Speakers for 2016 More Than A Sign Annual Disability Conference
Our Speakers

Amos Maziba
Position Operations Director for Nthuse foundation
About Amos Maziba, Operations Director for Nthuse foundation became disabled, after being shot twice, at the tender age of 24 years. Being a gym enthusiast, he found life challenging not only because he was not able to follow his passion, but through the prejudice he faced as a person living with a disability. Having a clear, logical mind with a practical approach to problem solving he faced his situation head on and had become an advocate for people with disabilities, driving transformation, encouraging people to embrace diversity and challenges mindsets on the subject of PWD’s. Having worked around issues of disability for more than 24 years, it has taught him that people facing the challenge of being disabled have different experiences and stories to tell and not to assume because he is in a wheelchair, his experience is the same as another in a wheelchair. Amos passion lies in facilitating reasonable accommodation and training on the subject’s around disability awareness, diversity training, business ethics and behavior as well as motivational talks. His audiences have included general staff to executive management with candidates of all races ranging between 10 and 60 in attendance. Some of the companies that have enjoyed his experience are the likes of the IDC, Masana, BP & Barloworld, to name a few.

Undere’ Deglon
Position Chief Executive Officer, DWDE
About Amongst others, Undere’ has attained a Masters in Research Psychology from the University of Cape Town, and a Post Graduate Certificate in Human Resource Management from the University of South Africa. She is currently enrolled for an Executive MBA at the University of Cape Town. * She has worked in the private sector in recruitment and placement. * As consultant to Disabled People South Africa (DPSA), she co-authored seven chapters of the Technical Assistance Guidelines on the Employment of people with disabilities, commissioned by the National Department of Labour. This document remains the authoritative guide to employers with ways to provide reasonable accommodation in the workplace. * Undere served on the United Nations International Labour Organisation Programme Steering Committee where she gained experience in successful employment models, both nationally and internationally. * In 2006, she headed the Working Committe for the International Labour Organisation's multi-country study (Zambia, Swaziland, Malawi and South Africa) with the purpose to understand ‘Strategies for skills acquisition and work for people with disabilities’. Undere spearheaded the Careers for youths with disabilities in South Africa (CYDISA) programme, funded by the Danish Foreign Ministry. This was the fist comprehensive career guidance service offered to young people with disabilities in South Africa. This led to the conceptualisation of the 2% Campaign with an associeted tartget of 1200 people with disabilities into employment all over South Africa. * She continues to work with international organisations ranging from The World Bank, Danida, the International Labour Organisation, the Fundosa Group in Spain, the Japanese International Development Agency and South African Government Departments. As a black woman with a disability from the rural parts of South Africa, she contributes her own experiences of gender and disability empowerment to being a change agent for the successful employment for people with disabilities.

David Reevell
Position Managing Director of Revworth Consulting
About David Reevell, an Industrial Engineer, and Managing Director of Revworth Consulting comes with a wealth of experience and has, over the last 20 years, been actively involved in developing, implementing, managing and measuring SME’s and Business / Supplier systems. This included the internal systems and processes required to drive the programmes within the Public ( SEDA, various SETA’s, Government, etc. ) as well as Private sectors. This also includes Re-engineering, Change management, Systems and People Development services to the public and private sectors. SPECIALIST AREAS OF KNOWLEDGE • Process mapping ( various platforms ) • Risk and Compliance Management (ISO 31000) • Re-engineering / Business Analysis ( with performance measurements, operational and executive dashboards) • Systems Auditing – Lead Auditor • ISO 9000 -QMS Implementation • ISO 14000 – environmental systems • OSHAS 18001 - Health & Safety • ISO 22001 / HACCP - Food Safety Systems • Change management • Project management • Workshop facilitation • Systems implementation • Training • Research • Entrepreneur and Small Business development RESEARCH I am involved with research projects and panels as listed below : • APPOINTED TO THE DTI - SERVICES RESEARCH PANEL FOCUSING ON TWO AREAS o Enterprise and Industry Development (including Cooperatives and SMMEs) o Monitoring and Evaluation The research that we do will feed up to develop and implement effective government policy formulation and implementation. • Cross Border Road Transport Agency ( Regulator ) – development of SME programmes which included research of the sector with proposed development initiatives • Chemical SETA – People with Disabilities as well as Voucher Scheme Impact within the Chemical Sector Davis Key Skills Area lie in the following: • Business Process Re-engineering - Industrial Engineering • Performance setting, monitoring, analysis and reporting ( dashboards ) • Risk Management • ISO 9001 ( quality and management systems ) • OHSAS 18001 ( health and safety systems ) • ISO 14001 ( environment systems ) • ISO 22000 ( food safety system implementation ) • SHEQ ( systems integration and implementation ) • Training ( quality, process mapping, auditing, etc.) • Project Management • Process and Organisational Auditing • Workshop planning and facilitation ( to support sector development projects) • SME development

Tariq Shurmah
Position Managing Director, Step Up Enterpises
About Tariq Shurmah has over 15 years of Financial Management, Skills Development and B-BBEE experience in various sector industries within South Africa with companies like MTN SA, Training Force, The Kelly Group, Manpower SA, Assessment College of South Africa and SAGE BEE123. Tariq possesses extensive experience working with the various business streams and governing bodies of South Africa by identifying programmes to meet B-BBEE, Employment Equity and Skills Development requirements. Tariq has helped various clients improve their B-BBEE Level by implementing the proper B-BBEE strategies in the most cost effective and least disruptive manner. With the B-BBEE interventions being costly and requiring an outlay of monies, Tariq has gained the necessary skills and knowledge to help organisations, through the implementation of proper skills development interventions, process and facilitate the financial return on the investment as indicated in the Income Tax Act and through the Employment Tax Incentives. With the experience gained, Tariq has the skills, knowledge and determination required for all facets of business. Tariq is a tenacious and energetic individual who is self motivated and confident which makes him decisive with excellent judgment skills.
Philippa Robertson Smith
Position Director, Welkin Projects
About Philippa Roberson tSmith is a female, South African, entrepreneur passionate about the empowerment of others and the onboarding of the disabled into workplace, diversity and overall disclosures. She established a division within Welkin Projects in 2013 and today it is fully established in bringing the client (Corporate SA) and suppliers of products and services in the disability field together. Philippa is a notable for her speaking and is committed to helping groups and individuals realize their maximum potential and is involved in social investment programs in South Africa.