MICHELLE POTTER

Michelle is Executive Director and founder of SAYes.

After working in the music industry for 12 years, Michelle then re-trained and qualified with the UK Football Association as a coach. She went on to coach football in London and New York for three years before returning to Roehampton University in 2004, to become a full-time student.

At University, she studied Education with additional subjects in Human Rights and Philosophy. In 2007, she graduated from Roehampton University with a BA (Hons) in Education.

In 2008, Michelle received the Froebel Guild Award for her dissertation on children in care in South Africa and the UK.  It was the same year that she moved to Cape Town, where she has lived and worked ever since, leading SAYes.

ANDREW DELLIS

Andrew is Operations Director with SAYes.

He graduated with a PhD in Psychology from the University of KwaZulu-Natal in 2011. Andrew has extensive experience working with vulnerable populations in Africa. He worked at the Child, Youth, Family and Social Development unit at the Human Sciences Research Council throughout his graduate studies.

Before joining SAYes in 2015, Andrew did postdoctoral work with an interdisciplinary team at the University of Cape Town. His work focused on adolescent risk-taking, cognitive control and addiction, especially under conditions of social and economic inequality.

WARDA SHABODIEN

Warda is Office Manager with SAYes.

Resident Capetonian, Warda started with SAYes in 2018. She has nearly a decade of experience in the hospitality industry, as well as a retail background working in some of Cape Town’s finest boutiques.

Before joining SAYes, Warda worked as Executive PA for the Nimble Group, juggling scheduling, administration and project management. Warda brings her naturally warm, welcoming presence and exceptional complement of skills and experience to the SAYes team.

LOIS NIENABER

Lois is a Transition Specialist with SAYes.

Holding a Bachelor’s Degree (Hons) in Education and Psychology and with nearly a decade of experience in working with non-profit organisations, Lois passionately champions accessible education for a brighter and more equitable future.

She has formed programmes for universities and organisations on a global level to ensure seamless transition to university life and successful career paths. Beyond her professional role, Lois volunteers to empower single mothers in business skills. She extends her impact through international consultancy in project management; youth leadership; and wellbeing initiatives.

Originally from the UK, she now resides in South Africa, driven by an enthusiasm for making a difference and social impact worldwide.

BRIDGET KNIGHT

Bridget is a Transition Specialist/SA Partner Programmes with SAYes.

She is an Accredited Coach, Trainer and Facilitator. She works with individuals and groups to help them overcome limiting beliefs, gain self-awareness and achieve their goals. She is passionate about mental health and is currently working towards a Diploma in Counselling and Communications through SACAP.

Having volunteered previously as a SAYes mentor, Bridget joined SAYes as Transition Specialist in 2020.  She loves working with people from all walks of life, her passions being mediation, relationship management and problem solving.

CLAIRE HARMAN

Claire is a Transition Specialist with SAYes.

She has been studying in the field of psychology for the past 20 years. She has a history of public sector, private sector and voluntary sector work in the areas of substance use disorders and offending behaviour.

Claire is also employed within the University of Lincoln as a Graduate Teaching Fellow and is working towards her PhD in Psychology.

When not working, her interests include running, ultra walking, travelling and the cinema.

IRMA WILSON

Irma is Finance Manager with SAYes.

She registered as an AGA (SA) with SAICA. She graduated from Stellenbosch University and UNISA and completed articles. She has extensive experience in auditing, accounting and management reporting. Irma especially enjoys setting up internal controls and procedures which increases efficiency and accuracy.

Irma’s experience includes the roles of Finance Manager at Media 24 Magazines, and Finance Director of Groupon South Africa.

MADELEINE SWAN

Madeleine is Senior Business Development Manager with SAYes.

Madeleine has a Masters in International Development from the University of Birmingham, alongside ten years’ experience working in the International Development sector. She began her career working for a $20 million health organisation to become Senior Business Development Manager and has since utilised this experience to consult for a range of organisations, specialising in strategy development, process and system design, and proposal development.

This experience, alongside her passion for supporting the holistic development of young people, has culminated in her role managing Business Development at SAYes Mentoring.

WENDY HAMILTON

Wendy is Communications Manager with SAYes.

She completed a four-year Higher National Diploma in Graphic Design, before spending almost twenty years overseeing design projects in a Corporate Communications environment. The majority of those years were spent in the press office of one of the largest public-sector organisations in the U.K.

After next completing a BA (Hons) in Children and Young Adult’s Literature, she transferred to the role of Web Author. Here, she organised campaigns, ran the web content management system and social media; whilst writing operational press releases and the organisation’s website.

Wendy has been a SAYes mentor since 2020 but has volunteered with children’s organisations since 1990 – including the Guide Association and Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme. Her passion for the education of young people culminated in 2011, when she returned to university and graduated with a Professional Graduate Diploma in Education (PGDE), allowing her to work as a Primary School Teacher.

FIONA COX

Fiona is a Transition Specialist/UK Programmes with SAYes.

She joined in 2023 after volunteering as a mentor since 2020. After gaining a PhD in Film and Television Studies from the University of Warwick, she blended her passions for performing and the 1930s Hollywood musicals she studied as an undergraduate, forging a career singing jazz standards. Supplementing her musician’s income with work as a maths tutor, Fiona found she loved working one-on-one with young people, watching their confidence and abilities grow with sustained joint effort.

Fiona has a history of voluntary work and campaigning that aligns with her interests in sustainability and climate activism as well as tackling racial, gender, LGBTQIA+ and income inequality. She lived for some years in California but is now based back in the UK.