About us

The Silvertree Community

We are an extraordinary community of world-class partners, bound together by faith and a relentless pursuit of excellence - called to raise a generation of African leaders.

Watch Introduction

Raising a generation who understands God’s call to work.

We agree with Arthur Holmes that the true measure of education is not merely what you can do with it, but rather how it shapes you as a person.

If pioneering a new vision for higher education - one grounded in biblical truth - stirs something in you, we'd love to have you around the table.

Join the team

"The question to ask about an education is not 'What can I do with it?', but rather 'What is it doing to me, as a person?'. Education has to do with the making of persons."

Arthur Holmes, 1975

Our guiding principles

Faith

We boldly pursue the unseen as if we see it, anchored in our trust in God.

Community

We believe relationships are the soil in which real transformation takes root.

Collaboration

We are a platform built on the gifts and resources that every partner and person brings.

Excellence

We give our best as if for God - because it is.

Faith

We boldly pursue the unseen as if we see it, anchored in our trust in God.

Community

We believe relationships are the soil in which real transformation takes root.

Collaboration

We are a platform built on the gifts and resources that every partner and person brings.

Excellence

We give our best as if for God - because it is.

Our leadership team

People first, product second - united from industry and academia, we understand what it takes to prepare students to grow and excel in the real world.

Philip Geldenhuys

CEO

PHD

Laila Ncwana

COO & Academic Director

MCom

Renier Kriel

Head of Tech Department

BEng

Jason George

Head of Software Development

BEng

Danielle Smit

Student Administrator

BA Language and Culture

Crystal Hartwig

Head of Learning

BA Humanities

PGCE

Ernelene Jacobs

Tutor

BEng

Philip Geldenhuys
CEO
PHD
Laila Ncwana
COO & Academic Director
MCom
Renier Kriel
Head of tech department
BEng
Jason George
Head of software development
BEng
Danielle Smit
Student Administrator
BA Language and Culture
Crystal Hartwig
Head of Learning
BA Humanities
PGCE
Ernelene Jacobs
Tutor
BEng

Professors of Practice

True transformation begins with those who have walked the path. Our seasoned industry leaders empower students by helping them cultivate the mastery, strategic mindset, and core values required to reshape their professional landscapes.

Marlon Parker
Founder, RLabs
Equipped more than 10 million youth in 50 countries through disruptive tech innovations.
Wendy Luhabe
board member, pepkor & richemont
Visionary economic pioneer driving economic transformation through women’s investment fund in South Africa.
Russ Tuck
Professor, Gordon College
Led the productionization and launch of Gmail and built and managed Gmail's Site Reliability Engineering (SRE) group.
Nico van der Merwe
Founder, EAR INSTITUTE & EDUPLEX
Healthcare titan, founding the leading hearing healthcare service provider in sub-Saharan Africa.
Ndidi Nwuneli
FORMER PRESIDENT & CEO, ONE Campaign
Global leader accelerating agricultural growth and entrepreneurship in African, also serving on the Rockefeller and Chanel Foundations.
Henry Kaestner
Co-founder, FAITH DRIVEN ENTREPRENEUR & INVESTOR
Activating Christian entrepreneurs and investors in more than 140 countries and also built a $1B tech company.
Daryle Doden
co-founder, Ambassador Enterprises
Co-founder of the largest independent rebar fabricator and distributor in the USA.

Board Members & Advisors

Our Board brings together a powerhouse of industry veterans and academic leaders who ensure governance, accountability and help that our offering evolves at the speed of the modern market, guaranteeing our students remain at the cutting edge of their fields.

Prof John Volmink
Professor, Former Umalusi Chairman
Served as VC to two public universities in SA and received an honorary doctorate from Stellenbosch University.
Steven Nelson
Former Harvard MBA Executive director
Lengthy tenure at Harvard Business School now serving as inaugural Dean of School of Business at Gordon College.
Wendy Luhabe
Professor, Former Umalusi Chairman
Equipped more than 10 million youth in 50 countries through disruptive tech innovations.
Helen Buhrs
CEO, Inscape
CEO of Inscape private higher education with 5 campuses in South Africa.
Khanya Ndzululeka
Co-founder, Mustard Finance
Chartered accountant and development finance expert supporting entrepreneurs in the informal economy.

Industry & Academic Partners

We've partnered with the following premier South African and US organizations to develop world-changing, redemptive leaders.

SOUTH AFRICA

USA

Man in a sweater smiling with arms crossed while standing by a wooden wall.

Check out our latest event

The insights from Frederik Zietsman (CEO Takealot) and Danelle Esterhuizen (CEO Triga Ventures) gave us plenty to reflect on.

Instagram

Check out our latest event

The insights from Frederik Zietsman (CEO Takealot) and Danelle Esterhuizen (CEO Triga Ventures) gave us plenty to reflect on.

Instagram

Raising a generation who understands God’s call to work.

We agree with Arthur Holmes that the true measure of education is not merely what you can do with it, but rather how it shapes you as a person.

If pioneering a new vision for higher education - one grounded in biblical truth - stirs something in you, we'd love to have you around the table.

Join the team

"The question to ask about an education is not 'What can I do with it?', but rather 'What is it doing to me, as a person?'. Education has to do with the making of persons."

Arthur Holmes, 1975

The Silvertree Community

Raising a generation who understands God’s call to work.

Our guiding principles