Niki has a deep passion to bring about change and empower people. She has helped to develop and implement sustainable tourism models, strategies and plans for many communities. She is recognized within the tourism industry as a leader in research and programme development and for her ability to stimulate collaboration amongst tourism stakeholders.

She works close to the coal face to identify blockages and barriers which prevent people from adopting change. Her key strengths lie in working across complex structures and translating complex concepts into simple, practical and implementable actions, thus bringing sustainable tourism principles to grassroots levels.

In 2019, Niki joined the Africa!Ignite team to support our strategic growth and expansion plans in the capacity of Strategic Project Manager. She was appointed CEO in January 2020, taking over from Wilna Botha, who has stepped down to pursue her own consulting career.

Niki started her career as a Civil and Structural Engineer. Upon completing her MBA (Cum Laude) in 2000, she became a Project and Programme Manager for international companies, including Absa, Barclays, Standard Bank and Liberty Life, running mass scale programmes stretching over 11 African Countries. Her passion for sustainability, environmental best practice and social preservation led her to leave her 18-year corporate career to pursue sustainability in tourism.

Niki holds a B.Engineering Degree from Stellenbosch University, a Graduate Diploma in Engineering from WITS, an Masters in Business Administration (Cum Laude) from UCT and a Doctorate from UNISA. She is currently also a Research Fellow at Rhodes University.

Nikki is a dedicated accounting professional with over 20 years’ experience in the field, specializing in Bookkeeping, Accounting Policies and Procedures, Financial reporting, Internal auditing and Compliance. With a strong educational foundation, she holds a CIMA – Business Accounting Certificate from the Chartered Institute of Management Accounts and can demonstrate committing to excellence and professional development.

She began her career in accounting at Coetzer Craddock International, where she gained hands-on experience in Bookkeeping, managing accounts payable/receivable and preparing financial statements. This role provided her with a solid grounding in accounting principles and practices. After completing her 2-year practical Examinations, she went on to start her own Outsourced Bookkeeping and Payroll Company under the supervision of a Chartered Accountant.

Throughout the years, she has worked with various organizations, including e.g. public accounting firms, corporate finance departments and non-profit), allowing her to develop a diverse skill set. Her strengths in a workplace includes attention to detail, analytical skills, ability to meet tight deadlines, are consistently contributing to improved financial accuracy and efficiency.

In addition to her professional responsibilities, she is passionate about mentoring aspiring accounting individuals, advocating for the importance of financial literacy.

Outside of work, she enjoys the Ocean lifestyle. She’s an Active Member of the Umhlanga ski boat club and holds the title of winning the Ladies and Junior deep sea angling competition. Sailing and all Water sports is her passion which helps maintain a well-rounded lifestyle.

With a strong commitment to integrity and a passion for the accounting profession, she is eager to continue contributing to the financial success of our organization and supporting to the future of the Financial Department at Africa Ignite.