CDE Staff Profiles
Ann Bernstein
Executive Director
Ann Bernstein is the founder and executive director of the Centre for Development and Enterprise (CDE), South Africa’s leading development think tank. Since its establishment in 1995, CDE has become a powerful national resource for policy direction and big ideas. Ann has written extensively on the key issues facing the country, vigorously advocating for reform. These issues include economic growth, unemployment, skills, the state of the nation and the role of business and markets in development.
She has established a wide network of international and South African experts on these and related issues and regularly convenes discussions about the country’s challenges across traditional divides. She is a frequent commentator on South Africa’s leading media platforms and has participated in national and global dialogues. She is the author of The Case for Business in Developing Economies (Penguin 2010), which received favourable reviews in South African media, the Economist, Financial Times and Forbes and received the Sir Antony Fisher International Memorial Award for the book by the Atlas Foundation in Washington DC.
From 2015 to 2017, Ann was a member of the Advisory Board of the Markets and Free Enterprise section, John Templeton Foundation. From 2008 to 2017 she was a member of the Board of the Brenthurst Foundation. Ann was a member of the Transition Team and then the Board of the Development Bank of Southern Africa from 1994 to 2001.
In 2016 Ann was an Invited fellow at the Rockefeller Foundation Bellagio Centre, Italy. In 2014, she was a Public Policy Scholar at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, USA. In 2008 and 2009 she was an invited faculty member at the World Economic Forum in Davos and participated in their Global Agenda Council’s Initiative. In 2005 she was a fellow at the National Endowment for Democracy, Washington DC.
Since the beginning of 2024, CDE has collaborated with experts, business leaders, former public servants and academics in South Africa and globally on a major initiative, AGENDA 2024: Priorities for South Africa’s new government. This series of reports offers a policy agenda that answers what is by far the most important question facing the country: What can the government do to get the country back on track after 16 years of stagnation and decline?
Alice Beghin
Policy Analyst
Alice holds a Master of Commerce in Applied Development Economics from the University of Witwatersrand, which she completed after studying a Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) in Economics and a Bachelor of Social Science in Economics, International Relations, and Sociology at the University of Cape Town. She has a passion for South African politics, agrarian studies, and food security.
Refiloe Benjamin
Communications and Media Officer
Refiloe Benjamin is a Media and Communications Officer with an Honours degree in Journalism and a strong interest in digital marketing. Refiloe specialises in media relations, content creation, and strategic communication. With expertise in both traditional and digital media, Refiloe excels at crafting compelling narratives and managing media campaigns to drive engagement and enhance organisational goals. She recently completed a Digital Marketing course with the Red & Yellow Creative School of Business.
Michelle Breytenbach
HR Coordinator and Organisational Support
Michelle Breytenbach joined CDE in November 2015 and is a highly experienced and resourceful PA/Administrator with more than 20 years’ experience in Executive Assistant and Project Manager positions working for CEO’s and Board Members of Blue Chip South African companies.
Mxolisi Dhlamini
Digital Designer/ Developer
Mxolisi Dhlamini is a creative artist who practices in concept development, digital design, photography, cinematography, and web development.
Tumi Dintoe
Accountant
Tumi holds a BCom Accounting Degree from the University of Johannesburg and is currently pursuing a CIMA qualification to further enhance her expertise. She has over 7 years’ experience in the accounting field that was gained in the IT and Financial services industries. Outside of work, Tumi is an avid runner who enjoys staying active.
Alletta Dlamini
Office Admin and Catering Assistant
Prior to joining CDE, Alletta worked for a leading Interior Decorator /Designer. She was mainly focusing on manufacturing of curtains & soft furnishings such as cushions , throws and re-upholstery.
Alletta currently assists with catering during meetings and events, handles facilities and office administration duties.
Hannah Hamilton
Policy Analyst
Hannah holds a Master’s degree in New Media and Digital Culture from the University of Amsterdam and a Master of Arts in Heritage from the University of the Witwatersrand. With experience in policy analysis, teaching, and academia across multiple countries, she focuses on evidence-based policy and scholarship. Her interests also extend to how digital and traditional media influence the communication and reception of research, as well as its impact on politics and development.
Khensane Hlongwane
Policy Analyst
Khensane holds a Masters of Management in Public Policy and a Master of Arts in International Relations – both from the University of the Witwatersrand. Khensane is interested in the intersections of foreign policy, trade and industrial policy, with a particular focus on how these dynamics influence South Africa’s social and economic development.
Brenda Lunda
IT and Systems Support
Prior to joining CDE in 2018, Brenda most recently worked with Pearson where she was a team leader in Business Development. She has many years’ experience in administration specifically sale’s administration and CRM. She has also worked in recruitment and client retention. She has obtained a higher certificate in Information Technology. Brenda is currently studying to become a certified Microsoft Office Administrator.
Tanja Makanec
Finance and Admin Manager
Tanja is a qualified CA (SA). After completing her articles at Deloitte, Tanja joined Scaw Metals as an Asset Optimisation Reporting Manager. In 2014 she moved to the role of Financial Manager of the Distribution Network, a division within Scaw Metals. This involved looking after a network of twelve branches and a subsidiary in Namibia. She remained in this position until joining CDE as Financial Manager in October 2022.
Oarona Moleko
Project and Administration Officer
Oarona holds a Bachelor’s degree in Social Sciences from the University of Cape Town as well as an Honour’s Degree in Development Studies from Nelson Mandela University.
She has 4 years’ experience as a Research Associate. Her previous role has equipped her with experience in stakeholder engagement, research pertaining to small enterprises and studies to support industrialisation in the Maritime and Chemical Industries.
Oarona would like to complete her LLB in the near future and also has plans to further her education.
Luzane Naidoo
Personal Assistant to Executive Director
Luzane Naidoo joined CDE in October 2019. Luzane has been in the Administrative field for over 20 years and has varied industry experience. While being with CDE she has not only gained a lot of additional experience, but has formed great relationships with each team of the organisation.
Luzane is a self-motivated, organised employee who takes great pride in the work that she does.
While she mainly works on independent tasks, she enjoys the stimulation and sense of achievement of being part of the greater CDE team.
During her spare time, Luzane enjoys reading, gardening and spending time with her family.
Thamsanqa Nhlapho
Policy Analyst
Thamsanqa, is a research analyst with a passion for Economics, History, Sports and Music. He joined CDE’s research team as an intern in March of 2024.
Academically, he is currently a PhD candidate in the University of Pretoria’s (UP) Economics Department with research interests in Growth, International trade and Structural transformation. He also holds an MPhil; a BCom (Honours) and a BCom degree in Economics – all from UP.
Professionally, he has experience working as a Budget Analyst in the Public Finance division of National Treasury, where his primary responsibilities were to support the department’s financing and budgeting process.
Sibongile Nkomana
Policy Analyst
Sibongile Nkomana holds a Masters degree in Development Economics and BCom Honours degree in Economics from the University of Johannesburg, and a BCom (PPE-Politics, Philosophy and Economics) degree from St Augustine College of South Africa. She has many years’ experience in economic and policy research. Her research interests are youth employability, poverty and post-school education and training reform in developing countries. She has also done research in small business development where she undertook analysis and reviewed over 70 laws, regulations and policies relevant to SMMEs in South Africa, as a key component in the design of South Africa’s SMME baseline study. Her other expertise includes data modelling and analysis, and coding. She is interested in finding practical ways to economically develop South Africa. She would love to learn how to do Randomised Control Trials (RCTs).
Stefan Schirmer
Research Director
Stefan Schirmer spent most of his career as an academic at the University of the Witwatersrand, where he taught courses in economic history, development and political economy. He has published more than 30 academic articles. He also held short visiting positions at the London School of Economics and at Oxford University. He has consulted widely on issues relating to agricultural development, land reform, rural development, education reform, city management and economic policy. After many years as a consultant, Schirmer has now taken up the position of research director at CDE. His goal is to strengthen the research capacity within CDE, and to help ensure CDE remains the most important development think tank in South Africa.
Siyabonga Tshabalala
Communications Admin
Siyabonga holds a BA in Politics, Philosophy and Economics as well as a BCom Honours in Economics from the University of Johannesburg. Prior to joining CDE, Siya was interning as a researcher at a boutique management consulting firm and also working as a Junior Investment Analyst at E4E Africa. His research interests include the Political Economy, Monetary Policy, and Development Economics.
Tessa Yeowart
Chief of Staff
Tessa Yeowart joined CDE in 2008 where she has been responsible for managing the design and implementation of strategic intervention. Tessa has an MBA (University of Cape Town), a BA with honours in Economics and a Higher Diploma in Education (both from the University of Natal, now UKZN). Her prior experience comprises almost ten years spent in various operations and planning positions for the organization representing South Africa’s higher education institutions, Higher Education SA (previously the SA Universities Vice-Chancellors Association.) She has also spent time in a senior position at a financial communications firm and has previous experience in education policy analysis.