MEET THE TEAM
Rare Diseases SA is fortunate to have an incredible team who are committed to being a voice for vulnerable communities – working tirelessly to help us fulfill our mission of bridging the gap to improved quality of life for those impacted by rare diseases through advocacy and empowerment.
KELLY “Floss Dance Enthusiast” DU PLESSIS
CEO AND LEAD PATIENT ADVOCATE
Quote Kelly Lives By: "The essence of global health equality is the idea that something so precious as health might be viewed as a right." ~ Paul Farmer
HELEN “Is there a graph for that?” MALHERBE
DIRECTOR OF RESEARCH AND EPIDEMIOLOGY
Quote Helen Lives By: “You can have data without information, but you cannot have information without data.” ~ Daniel Keys Moran
SHEVAUN “Horse Lady” MCCREEDY
COMMUNICATIONS & RARE ACTIVIST EVENTS MANAGER
Quote Shevaun Lives By: “Don’t limit your challenges; challenge your limits.” ~Jerry Dunn
NICOLA “Where’s My Box?” DU PLOOY
PROGRAMME MANAGE
Quote Nicola Lives By: “We are not our possessions, but we are the accumulation of everything we’ve seen, the things we’ve done and the places we’ve been.” ~ Dr. Thomas Gilovich
NOMSA “Three Sugars” MTSHALI
PATIENT COMMUNITY AND RARE ASSIST MANAGER
Quote Nomsa Lives By: “We will only understand the miracles of life fully when we allow the unexpected to happen, don’t be scared to take risks.” ~ Paulo Coehlo
MEGAN “Choose Kindness” HUNTER
OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR AND RARE BEAR PROJECT MANAGER
Quote Megan Lives By: “Carry out a random act of kindness, with no expectation of reward, safe in the knowledge that one day someone might do the same for you.” ~ Princess Diana
NATASHA “Is It On Trello?” NASS
BRAND MANAGER
Quote Natasha Lives By: “You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. You’re on your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the one who’ll decide where to go…” ~ Dr. Seuss
JEN “Coffee Fanatic” MCLEAN
COMMUNITY RADIO LIASON
Quote Jen Lives By: “Imperfection is beauty, madness is genius and it’s better to be absolutely ridiculous than absolutely boring.” ~ Marilyn Monroe
MARILEY “I'll fix it” LIEBENBERG
FUNDRAISING SPECIALIST
Quote Mariley Lives By: “It's not what we get, but what who we become, what we contribute...that gives meaning to our lives.” ~ Tony Robbins