School Sports Summit

Presenter: Kooks

Title: TV show host & influencer

Presenter: Andrew Russell

Title: Author of ‘The Leadership We Need: Lessons for Today from Nelson Mandela’.Transforming leadership through
moral courage

As the author of “The Leadership We Need: Lessons for Today from Nelson Mandela”, I help leaders discover the courage to lead through uncertainty using principles from history’s greatest moral leader: Nelson Mandela. I help translate his timeless wisdom into practical strategies for modern leadership challenges. My clients include U Mass Boston, The British Embassy in Washington, Collegiate School in New York, the South African Chamber of Commerce, George Washington University, Liberty National Golf Club, Humans Under Management (Cape Town), Road Scholar. Let’s discuss how Mandela’s leadership principles can transform your next event. A portion of the proceeds from every talk and book sale goes to my sports charity www.sport4kids.org.za. As Nelson Mandela said: “What counts in life is not the mere fact that we have lived. It is what difference we have made in the lives of others that will determine the success of the life we lead”.

Presenter: C Ekron

Title: Youth education & sports specialist, PhD candidate, focusing on sports scholarships development in schools

Driven by a passion for positive leadership, I use sport and education to help individuals reach their full potential and become impactful leaders. With experience ranging from high school to professional athletes, I combine a strong background in coaching, teaching, and sports management. I hold a Postgraduate Certificate in Education, a Master’s in Sport Management (focused on mentorship in youth cricket), and am currently pursuing a PhD on South African school sports scholarship programmes. I’m committed to guiding the next generation through mentorship and education—empowering them to thrive in sport and life.

Presenter: Khwezi Mqomboti

Title: Director of sport & educator.

Khwezi is an educator and coach with over fifteen years of professional involvement in physical education, sports management at Prep School Level. Currently Director of Sport at St John’s Prep in Johannesburg, Khwezi has a deep passion in fostering a holistic student through education. Khwezi holds a Degree in Sports Management from Cape Peninsula University of Technology and a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE).

Presenter: Dr Ffion Thompson

Title: Postdoctoral research fellow in youth athletic development.

Ffion is a post-doctoral researcher in youth athletic development at Leeds Beckett University, a module lead on the science of sport performance course, as well as a leader within the Centre of Child and Adolescent Physical Literacy. With extensive experience in athlete development and elite sport, she serves as Head Strength and Conditioning Coach at Queen Ethelburga’s School, Pathway S&C Coach at Leeds Rhinos Netball, and Women’s Head of Athletic and Physical Development at Wales Lacrosse.
Ffion’s focus lies in movement literacy and long-term athletic, holistic and dual career development, aiming to enhance experiences and opportunities for children and adolescents.

Presenter: Megan Hudson

Title: Director of sport, St Cyprian’s School SA national swimmer, Commonwealth Games, World Student Games

Megan is a passionate advocate for youth sport and the holistic development of young athletes. With a BA (HMS) Sport Science (Hons)
from the University of Pretoria, a PGCE from UNISA, and a Diploma in Leadership and Management, she brings a wealth of academic and
practical expertise to her role. A former national swimmer who represented South Africa at the Commonwealth Games and World
Student Games, Megan combines elite athletic experience with educational leadership. She is the co-founder of the LTAD (Long-Term
Athlete Development) Model and Philosophy for the Johannesburg ISASA Girls’ Prep Schools, demonstrating her dedication to sustainable, life-long sport participation. Megan is committed to continuous learning and fostering a lasting love for sport in every student she works with.

Presenter: Richard Little

Title: Director of Sport at St Stithians College

Richard Little is the Director of Sport at St Stithians College, where he leads with a philosophy grounded in excellence, resilience, and personal growth. With international coaching experience in both Swimming and Water Polo, Richard brings a high-performance mindset to every athlete he mentors. He believes that sport is a mirror to character, revealing who we truly are under pressure. His coaching approach challenges athletes to embrace discomfort as a catalyst for change, to reject complacency, and to strive beyond the limits of self-imposed mediocrity. For Richard, success is not defined by talent alone, but by the unwavering determination to turn the seemingly impossible into achievable
goals.

Presenter: Lucy Twani

Title: Head of Sport at Cannons Creek Independent School

A dynamic leader in South African sport, Nolusindiso “Lucy” Twani currently serves as Head of Sport at Cannons Creek Independent School. She brings a wealth of experience as a coach, educator, and administrator, including her roles as Western Cape Tornados Netball Coach—recently leading the team to a silver medal at the Telkom Netball League Championship—and as Cape Town U21A Head Coach, preparing her squad for the upcoming Nationals in December. Passionate about youth development, Lucy has held senior roles in school and provincial sports, with a track record of success in national and varsity championships. Her qualifications include a National Diploma in Sport Management (cum laude) from Nelson Mandela University, executive training through the CIES/FIFA program. Known for her resilience, leadership, and commitment to holistic athlete development, Lucy continues to support the next generation of South African sport talent through her accomplished coaching and team management career

Presenter: Nic Groom

Title: Former professional rugby player, UCT IST XV Assistant Coach and Director of Rugby at Wynberg boys’ high school

Nic brings over a decade of experience from elite-level rugby, having played professionally in South Africa, the UK, and Europe. A former Stormers, Northampton Saints, and Edinburgh Rugby scrum-half, he now applies his leadership skills beyond the field. Passionate about team culture, resilience, and performance under pressure, Nic bridges high-performance sport with education and development. His transition from athlete to leader gives him a unique perspective on growth, identity, and thriving beyond the game.

Presenter: Dave Wessels

Title: SA rugby head of high-performance

Dave has the unique experience of having worked for two World Cup winning head coaches. He is himself the youngest ever Super Rugby
head coach and is the former head of Rugby at the DHL Stormers. Dave is currently head of performance for SA rugby and played a crucial part in the recent junior Springboks world cup trophy.

Presenter: Charlie Post

Title: Coach, educator, entrepreneur, culture driven-leader.

Charlie has experience across sport, education, and business. He is an entrepreneur and dedicated advocate for youth development. With a Master’s in Education, he leads Playbook Education’s cultural development initiatives with energy, insight, and a commitment to
learning. Having built his rugby coaching foundations at Rondebosch, Bishops and UCT and further developed his management and coaching skills at St Stithians College as director of rugby. As a student of life, Charlie brings real-world empathy and vision to his work. He shares stories from his experiences to highlight challenges and offer strategic solutions to improve communication and team culture in schools and sports departments.

Presenter: Sipho Dyonase

Title: UCT 1st XV Rugby Captain, Varsity Cup Rugby winner – 2025, postgraduate business communication student, aspiring sales specialist

Sipho Dyonase is a dynamic individual currently pursuing a Postgraduate Diploma in Management and Business Communication. With a Bachelor of Social Science degree from the University of Cape Town, he combines academic knowledge with practical experience in various fields. As an aspiring sales specialist, Sipho is eager to apply his skills in communication and business strategy to drive success in the corporate world. His background in rugby coaching reflects his commitment to leadership and teamwork, while his passion for community development underscores his dedication to making a positive impact. Sipho’s diverse interests and experiences position him as a versatile and driven individual, ready to contribute meaningfully to any endeavor he undertakes.

Presenter: Thoriso Shihau

Title: Educator & sports leader

Thoriso is an experienced educator and sports leader, currently serving as the Master-in-Charge of Rugby at St Stithians College. With a proven track record in talent development and program leadership, he is passionate about building environments that foster growth, performance, and opportunity. Thoriso’s leadership philosophy centres on empowering individuals, driving development pathways, and creating sustainable success both on and off the field.

Presenter: C Ekron

Title: Youth education & sports specialist, PhD candidate, focusing on sports scholarships development in schools

Presenter: Khwezi Mqomboti

Title: Director of sport & educator

Presenter: Dr. Ffion Thompson

Title: Postdoctoral research fellow in youth athletic development

Presenter: Tom Dawson-Squibb

Title: Performance coach

Tom is a South African high-performance coach specialising in building exceptional teams across business and sport. With a career spanning 17 years, he has worked with businesses worldwide across multiple industries. In sport, teams he has worked with include South African Cricket, South African Rugby, Sharjah Warriorz, UCT, Melbourne Rebels, Stormers, and Edinburgh Rugby. Tom is the author of ‘Humanball’ and holds a Master’s in Organisational Psychology from the University of Cape Town, as well as a Diploma in Systemic Team Coaching from the International Academy of Coaching (UK).

Presenter: Nic Rosslee

Title: Co-founder of Julep, Co-author of HumanballNic is an entrepreneur and writer with a deep passion for sport and storytelling. He is the co-founder of Julep Flowers with his wife, Jules, and the co-author of Humanball: A leadership journey in South African rugby with performance coach Tom Dawson-Squibb. A former Club Captain of the UCT Rugby Club, Nic has always been drawn to the intersection of leadership and performance. He spent a decade as an intellectual property lawyer at Adams & Adams, where he specialised in IP commercialisation and enforcement for leading global brands, including several in the sports sector.