Robert has the following qualifications, a BSc, BSc(Hons)(Microbiology/Plant Pathology), HDE, BEd, and MSc (Botany).

He is a retired Headmaster (Howick High School) after having taught for 40 years. He is currently an elder at Howick Community Church, and serves on their worship team and missions committee.

Robert is married to Bridget (44 years), and they have two daughters, two sons, and eight grandchildren! His hobbies include painting/drawing, travelling, pilates, and caring for and serving others.

Linda is married to Anthony, who is an attorney in Pietermaritzburg and they have 3 children: Stewart (22), Grace (20) and Mark (18).

Linda has a Master of Arts in Urban Geography but gave up her university career to be a full-time home-maker. In addition to this, she is involved in African Enterprise – her late father, Garnet Venn having come to personal faith through Michael’s first mission to Maritzburg in 1962 – her local church, her children’s schools and her neighbourhood.

Linda loves being in nature and is interested in current affairs, environmental issues and cares deeply about children and young people.

Gavin is married to Miranda and they have three children, Mathew (20) and Nicole (31) who were born to them and, following the recent marriage of their daughter, their son-in-law Kirsch(31). An accountant by profession, he joined the AESA Budget & Finance Committee in 2004 and has chaired this Committee since 2006; from which date he serves as an ex officio member of the AESA Board. Proudly Pietermaritzburg, having been born and raised in this city, Gavin worships in the same local church following four generations of his family before him. He continues to be actively involved in the life of this church, serving in areas of worship, ministry and administration. He has also recently taken up the position of Communications Officer at AE.

Deborah, daughter of AE founder Michael and Carol Cassidy, was born in KZN in 1974.
She graduated Cum Laude at UCT with a Bachelor in Primary Education and a Master’s degree in Theory and Philosophy of Education. Deborah is married to South African cricketer and coach, Gary Kirsten. Due to Gary’s extensive travelling schedule, Deborah opted for a more flexible career as a freelance journalist which has enabled her to travel with Gary. She has written for magazines such as Food & Home, Marie Claire and The Oprah Magazine. Deborah’s autobiography, Chai tea & Ginger beer, was released in South Africa in 2015 and reached bestseller status within a few weeks.

Deborah is a motivational speaker and engages with a variety of audiences, from schools, universities and churches, to the NGO and corporate sectors. Speaking locally and internationally, she is particularly passionate about inspiring women to realise their unique value and potential. Along with colleague, Jacqui Mol, Deborah has developed, and teaches a course entitled “Living your Strongest Story”, with the focus being to help women take very intentional steps towards maximizing their strengths and potential. They have also recently formulated “Growing your Strongest Story”, which is a workshop designed specifically for teenage girls.

Deborah strongly believes in adding value to her broader community and plays a key role in the community initiatives in both her boy’s schools. She is also actively involved with the township work of The Gary Kirsten Foundation. She and Gary live in Cape Town with their three children, Joshua (16 yrs), James (12 yrs) and Joanna (8 yrs).

Dr Xolie Jones. A born-again child of God, totally sold out for the Kingdom of God, a gift to the body of Christ internationally, a medical doctor and a seasoned business women. Dr Xolie is a suitable help-mate to her husband Bishop D.B Jones (Global Justice Ministries), and they are blessed with 5 children. They serve in Christ Impact Church, and reside in the USA and South Africa.

Ps Senzo Myeni is the founder and senior pastor of Esibusisweni Christ Tabernacle which is a church based in Pinetown. He is married to Ps Mpume Myeni and they have two boys.

Ps Senzo has been active in the ministry since 1995 when he received Jesus as his Lord and Savior, and has been ministering on different platforms to various audiences in South Africa and abroad.

Ps Senzo is a radio personality with 19 years experience in commercial and community radio, and recently he has ventured into television ministry. His passion is community development, social justice and youth empowerment. Over the years, he has been involved in a broad spectrum of civil society organisations, where he participates in different capacities to bring about change and empowerment.

In 2016, Ps Senzo was honoured with a doctorate by the Mount Horeb Bible Institute in Durban, in recognition of his contribution and impact in society through the preaching of the gospel and in leading community development programs.

Nadene is a founder member of Freedom of Religion South Africa (FOR SA) and Advocate of the High Court of South Africa. In this capacity, she serves as the full-time Legal Counsel of FOR SA and has represented religious freedom rights in multiple court cases, including before the Constitutional Court. Nadene is also a popular speaker, and has spoken on religious freedom issues on various international and local platforms.
Having obtained a BA LLB degree from Stellenbosch University, Nadene was awarded a scholarship to study an LLM degree in International Human Rights Law at the University of Essex, United Kingdom which she obtained cum laude. During her studies, she also held an internship at the United Nations Secretariat in New York.

Nhlanhla Khambule is the Pastor of House Of Christ Family Church in Pietermaritzburg. He is also the CEO of Edinvest which owns private schools, Canaan College eMlazi, Etham in Hilton, Stedin in PE and 3 Artisan Colleges.

Nhlanhla Khambule was on the board of Agribusiness Development Agency (ADA). He previously served in the boards of Ithala, KZN Growthfund and a JSE Listed Company. Pastor Khambule holds a Masters in Development Finance from Stellenbosch University, and he is a qualified Chartered Development Financier.

Virmel Largo (“Virmz”), is a filipino and a missionary with Youth With A Mission (YWAM). He is based in South Africa since 2004 though much of his time is also spent traveling around the globe as his heart is to see more engagement in reaching the nations with the gospel. He is committed to develop more partnerships, especially between Africa and Asia. Virmz carries a few leadership responsibilities in YWAM as an IDTSC-Asia Pacific Coordinator and Program Monitor for the Discipleship Training School in YWAM’s University of the Nations.

He is also the Global Coordinator for Nations2Nations which is a ministry in YWAM that seeks to see the restoration of the Identity, Dignity and Destiny of individuals and nations. And Virmz also serves in the Core Leadership Team  of YWAM Muizenberg in Cape Town. He leads a mobile discipleship program called  Africa2Asia-Asia2Africa Backpackers DTS.

Virmz has travelled to more than 80 countries to mobilize and network the body of Christ to engage in global missions, especially amongst the unreached.