Meet the board

Welcome to our latest blog post, where we take a moment to shine a light on the dedicated individuals who form the backbone of Sunfield Home’s board. These members, each with their own unique background and passion for the welfare of our residents, play a crucial role in steering our organisation towards its mission of providing exceptional care and support. From long-standing contributors to new faces, their collective efforts ensure Sunfield remains at the forefront of care for people with special needs.

Join us as we introduce you to the team, highlighting their contributions and the impact they have on our community.

David Worrall

Meet David Worrall, the Chairman of our Sunfield Board.

Dave is married to Sheila, the creative force behind the beautiful gardens at Sunfield. They have three children – Jessica, Caroline, and Benjie, who has been part of Sunfield since 2003.

A semi-retired beef farmer, Dave currently lives in Gowrie, Nottingham Road. He has been actively involved with the Sunfield Board since 2016, initially overseeing the Estates portfolio and now serving as Chairman.

Dave loves the outdoors, particularly game reserves. Annually, he takes his grandchildren on a bush trip. At home, he enjoys hosting family and friends with a fine weber roast, usually of quality beef off his own farm.

The Worrall family continue to support Sunfield in a multitude of ways, and his recent agreement to drive the fund raising for the Schafer Renovation Project is testament to his generous time commitment to Sunfield Home.

Sue Grant

Sue Grant has been a long serving member of the Sunfield family and is currently leading the Board’s Resident and Staff Welfare portfolio.

Sue is a Nurse by profession, specialising in Occupational Health. The knowledge and experience she brings to the Board, particularly in staffing support and Resident care, is greatly valued.

She joined the Sunfield family in 1983 when her daughter Jennifer started her education at Sunfield Home School, Langholme which is situated in Canelands, near Verulam on the KZN north coast. She later joined the staff at the school as a volunteer nurse in 1991, and then was appointed to permanent staff from 1992 to 2013, as the Home’s Manager.

Sue cherished her time at Sunfield Home School where she was privileged to get to know and love the children, many of whom are now thriving adults at Sunfield, Howick.

She has served on various Sunfield committees/boards for many of the past 40 years. Sue says, “it is so rewarding to be part of the developing trends involved regarding the care and life skills education of special needs people.”

Jenny has been at Sunfield Home, Howick for 29 years. The progress made to date regarding the approach to holistic care of residents is remarkable and she counts herself grateful to have been able to contribute what, and where, she can.

Sunfield appreciates all the time and energy Sue brings to the Home, in the many and varied ways she gets involved.

Thank you Sue for your ongoing support, and the focus you bring to our long-term sustainability.

Myles van Deventer

Having joined the Sunfield Board in October 2023, Myles van Deventer has already provided both Board and Management with excellent support and guidance.

As the current CEO of Baynesfield Estate, Myles is not new to unpacking operational systems and structures, aligning them for long-term success.

His contributions at our strategic session, Board meetings and his management interactions bring strength to the financial and operational aspects of the Home. Myles has a quick, keen eye for details, focusing on what matters most.

His daughter, Sarah, has been a resident at Sunfield for the past three (3) years and is a happy member of her family House unit.

Welcome to the team, Myles. We’re sure the Home will benefit enormously from the skills and experience you bring to the table.

John Ade

John Ade joined the Sunfield board in 2016 to fill the Finance Director portfolio, which he still holds.

Despite not having any siblings, or children, at the Home, John dedicates as much time as possible to serve its financial, sustainability and Board affairs.

John is a Registered Chartered Accountant, and owner of his own firm, Ade & Associates, which is based in Howick, KZN.

Having worked in both the services sector and corporate industry, John brings extensive experience to the Board table.

His particular interest lies in fiscal compliance and treasury functions within the Board, and he oversees our audit, management accounting, investment, and statutory requirements.

Thank you, John, for your ongoing commitment to Sunfield Home, it is appreciated.

Howard Christie

Howard Christie joined the Board at last year’s AGM and has already made his presence felt.

He and his wife Pam, who is an active member of FoSHiM (Friends of Sunfield Home in the Midlands), have a daughter Lauren, who has been a day scholar at Sunfield since 2013.

Howard has been in the motor industry in Pmb for nearly 50 years, and he currently owns the Subaru franchise, which he’s had for over 25 years. In his ‘spare time’ Howard also runs the family beef farmer in the Harrismith district, where he runs a herd of Brangus cattle.

His entrepreneurial, estate, and management skills are quickly proving to be a bonus for both the board and management teams.

Howard’s heart has been with Sunfield for many years and his regular attendance at events over the years, and his sound advice regarding our vehicles, has been very beneficial.

Thank you, Howard and Pam, for your ongoing support of the Home. It really is appreciated.

Dianne Perrett

Meet Dianne Perrett, our Board Vice-Chair, who also currently leads the Strategic Planning and Marketing portfolios.

Dianne has a Post Graduate Diploma in Strategic Marketing, and she has founded and run her own businesses in marketing, business, and corporate governance advisory services. In addition, she founded an online business in 2005, called PickYourPlayground, which is an adventure activity search engine.

Dianne’s first involvement with Sunfield came about when the Home needed a comprehensive survey conducted to provide focus and direction for the then Board. Following this she has continued to work closely with the Board to set up appropriate corporate governance structures, portfolios and business reporting.

She is married to Keith, a veterinarian, and they have two adult children, Lara and Jack, who both currently teach in Dubai. Dianne was born and raised in New Zealand, and likes to travel, frequently commuting between South Africa, the Middle East and New Zealand.

Dianne is an avid reader and birder, going on outings with local bird clubs or guides whenever she has the opportunity.

Barbara Higgins

Barbara Higgins is a quiet woman who gets jobs done.

Based in Howick, she has served on the Downs Syndrome Board of KZN, the National Downs Syndrome Board of South Africa and the Downs Syndrome International Swimming Organisation (DSISO) Board.

Not only has Barbara served on these Boards, but she has also done tenure as the National Chair of Downs Syndrome South Africa, and is currently serving on the DSISO Board, holding the portfolio of records keeper.

Barbara joined the Sunfield Board in 2018 to fill the Board Secretary portfolio, which she still holds. Her organisation and efficiency provide a solid foundation for all Board Meetings and AGMs.

Her daughter, Jennifer, joined the Sunfield family in 2009 and has been extremely happy at the Home. Her son Andy, has also been very supportive of the Home, assisting with strategic inputs and guidance at various sessions.

Barbara is a very active member of FoSHiM (Friends of Sunfield Home in the Midlands) and has recently put a lot of time and energy into revamping the Home’s Shop, which is now regularly contributing funds to improve the Home’s facilities.

Thank you, Barbara, for your ongoing commitment to the progress, governance, and holistic life of the greater Sunfield family. Your energy and hard work is greatly appreciated.

Barbara Taljard

Barbara Taljard joined the Sunfield Board in October 2023.

Having been in education for 43 years, 23 as a Head, she brings a wealth of knowledge to the Board, especially with regards to the intricacies of running an education campus, managing staff, estate maintenance, and juggling Board, parent, and student needs.

Barbara’s daughter Jeni has been at Sunfield for just over a year and has settled extremely well in her new environment. Having done extensive research before admitting Jeni to Sunfield, Barbara is in the unique position of being able to share her perspective on what can keep Sunfield at the leading edge of care for intellectually impaired adults.

Having retired in 2020, as the then Headmistress of the Primary School of Thomas More College, Barbara is still involved in a mentoring capacity for ISASA.

Sunfield welcomes Barbara for the fresh new perspectives she brings to meetings. Her advice and guidance will enable us to continue building our long-term sustainability.

Thank you Barbara, and welcome to the team!

As we conclude our spotlight on the Sunfield Home board members, it’s clear that the strength of our organisation lies in the diversity and dedication of its leadership. Each member brings a wealth of knowledge, experience, and a heartfelt commitment to enhancing the lives of those we serve. Their collective vision for excellence in care, strategic planning, and community engagement continues to guide Sunfield towards a bright future. We extend our deepest gratitude to all our board members for their unwavering support, dedication, and the positive difference they make in the lives of our residents and staff. Here’s to continuing our journey together, with our board leading the way in compassion, innovation, and excellence.

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Chat to Don

Have any questions? Call or email our General Manager, Don Tully.

gm@sunfield.co.za
082 801 5931