State)
S.E.D. ( University of Stellenbosch)

Academic Head and Chairperson of Academic Board

Over the past 35 years Zak filled many senior positions which included Chairman of the Department of Counseling Psychology at UJ, Executive Dean of Damelin International College and Academic Head of the Damelin Education Group. Zak still plays an active role in promoting higher education in southern Africa and holds various positions on the boards of training institutions.

During his academic career he was involved in several research projects funded by international bodies, published several articles and supervised a number of doctoral, MA and MBA studies and research projects.

He has been recognized for his leadership roles in higher education through various awards.

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Gerda van der Linde

B.A. Social Science (University of Pretoria)
Hons. Psychology (Unisa)
EDP (Manchester Business School)

Executive Director

Gerda has spend over 24 years in the in the insurance and investment industry within South Africa. During this period she held several management positions within Sanlam and Auto & General Insurance. Her psychology studies and work experience within the investment arena has led to her interest in behavioral finance and she is currently busy with research towards a masters degree in behavioral finance.

She presents training workshops and seminars and consults to institutions on the application of behavioral finance.

She also received an award from APPETD (Association of Private Providers of Education and Training) during 2007 for Outstanding Academic Leadership in the field of Behavioral Finance.

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Cobus du Plessis

B. Comm. (University of Port Elizabeth)

Marketing Director

Cobus has spend 25 years in the financial services industry during which period he held various positions in product development, sales, marketing, recruitment and training. He was instrumental in setting up the linked investment services company for Sanlam and helped to build it into one of the leading LISPS within South Africa.

He has a great understanding of the needs of the financial planner within the investment field.

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Academic Board

	Professor J.L. du Plessis PhD (Mathematical Statistics, University of the Free State) MBL (Unisa Graduate School of Business)
	Jan Leonard has 20 years of experience in lecturing and consulting in the field of statistics. In this time he lectured at various institutions and also worked at Vleissentraal and Saambou Bank. Until recently he was at the Potchefstroom Business School lecturing Management Statistics and is also lecturing a courses in actuarial sciences at the Centre for Business Mathematics and Informatics. He is also a statistical consultant at the Statistical Consultation Services at the North West University. Jan Leonard has published in various national and international journals and has writtend a number of technical reports in the field of statistics. Over the years he supervised a number of students with their dissertations and industry projects.

	Advocate Wessel Oosthuizen Director: Centre for Financial Planning University of the Free State

	Professor CH (Henco) van Schalkwyk, CFA HEAD: Department of Financial Management University of Pretoria