Senior Management

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Basier Dramat

Chief Executive Officer

Basier Dramat

Chief Executive Officer

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

The Executive Dean

Dr. Marianne Louw

The Executive Dean

Dr Marianne Louw is Cornerstone Institute’s Executive Dean and academic head, and chairperson of the Senate. Her academic career spans 20 years across two public and two private higher-education institutions.

After being awarded a BA Communication and then a BA Honours Communication degree at the University of the Free State, she became a journalist at a daily newspaper in Johannesburg. In later years, she also served as a copy editor and later an editor and managing editor in the magazine industry.

Her academic career started at the Communication Department of what is now the University of Johannesburg (UJ). During this time, she co-authored the first comprehensive South African textbook on interpersonal communication, titled Let’s talk about interpersonal communication, which has since seen four more editions.

She started her own business in the late 1990s, training corporate clients while earning her Master of Philosophy in Human Resource Management (Personal, Interpersonal and Professional Leadership) cum laude from UJ and a Certificate in Life and Business Coaching from The VIP Institute (accredited by the University of the Northwest).

Marianne returned to academia in the early 2000s by joining what was then Monash South Africa, a campus of the internationally recognised Australian-based Monash University, as Head of Communication and Media Studies. Here, she later became Programme Manager for the Bachelor of Social Sciences with its various disciplines. During a time of ownership transition and organisational restructuring, she served as Acting Executive Dean of the School of Social and Health Sciences, playing a key role in maintaining organisational stability and academic operations.

Marianne is a Doctor of Literature and Philosophy in Leadership Communication, with a thesis titled A theoretical framework for constructive interpersonal leadership relations in knowledge-based organisations. Based on her doctoral and subsequent research, her book Leading experts: How to bring out the best in clever team members was published in 2024. She has also co-authored and contributed to various textbooks and academic articles on the topics of strategic communication, research ethics, persuasive communication and the spiritual dimension of leadership.

Marianne joined Cornerstone Institute in early 2021 as Deputy Dean of Faculty Operations and Quality Assurance, and made significant contributions to internal operations and quality assurance systems and procedures. She has served as Executive Dean since July 2023.

Dr. Blaine Lomberg

Chief Technology Officer

Dr. Blaine Lomberg

Chief Technology Officer

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.

Adeliah Jacobs

General Manager and HR Lead

Adeliah Jacobs

General Manager and HR Lead

Adeliah is a seasoned professional with a remarkable 12-year track record of serving individuals and groups in both workplace and community-based settings. Drawing from her diverse range of experiences, including roles as an HR Manager, Quality Management Representative, and Project Manager, as well as insights gained from executive coaching sessions, she brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to all her engagements.

Adeliah possesses a unique talent for connecting dots, simplifying complex themes, and fostering enabling environments that empower individuals to leverage their strengths. Her extensive background includes working and volunteering at non-governmental organizations in the primary healthcare sector and in production and engineering companies within the private sector.

Additionally, she has gained valuable experience at a manufacturing and distribution company in the corporate sector. One of Adeliah’s defining qualities is her commitment to active listening and her ability to help individuals and teams unlock their potential. Her passion for social entrepreneurship led her to launch two businesses between 2016 and 2020. Through these ventures, she has demonstrated her resilience and embraced the concept of failing forward, using setbacks as valuable learning opportunities.

Beverley Dankers

Director of Student Services

Beverley Dankers

Director of Student Services

Beverley is the Director of Student Services. She is a proud alumna of Cornerstone Institute, graduating with a Bachelor of Theology in 2010. She then went on to do a Bachelor of Social Science Honours degree at the University of Cape Town. Beverley joined the Student Development and Support Department at Cornerstone in March 2015 and completed a Master's in Education, majoring in Curriculum and Instruction (online), through Concordia University in the USA in 2016. In 2022, she completed a second honours degree in Psychology and is Registered with the HPCSA as a Registered Counsellor. Beverley is a member of the Senior Management Team. Her main function is to ensure that students have a meaningful student experience and that students are aware of and make use of the various areas of support offered. She works closely with the SRC and sits on various committees where she represents the student body. It gives her great satisfaction to be a part of a team that helps students by empowering them through education.

Email:beverleyd@cornerstone.ac.za