Directors

Douw Gerbrand Van Der Walt serves as the Chairperson of the FPD board of directors. He holds other managerial positions include, Chairman of the Health Science Academy (Pty) Ltd and Chairman of the Africa Health Placements (Pty) Ltd. Mr Van Der Walt is also currently the Divisional Executive for Nedbank Corporate Banking, this is following his 30 years experience he has acquired in the banking industry in both local and international platforms.

Dr Mohammed Abbas is a Director at FPD and owns a private practice opened in 1992 to date. His professional career kicked off in 1989 where he worked as an Intern at Groote Schuur Hospital. He then worked as a SHO at Somerset Hospital for 6 months before going to Red Cross Children’s Hospital. In 1991, Dr Mohammed was working as a SHO at Groote Schuur Hospital prior to opening his own practice. Dr Mohammed received his MBChB and MCFP (SA) at University of Cape Town. Dr Mohammed has been a member of professional medical associations; he was the Treasurer of the SAMA Cape Town for 4 years prior to being the Secretary of the DAFA. He was then afforded the opportunity to be the Treasurer of DAFA. Amongst other memberships he held, He was also a board member and a Chairman of Finance committee at SAMA for 3 years.

Chairman of the South African Medical Association (SAMA), general medical practitioner and occupational health practitioner in private practice.

Dr Mvuyisi Mzukwa is a General Practitioner and he has been practicing at a private practice in Durban for more than 10 years. He obtained his Medical degree (MBChB) and a Diploma in Occupational Health from the University of KwaZulu-Natal.

He is currently studying towards a Masters of Science in Diabetes at Warwick University, Ireland. Dr Mzukwa is a Medical Ethics Committee (MEC) member, a Socio-Medical Affairs (SMAC) member and a Review Committee Member of the World Medical Association (WMA). He has also served in the WMA council.

Ms Ida Asia is the Managing Director of Jhpiego South Africa and serves on the FPD board of directors. Previously Ms Asia worked in the Save the Children UK, Pretoria, South Africa as a Health Advisor for 2 years. As a Managing Director Jhpiego South Africa, Ms Ida Asia provides overall strategic direction, managerial guidance and oversight, cultivates strategic relationships and works very closely with the Ministry of Health and Social Development, partners and other stakeholders. She is responsible for coordinating activity programming, action plan formulation and presentation of Jhpiego South Africa’s financial oversight and business development activities. Ms Asia has more than 21 years of dynamic leadership experience in the health field in South Africa. She has cultivated an intimate knowledge of the South African health system through her work as a Clinical trainer, and in Human Resources and Technical Management capacities. She has contributed to health systems strategies and held senior management positions focusing on health systems development within a number of national and international organisations.

Dr Gustaaf Wolvaardt is the Managing Director of FPD. Prior to being appointed at FPD he served the South African Medical Association as a Healthcare Executive. Dr Gustaaf holds a Bachelors Degree in Medicine and Surgery (MBChB) (1983), a Masters Degree in Internal Medicine (M.Med) (1990) and a post graduate qualification in Higher Education (PGCHE) (2008) from the University of Pretoria. He is also a Fellow of the College of Physicians of South Africa and completed the Manchester Business School Advanced Management Programme in 1998. Dr Wolvaardt serves on the Board of Directors of the South African Institute for Health Care Managers, Dira Sengwe Conferences, Right to Care and Aids Accountability International. He has published a number of articles on international health and health management issues and advises a number of international clients on international health issues from time to time. In 2007 he was recognized a one of the 25 most influential South African healthcare leaders by the South African Institute of Health Care Managers.