National Presenters
Camilla Antonie
Camilla Antonie frequently facilitates online courses for TSSA, conducting workshops on various thinking skill strategies, particularly Visible Thinking Routines and Growth Mindset. As an experienced English teacher, she regularly integrates Visible Thinking Routines and a Growth Mindset approach into her classroom practices. Camilla currently teaches English at St Stithians Boys’ College.
Traci Willis
Traci Willis is Director and Founder of Triple-I-Consulting, which is an educational consultancy that focuses on inspiring, innovating and supporting schools in their transformation of approaches to teaching and learning. Traci, who has her IEMA Masters Degree in Leadership and Change (Cum Laude), is also the Director for Tournament of Minds (South Africa) an international problem-solving event, founded in Australia, and active across 13 different branches globally. Traci spent just over 10 years living and working across international schools in Hong Kong and Asia Pacific. She was also appointed as an International Baccalaureate Global Trainer, Programme Leader and School Team Visitor for Asia Pacifica, Africa, Europe and the Middle East, Authorising and Evaluating IB World Schools. She was the key lead in bringing the IB PYP to South Africa, and led 8 schools in achieving simultaneous IB World School Authorisation - which is a world first.
Traci's focus is to address and relook at approaches to teaching and learning, that ensure the learning engagements and conversations taking place are relevant, challenging and engaging for students who are experiencing the exponential changes taking place in the world of today and influencing the world of tomorrow.
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Anrieke Olivier
Anrieke Olivier views her role as a calling to prepare a generation that is ready for the real world. She holds an Honours Degree in Early Childhood Development and Foundation Phase Education and has completed postgraduate studies in Barriers to Learning and Learning Difficulties. She specialised in learning difficulties during her postgraduate studies due to her passion for identifying and solving problems. She believes in early intervention, and she has seen many success stories in her teaching career.
Her early career focused on developing assessment instruments and conducting teacher training workshops across South Africa. Since joining Mountain Cambridge School in 2011 as a Grade 2 educator, she has completed numerous specialised certifications and played a key role in obtaining accreditation and establishing MCS as a Thinking School with the University of Exeter in the UK. She recently hosted teachers from a Lithuanian school to build international network and to learn from best practices globally.
Anrieke teaches Foundation Phase Mathematics and she now serves as Headmaster of the Primary School. She recently co-authored two children’s books with her Pre-Primary and Foundation Phase teachers to encourage critical thinking.
Sabrina Stammers
Sabrina is a dedicated teacher at SACS Junior School, where she teaches Grade 7 English and serves as Head of Academics for the Intermediate and Senior Phases. As a member of the Diversity and Inclusion Portfolio, Sabrina works to ensure that every boy, parent, and staff member feels a strong sense of belonging and connection to SACS, making it their second 'home.' Alongside these roles, she cares for her two daughters and provides guidance as Head of Hostel to 24 boys from Monday to Friday. Sabrina has been selected as an Action Researcher for the International Boys' School Coalition (IBSC) and looks forward to presenting her findings at the 2025 IBSC Annual Conference in Boston.
Sally James
Sally James is Deputy Head at SACS Junior School in Newlands, Cape Town. Sally holds a Diploma in Specific Learning Difficulties from UCL, having specialised in educating individuals with learning difficulties. Sally is also a qualified occupational therapist and has been a TSSA trainer for twelve years, focusing on Thinking Maps®. She teaches Thinking Skills to Grades 1, 2, and 3, helping students understand how their brains process information to become successful learners. Sally played a key role in securing accreditation for SACS Junior School as a Thinking School through the University of Exeter, making SACS the first public school to achieve this status. At SACS, Thinking Maps®, Habits of Mind, and Bloom's Taxonomy are integral to classroom practices.
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Sjaneen Pretorius
Sjaneen Pretorius is Deputy Head Academics at Kingsmead College Junior School. She has been in the teaching profession for 15 years as an innovative educator with a passion for Future-Focused education taught through an Inquiry approach. Her greatest aspiration as an educator is to meet each child at their level, helping to cultivate their individual confidence, sense of purpose, and equipping them with academic skills to reach their full potential. She believes that every child is gifted; it is simply a matter of helping them uncover their unique talents and purpose in life.
Linda Cowie
Linda Cowie is the Intersen Head of Department and Head of Integrated Studies at Herschel Preparatory, where she has dedicated 28 remarkable years—22 of them as a Grade 6 teacher. Her passion for Inquiry-Based Learning (IBL) was ignited through transformative TSSA courses and Trevor Mackenzie's inspiring IBL program in South Africa. Linda has championed the integration of IBL at the Preparatory, spearheading its growth across the school. As an innovative educator, she is deeply committed to empowering children to ask bold questions, explore their ideas, and craft solutions to real-world challenges. With a focus on critical thinking, research, and confident communication, Linda fosters a love for learning that inspires students to thrive in an ever-evolving world.
Diane Horsten
Diane's journey in education spans over three decades. She began her path in a government school for seven years, followed by a transition to pre-primary education. For the past 24 years, Diane been a dedicated educator at Holy Rosary School, with 21 years spent in Grade R and, more recently, working with Grade 5 pupils. She is currently the Head of Curriculum Advancement at Holy Rosary School.
Guided by Ken Resnick's philosophy that the rest of school should resemble kindergarten rather than the other way around, she passionately advocates for a child-centred approach to learning. Diane is currently working with her Intersen phase colleagues to develop a curriculum which covers both content a well as an inquiry and metacognitive approach.
As an accredited Philosophy for Children (P4C) trainer since 2019 through DialogueWorks, she has significantly expanded her repertoire of educational tools. She has co-facilitated numerous workshops and introductory P4C courses alongside Monica Baart and Kemble Elliott, sharing her expertise with fellow educators. Further enhancing her skills, she has also trained with DialogueWorks as a Thinking Moves trainer—a program designed to simplify the complex task of metacognition.
Monica Baart
Throughout her 32 years in primary education, Monica has embraced the joys and challenges of shaping young minds. Her journey with Philosophy for Children (P4C) began in 2015 when she attended an inspiring introductory workshop by Karin Murris, sparking a deep passion for the approach. Since then, she has completed Level 3 P4C training (2019) under the mentorship of Dr. Pieter Mostert and endorsed by Roger Sutcliffe of Dialogue Works UK. For the past six years, she has been a qualified Level 1 trainer, leading numerous professional development workshops and in-depth training sessions alongside Diane Horsten and Kemble Elliott, equipping educators to integrate P4C into their classrooms and curricula.
Monica has also completed training in Thinking Moves through Dialogue Works. Incorporating Thinking Moves and its metacognitive language into her teaching has been deeply rewarding. Her educational philosophy is grounded in the six strands of P4C, with a particular emphasis on enquiry, dialogue, and concept exploration. As a Visual Art Teacher, she finds immense fulfilment in combining P4C with art lessons, fostering critical thinking and creative expression in her students.
Over the years, Monica's teaching journey has taken her to Holy Rosary and Redhill schools, a brief stint in the UAE, and a humbling year in a local government school. Now, in 2025, she is embarking on a new chapter at Dainfern College as a Visual Art Teacher, where she will continue to share her passion for Art and Philosophy for Children.
Helen Sidiropoulos
Dr Helen Sidiropoulos is the Executive Manager of Design and Development at the Independent Examinations Board (IEB), with over 30 years of experience in education. Since 1991, she has been a leading figure in the field, having previously held senior positions at school level.
At the IEB, Dr Sidiropoulos heads a team of assessment specialists, overseeing the design, development, and training for various qualifications, including the National Senior Certificate and the International Secondary Certificate. Her work spans key subjects such as Mathematics, Mathematical Literacy, Quantitative Reasoning, and Further Studies Mathematics, ensuring the highest standards in assessment materials.
Dr Sidiropoulos is widely recognised for incorporating innovative educational research into curriculum and assessment developments, driving both innovation and effectiveness. Her expertise is acknowledged nationally and internationally, with her insights regularly featured at educational assessment conferences.
Robyn Mowatt
Robyn Mowatt joined the Independent Examinations Board (IEB) as an Assessment Specialist in September 2014. Before this, she led the History Department at St Andrew’s School for Girls. Robyn contributed to the Viva History textbook series in 2012 and 2013, authoring content chapters for the FET series and designing all accompanying summative assessment tasks.
In her current role, Robyn oversees assessment for Life Orientation, History, Geography, non-official languages, and Accommodations. Her work includes training teachers in subject-specific pedagogy and assessment, developing National Senior Certificate (NSC) and International Secondary Certificate (ISC) examination papers, and managing the accommodations process to support inclusive education.
Robyn is an active member of the South African Geography Teachers' Association and the South African Society for History Teaching. She also serves as a Trustee of the Mfundo Trust, an organization dedicated to expanding educational opportunities for learners from disadvantaged backgrounds.
A regular attendee at both local and international education conferences, Robyn has presented on topics such as assessment in History and Life Orientation, inclusive education, and fairness in assessment.
Michéle Botha
Michéle Botha is the Primary Schools Assessment Specialist at the Independent Examinations Board (IEB). With a BPrimEd, BEd, and MEd from UCT, she has a rich background in education. Before joining the IEB in 2014, she played a key role in establishing Elkanah House. At Somerset House, as Director of Innovation, she pioneered both Project-Based Learning and the Bring Your Own Device programme, making it the first primary school in South Africa to adopt this pedagogical approach.
At the IEB, Michéle has been pivotal in establishing the IEB’s Primary School Initiative. Her work includes research related to best practice, management and development of national assessments at the primary school level, including the Grade 6 Core Skills Test and Grade 7 MATCH. Michéle has co-authored Natural Science and English textbooks for Grades 4 – 7 and participated in pilot projects for the Western Cape Department of Education.
She has presented at various local and international conferences including Google and SchoolNet Conferences, the Association for Educational Assessment in Africa and the International Association for Educational Assessment. Michéle believes in continuously refining teaching, learning and assessment methodologies to prepare learners to thrive in tomorrow’s world
Nicole Rennie
Nicole Rennie is the Head of Business Development for EMEA and APAC at Kami, a Google Champion, and a passionate EdTech Coach.
With over 15 years of experience in education, Nicole has become a specialist in the strategic implementation of ICT in schools across the world.
A Kami Teacher, Coach, "Kami Mom," and the official Google Educator Group South Africa Leader, Nicole is dedicated to helping educators use the power of technology to elevate innovation in teaching and learning. As a Google Certified Trainer and international conference presenter, Nicole is committed to supporting teachers worldwide, empowering them to make the most of EdTech tools for enhancing student learning and engagement.
Her mission is to ensure that technology is accessible and effective for all students, regardless of their location or learning style.
Frankie Cilliers
A former teacher of 13 years, Frankie Cilliers is an award-winning EdTech Trainer and currently a Teaching and Learning Coordinator at Kami. He has trained and spoken at events attended by guests from across the globe, including Dubai, San Diego, London and more.
Recently, Frankie won the Mail & Guardian Top 200 Award in the EdTech Category and was also featured on Newzroom Afrika (DSTV), a national news channel, for his innovative use of Technology in Education.
Frankie is a Google Certified Trainer and obtained several iAB Europe-accredited Digital and Social Marketing certifications. He currently supports educators and shares the magic of Kami with countries in Africa, parts of Europe and the Middle East.
Tessa Hallowes Stobie
After having her own children, Tessa realised that teaching was a very natural calling for her. Leaving a career in corporate Marketing she made a transition into teaching, which was intrinsically happier and more fulfilling for her.
After studying a PGCE in foundation phase, Tessa began teaching in a Reggio Emilia Inspired Preschool. She spent 6 years in roles ranging from Art Teacher, 00 Teacher and Preschool Manager.
The Reggio Emilia approach appealed to her with its strong image of children and their potential to learn in 100 languages. Her experience with the Reggio Emilia Approach at Small World School has introduced her to the Africa Reggio Emilia Alliance (AREA). She has presented and facilitated many of their teacher training workshops and was invited to speak at the international Africa Reggio Emilia Alliance Conference in 2018. She has also been involved in a mentorship program with the Gauteng Department of Education.
In 2021 she started her journey with Kingsmead College and the beautiful Mornington pre-school. There is a synergy between Tessa’s Reggio Emilia inspired background and the Thinking Schools philosophy and, her teaching approach certainly aims to embody the ‘Habits of Mind’ - “Creating, imagining, and innovating” and “Gathering data through all senses” and especially “Responding with wonderment and awe”.
The visual arts have always been a strong influence in her life and she believes this creativity is evident her classroom.
Yiotta Hadjipetros
Yiota has had the privilege of teaching and inspiring young children for many years and is the Grade Co-ordinator of Mornington Preschool at Kingsmead College, a place close to her heart. Passionate about early childhood education, she is dedicated to creating a nurturing environment where children can thrive. As a mother of twin boys born at 24 weeks, Yiota has overcome numerous challenges, which have deepened her empathy and shaped her approach to teaching.
She believes that confidence, positive self-esteem, and independence are the foundation for success. Yiota is especially passionate about creativity in education, seeing it as a key tool for fostering curiosity, critical thinking and self-expression. She draws inspiration from various educational philosophies, integrating the best elements to foster creativity, confidence and a love for learning in young children. By nurturing children’s natural curiosity, she empowers them to explore, ask questions, and solve problems. Yiota encourages children to embrace their creativity, helping them develop a love for learning and the confidence to approach challenges with imagination and innovation.
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Letlhogonolo Maloka
Letlhogonolo Maloka is an engineer turned educator with a passion for education and technology. As part of the founding team at Mindjoy, he is dedicated to building AI-powered learning experiences that help young people develop the skills they need to navigate a rapidly changing world. My work focuses on empowering learners and educators to approach learning with confidence, ensuring they have the tools to solve problems, not just once, but repeatedly in new and evolving contexts.
Letlhogonol enjoys sharing knowledge and helping others uncover solutions, making technology more accessible, and fostering curiosity-driven learning. At Mindjoy, he plays at the intersection of AI, education, and human potential, working to reimagine how technology can amplify learning and creativity.