Abdul Basier Dramat is an accomplished South African professional accountant, financial executive, and community leader. Born and raised in Cape Town, Dramat embarked on his academic journey at Symphony Senior Secondary School in Belhar before pursuing a BCom accounting degree from the University of the Western Cape (UWC).

After completing his studies, Dramat honed his skills and expertise at Shrand and Ekermans Chartered Accountants, working under the guidance of Grant Ekermans. He quickly progressed in his career, serving as an audit manager at Shrand and Ekermans before joining HS Accounting as a junior partner. In 2002, he achieved a significant milestone by registering as a professional accountant with the South African Institute of Professional Accountants (SAIPA). He founded his accounting practice, AB Dramat Professional Accountants, demonstrating his entrepreneurial spirit in 2004.

In addition to his professional pursuits, Dramat has consistently maintained a strong commitment to community involvement. He currently holds the position of Financial Director on Earthlife Africa, the Green Connection, and Darkroom Contemporary boards. He also showcases his interest in sports governance by serving as a member of the general council of the Western Province Rugby Football Union, where he actively contributes to the finance committee.

In 2015, Dramat took a step further in his academic career by joining Cornerstone Institute as a Financial Manager, working under the guidance of Noel Daniels and Marcel Golding. His exceptional management and financial skills earned him the distinction of becoming the institute’s first Chief Financial Officer (CFO) in 2018. Continuing his pursuit of knowledge, Dramat completed an MBA with MANCOSA in 2020.

In 2021, he was appointed as the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Aurora University, a sister company of Cornerstone Institute. Presently, he serves as the Acting CEO of Cornerstone Institute, where he plays a pivotal role in strategic planning and operational management.

Dramat’s broad expertise and unwavering dedication make him an inspirational figure in the fields of finance, education, and community development.

Dr Marianne Louw serves as the Executive Dean at Cornerstone Institute, overseeing various responsibilities, including teaching and learning, scholarship, faculty operations, and academic quality assurance. With a career spanning 18 years in higher education institutions, she brings a wealth of experience and expertise to her role.

As the editor of the African Journal of Non-Profit Higher Education (AJNPHE), Dr. Louw actively contributes to advancing scholarly research and publication within the institute. Additionally, she serves as the chairperson of the Senate and various subcommittees, playing a vital role in the governance and strategic direction of the organization.

Dr. Louw’s academic journey began with the University of the Free State (UFS), where she earned a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Communication and later a BA Honours in Communication. Prior to entering academia, she worked as a journalist for a prominent daily newspaper in Johannesburg. Her passion for writing and Communication led her to become the copy editor and eventually the editor of a national lifestyle magazine for women.

Joining the Communication Department of the University of Johannesburg (UJ), Dr. Louw embarked on her academic career. During this time, she co-authored a groundbreaking South African textbook on interpersonal Communication, titled “Let’s Talk about interpersonal communication,” which has undergone multiple successful editions.

Dr. Louw established her own business in the late 1990s, providing training and coaching services to corporate clients. While managing her business, she pursued her academic growth, obtaining a Master of Philosophy in Human Resource Management (Personal, Interpersonal, and Professional Leadership) cum laude from UJ. She further enhanced her coaching skills by completing a Certificate in Life and Business Coaching from The VIP Institute, accredited by the University of the Northwest.

Returning to academia, Dr. Louw joined Monash South Africa, a campus affiliated with Monash University, where she initially served as the section head of Communication and Media Studies. Her dedication and expertise led to her appointment as the Bachelor of Social Sciences programme manager. During this period, she completed her Doctor of Literature and Philosophy in Communication, focusing her research on a theoretical framework for constructive interpersonal leadership relations in knowledge-based organizations.

Dr. Louw’s leadership capabilities were recognized during a transitional period at Monash South Africa when she assumed the role of acting executive dean of the School of Social and Health Sciences. Her commitment to maintaining stability and ensuring the continuity of academic operations played a vital role in the institution’s success.

In early 2021, Dr. Louw joined Cornerstone Institute as the Deputy Dean of Faculty Operations and Quality Assurance. In this role, she has significantly contributed to internal operations and developing robust quality assurance systems and procedures. Her dedication and expertise have further enhanced the institute’s commitment to excellence in teaching and learning.

With her extensive academic and professional background, Dr. Marianne Louw brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to her current role as the acting Executive Dean at Cornerstone Institute.

Dr Blaine Lomberg is a grassroots scientist who graduated from the University of the Western Cape with a B.Sc in Physics, a B.Sc (Hons) in Nuclear Physics, and an M.Sc. in Experimental Physics (2005-2012). His subsequent career took him to the University of Liverpool, where he worked as an EU Research Associate in sectors ranging from academia to industry and intergovernmental physical science organisations such as CERN in specialised accelerator design and optimization, as well as the development of underpinning technologies (2012-2015). He returned to South Africa from 2016 to 2018 to pursue a research fellowship in Astrophysics and Astronomy relating to big data applications, spaceborne and ground-based observations and co-authored numerous peer-reviewed journal publications. In 2019, he began his PhD in physics to gain a thorough understanding of the fundamental principles guiding the creation of next-generation technologies, with a special emphasis on computing and data processing for nuclear physical processes in the early cosmos. During this time, he liked lecturing and experimenting with new teaching techniques for B.Ed. undergraduates at the University of the Western Cape who were interested in STEM disciplines. Blaine has also worked with a number of South African aerospace and engineering firms in critical areas such as ICT, systems integration, renewable energy, supply chain management, procurement, and component manufacture since 2020.

He was named as Cornerstone Institute’s Chief Technology Officer (CTO) in May 2021, where he would manage Cornerstone’s continuous commitment to the delivery of effective and relevant services in the field of information and communications technology.

Blaine is particularly interested in how technology may be used to promote more fair education in society.