Who Are We

meet the Common Good team

At Common Good, our people are at the heart of everything we do. We’re deeply committed to seeing lasting change in South Africa, and we bring both passion and purpose to our work each day. But while we take our mission seriously, we don’t take ourselves too seriously – you’ll often find us sharing a laugh, brewing a strong cup of tea, and occasionally indulging in a harmless prank. We value open conversations, collaborative thinking, and a culture where joy and impact go hand in hand. Our values aren’t just words on a wall – they’re lived out daily in how we show up for our work, and for each other.

leadership team

Polly Murphy

Polly Murphy

CEO
Polly Murphy - Fun

Polly

CEO
Kristin Myburgh

Kristin Myburgh

Operations Manager & Employment Lead
Kristin Myburgh

Kristin

Operations Manager & Employment Lead
Charnay Kleinsmith

Charnay Kleinsmith

People & Culture Lead
Charnay Kleinsmith

Charnay

People & Culture Lead
David De Korte

David De Korte

Education Programme Director
David De Korte

David

Education Programme Director
Richard Lundie

Richard Lundie

Early Life Programme Director
Richard Lundie

Richard

Early Life Programme Director

central team

Cherilyn Singh

Cherilyn Singh

Relationship Resource Developer
Cherilyn Singh - Fun

Cherilyn

Relationship Resource Developer
Linda Mentoor

Linda Mentoor

Receptionist
Linda Mentoor - Fun

Linda

Receptionist
Pakama Mofu

Pakamu Mofu

Operations Co-Ordinator
Pakamu Mofu - Fun

Pakamu

Operations Co-Ordinator
Pakama Mofu

Marisa Batt

Finance Consultant
Pakamu Mofu - Fun

Marisa

Finance Consultant
Zameka

Zameka

Office Assistant
Zameka - Fun

Zameka

Office Assistant
Justine Sterling

Justine Sterling

Marketing & Communications
Justine Sterling - Fun

Justine

Marketing & Communications
Chandre Elliott

Chandre Elliott

Graphic Designer
Chandre Elliott - Fun

Chandre

Graphic Designer

early life team

Pakama Mofu

Busiswa Mbabala

Trainer
Pakamu Mofu - Fun

Busiswa

Trainer
Ruth Lundie

Ruth Lundie

Head of Programmes and Partnerships
Ruth Lundie - Fun

Ruth

Head of Programmes and Partnerships
Daisy Pearce

Daisy Pearce

Operational Support Administrator
Daisy Pearce - Fun

Daisy

Operational Support Administrator
Mawande Gcilitshana

Mawande Gcilitshana

Trainer
Mawande Gcilitshana - Fun

Mawande

Trainer
Jessica Muller

Jessica Muller

Project Manager
Jessica Muller - Fun

Jessica

Project Manager

education team

Lakin Arendse

Lakin Arendse

Operations Specialist
Lakin Arendse - Fun

Lakin

Operations Specialist
Lakin Arendse

Liezl Brooks

Foundation Phase Instructional Coach
Liezl Brooks - Fun

Liezl

Foundation Phase Instructional Coach
Carmen Coraizin

Carmen Coraizin

Intermediate Phase Instructional Coach
Carmen Coraizin - Fun

Carmen

Intermediate Phase Instructional Coach
Lynn Davids

Lynn Davids

Head of Operations
Lynn Davids - Fun

Lynn

Head of Operations
Matthew Draper

Matthew Draper

Head of Instruction
Matthew Draper - Fun

Matthew

Head of Instruction
Bronwyn Hiles

Bronwyn Hiles

Coaching and Training Specialist
Bronwyn Hiles - Fun

Bronwyn

Coaching and Training Specialist
Zaria Koopman

Zaria Koopman

Human Resource & Operational Support Administrator
Zaria Koopman - Fun

Zaria

Human Resource & Operational Support Administrator
Carmen Coraizin

Vuyo Manzi

Administrator
Vuyo Manzi - Fun

Vuyo

Administrator
Sindiswa Mpaliso

Sindiswa Mpaliso

Finance Specialist
Sindiswa Mpaliso - Fun

Sindiswa

Finance Specialist
Matthew Draper

Zenobia Williams

Curriculum and Assessment Specialist
Zenobia Williams - Fun

Zenobia

Curriculum and Assessment Specialist
Bronwyn Hiles

Nolu Yawa

High School Instructional Coach
Nolu Yawa - Fun

Nolu

High School Instructional Coach
Jessica Van Nelson

Jessica Van Nelson

Human Resource Officer
Jessica Van Nelson - Fun

Jessica

Human Resource Officer
Carmen Coraizin

Murray Gibbon

Deputy Programme Director
Vuyo Manzi - Fun

Murray

Deputy Programme Director
Sindiswa Mpaliso

Babalwa Malibeni

Education Finance Administrator
Sindiswa Mpaliso - Fun

Babalwa

Education Finance Administrator
Matthew Draper

Lizaan Williams

Collaboration Schools Assessment Implementer
Zenobia Williams - Fun

Lizaan

Collaboration Schools Assessment Implementer

employment team

justice & the church

employment team

Blu

Blu Bomela

Replication & Community Relations Officer
Blu - Fun

Blu

Replication & Community Relations Officer
Carmen Coraizin

Rene O’Ryan

Employment Implementer
Vuyo Manzi - Fun

Rene

Operations Manager & Employment Lead

justice & the church

Grant Porthen

Title
Vuyo Manzi - Fun

Grant

Title

meet the Common Good board

Common Good is led by a skilled, experienced, engaged, and diverse Board who have experience in both the corporate and NGO sectors. With our track record of impact, robust governance practices and solid financial management structures, Common Good is a trusted NGO and development partner working across South Africa.