Who we are

The Institute is an NPO (nonprofit organisation), Registration 94/02269/08 under Section 21, established to innovate and explore new ways for human beings to live sustainably on this planet.

It is based at Stanford Valley Farm near Hermanus in the Western Cape and was founded by a group of South Africa’s future-thinking experts from diverse fields. They are seeking to manage the property with a future-thinking vision which incorporates Holistic Management™ and permaculture, with focus on soil regeneration, alien clearing and indigenous tree planting, animal husbandry for land restoration, organic food production, eco-building methods, energy generation, water conservation, fynbos preservation, waste management, social entrepreneurship and community-building.

The Institute’s core activities include education through experiential learning and dialogue, and research.  Current and intended research focuses on development of a regionally appropriate renewable energy programme, low cost eco-building options, applied permaculture, water and waste management, management of alien invader trees and plants; an onsite longterm validation and further development of Holistic Management™ as a core approach to land restoration and farming; an applied practice of carbon sequestration in soil.

The Institute is governed by a Board which appoints Project Managers to address its specific projects in sustainable living, farming and technologies. The Institute raises funds through various sources, the largest of which has been personal contribution in cash and kind by participating members, which has enabled the farm to be bought and the projects to be initiated and sustained to date.

Jonathan Rands

Jonathan is a writer, director and producer of theatre in both the commercial and corporate arenas.His work over 20 years with the environmental programme 50/50, confirmed both his love of and concern for the extraordinary planet on which we are privileged to exist. It is this passion that motivates and inspires him to work with like-minded people towards a sustainable future.

Marian Goodman

Marian is a facilitator, trainer and coach to directors, boards and management teams. Her areas of keenest interest are authentic leadership, diversity, personal mastery, communication, team- and community-building, and environment. Curiosity about life and living at the edge are what drives her forward.

Sam Kelly

Sam has worked as a producer in film production and large scale events for the past 20 years.  She is a shareholder of Stanford Valley and is passionate about the magic that is Freewheeling. She believes that in the Freewheeling space we can recreate the future together.

Freewheeling falls under the aegis of the Stanford Valley Institute, a registered non-profit Section 21 organization (Registration No: 94/02269/08) with a current Board of six Directors that in time will grow and diversify further.

Board of Directors

Valerie Morris

After an early career in hotel management and as a financial director of several companies, in 1985 Valerie founded Renaissance Business Associates (RBA) in South Africa - a Management Development Consultancy committed to individual personal development and organizational change (www.rbanet.co.za)

Developer in 2005 of the Stanford Valley Project, she was CEO of the project for the first four years, stepping down in April 2009.

Together with her partner, in 1998 she hand-built a 150 square metre natural cob house, totally off the grid, in the Groot Winterhoek mountains.

Valerie is s a committed networker and, loving a challenge, is never happier than when she is involved in a project or three.

Saliem Fakir

Saliem is Head of the Living Planet Unit at the World Wildlife Fund South Africa (WWF), identifying ways to manage a transition to a low-carbon economy. He was senior lecturer at the Department of Public Administration & Planning and Associate Director for the Centre for Renewable & Sustainable Energy (University of Stellenbosch), where he taught a course on renewable energy policy and financing of renewable energy projects.

Saliem has worked for Lereko Energy, an investment company for renewable energy, biofuels, waste and water. He was Director of the World Conservation Union South Africa (IUCN-SA), and Manager for the Natural Resources & Management Unit at the Land & Agriculture Policy Centre.

He has served on a number of Boards & Advisory Committees: National Botanical Institute; Fair Trade in Tourism Initiative; Global Reporting Initiative; and Inspired Evolution One – a private equity fund for clean technology. He is also a columnist for the South African Centre for Civil Society.

Saliem holds a B.Sc Honours in Molecular Biology and a Masters in Environmental Science. He has written over 300 papers, articles and reports on environment, economics, politics and religion. He most recently published a book on Barriers and Opportunities for Renewable Energy in South Africa.

Vuyo Koyana

Vuyo is a Human Resources Development Consultant who is expert in facilitation, conflict resolution and mediation. With a Masters Degree in Applied Psychology she did her thesis on the psychological effects of Affirmative Action on the recipients.  Having worked within a number of corporate companies, including Ernst and Young, her entrepreneurial spirit led her to set up her own consultancy. She consults with the private sector and facilitates workshops on HR development, personal growth, diversity, coaching and leadership skills as well as conflict mediation.

Over the past 8 years she has managed the Pan African Market on Long Street in Cape Town using her considerable diversity skills.

Vuyo is strongly inspired by the belief in people’s ability to grow, to harness the best in themselves and to change. Her energy is also invigorated by the possibility of perpetual learning and as such, she is constantly embarking on new journeys.

Jonathan Rands

Jonathan matriculated from Diocesan College (Bishops) in 1971. After graduating from UCT with a BA and Performer’s Diploma in Speech and Drama in 1976, Jonathan went on over the next 20 years, to establish a name for himself on stage, television, film and radio. He has been nominated for   numerous awards in all categories and recently won the Best South African Comedy Award for “The Insatiables” – a play he co-wrote, co-produced and performed in with Tim Plewman.

For 20 plus years, Jonathan presented the environmental programme, “50/50” and his name became synonymous with conservation and environmental causes.

Amongst the many films Jonathan performed in, he is perhaps best known for his portrayal of Percy Fitzpatrick in “Jock of the Bushveld”.

In 1995, Jonathan started Jumping Dust Productions, a company that offers creative and strategic solutions in the corporate communications arena. Jonathan’s expertise lies in using the visceral medium of interactive theatre to assist individuals and organisations explore such diverse issues as values, diversity, wellness, financial literacy and transformation.

Jonathan has also done extensive theatre training in rural communities, providing skills and employment opportunities for young people.

Apart from his theatre work, Jonathan has served on the Executive of the Avril Elizabeth Home for the mentally handicapped for 15 years, and is the Chairman of the Sustainability Portfolio on the Council of St Martin’s Anglican Church.

Jonathan’s ongoing commitment to sustainability, community and the environment, has seen him co-found and co-produce the annual Freewheeling Festival at Stanford Valley.

Marian Goodman

Marian is a facilitator, trainer, consultant and coach to directors, boards and management teams, in both private and nonprofit sectors. Her interest is people development - building authentic leadership and healthy organisations, and working with executive teams in developing strategy and practice.

Her emphasis is on personal mastery, leadership, diversity, communication, team development, community-building and environmental awareness. Her many years of experience in multicultural diversity in South Africa ranges from corporate facilitation to youth leadership and life skills training.

She was Executive Director of Educo Africa, a leadership development organisation established in Cape Town in 1994 (www.educo.org.za), and currently chairs its Board. She helped craft Educo Africa into a values-driven and inspiring ‘learning organisation’ and model of diversity in the new South Africa, growing its people and programmes, pioneering a women’s wilderness leadership course, and developing specialist interventions in experiential learning for youth and emerging leaders.  She also serves on the Board of the Educo International Alliance (www.educointernational.org).

Marian’s love for bringing people together to explore the edges of innovation, ideas, and conscious living led to co-launching Freewheeling and its current expansion into a social action movement for integral sustainability.

She holds an Honours degree from the University of Cape Town, speaks numerous languages, and has lived abroad in France, Canada and the UK, returning to live in SA in 1977 to serve the change process from within the country.

Sam Kelly

Sam has worked as a producer in film production and large scale events for the past 20 years.  She is a shareholder of Stanford Valley and is passionate about the magic that is Freewheeling. She believes that in the Freewheeling space we can recreate the future together.