Text Box: Profile: VDS Brink
Text Box: Studied to be a geologist at the University of Stellenbosch. A decade in mining IT, several years in business development in Vietnam, Mozambique, Peru, USA, Kazakhstan and Australia. Later managed innovation for Kumba Resources.

A MBA lecturer on strategy and innovation (Unisa, Milpark ,IMM) and guided many companies in strategy development including SABC Radio and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. As public speaker addressed large groups including several graduation ceremonies.  

For ten years part time constable in the South African Police Service. Has the highest qualification, from Toastmasters International majoring in Storytelling and Humour. A several times Toastmasters’ Southern African semi-finalist in Humorous Speaking and Afrikaanse Skouspel. 

Session leader for the Governor General of Canada, Her Excellency Michaélle Jean, during her visit to South Africa

Studied post graduate in group behaviour psychology at Unisa. Current mentor with Stellenbosch’s Innovation lab.

Cofounder of Personera.com, winning the 2009 Microsoft Enablis award in the media category and the minister of science and technology’s award for systems design. Raised R20m venture capital in the process. 

As a Jack of all Trades being a lecturer, grandpa of six jewels, company director and innovator while writing science fiction, horror and steaming love stories.
Text Box: The Past (pre 2006)
Studied at the University of Stellenbosch with a degree in Geology, IT and Physics and post grad in Geology. Saldanha groundwater project, Koeberg Power Station earthquake risk, Western Cape economic geology and national mineral database development. 
Joined Iscor, later Kumba Resources for mine design IT development, then offshore Business Development in Queensland Outback, Kazakhstan, Namibia, Peru, Vietnam, Canadian Rockies, USA and  Mozambique. 
Managed Industrial Engineering followed by Knowledge Management on to lead dozens of in-house corporate sessions. 

Some corporate strategy creation work since 2006
Some 11000 people in sessions and lectures and 100’s of sessions at organisations as diverse as churches, funeral directors and car dealerships. 
Six months at Sasol Synfuels on Shared Service implementation, Discovery Care, Amplats BBEE project, Mmakau Mining with Brigitte Radebe. 
Re-strategized the Vaal Triangle Campus and the Mafikeng Faculty of Human Sciences of NW University. Radio OFM and Bellevue Wine Estate.
Several interventions at NW University involving Rectors, Deans, professors and functional heads.
Others include Iveco trucks, Ernest and Young Venture Capital, Ampath pathologists, Morton’s radiologists, Kumba Resources EE implementation, Klein Kariba resort, Advance Call, Pipeflo, Cape University of Technology and The Wedding Guide.

Public Speaking (some of many)
At Toastmasters International: highest educational qualification of Advanced Toastmaster Gold after 50 evaluated speeches with projects: Speaking for Management, Entertainment, Special Occasions, Speciality Speaking, Storytelling and Humour. Several times national semi finalist in humour speaking, prepared English and Afrikaanse Skouspel.
Graduation addresses for Unisa, Milpark and Damelin. Several keynotes for the Institute for Industrial Engineering. The On-line Users Group 2011 Valentine’s day. Martin’s Funeral Directors, Dept of Public Works, Institute for Management Science, International Innovation conference. Kumba Resources Professionals in Training and the Malmesbury Agricultural Society

Community
MC for the Governor General of Canada, the Right Honourable Michaélle Jean, during her visit to South Africa
Workshop leader at the 2011 Tomorrow’s Convention for Construction and Mining
Design and execute a two hour live radio transmission (1.5m listeners) with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission jointly with Freek Robinson and SABC Radio as part of the International Storytelling initiative
Constable in the SAPS Reserve Force for 10 years. Service at Brooklyn Station and the Special Investigations Unit
Kayalitsha solar panel project with Aquapanel
Mentor for the 2011 Mr South Africa on public speaking
The Cape IT Initiative strategy
Judging at the Western Cape Enablis competition
Storytelling for toddlers: a Session to teach a forgotten art
A decade of coaching of companions for the annual Camp Quality for children suffering from cancer
Working with Third Circle Asset management on donations for the SA Guide Dog association
Work with Vega Asset Management on assistance to the Waltloo SPCA

Entrepreneurial
Co finder of Personera.com. Multiple award winning including the Enablis competition and the 
          2010 award by the minister of Science and technology for systems management.
Co creator of Third Circle Asset Management (with > R 920m under management) 
wealth creation group
Director at Vega Capital and Zero Ventures
Co creator and mentor for Stirhealth Sexual Health venture with Intercare medical group
Published a book on MC-ing at weddings
Co-published a book on IT governance 
Work hard in the asset management industry as director at Vega Asset management and advice board member at Third Circle. Personal investment planned with Sasfin Securities

Publishing

Doing a short story course and wrote 90 short stories since 2013.  Wrote and e–published several business books and in hard copy “Re=Play” and a full autobiography for an elderly lady on her 60 year journey with a disabled child ... “My baba-Kind”

Academic
Knowledge Management lecturing at U Pretoria and Johannesburg and MBA lectures on Business in Context and The strategy of the Knowledge Organization. Past external examiner for Stellenbosch’s Industrial Engineering. A protégé came out on top to win a scholarship at Purdue university. 
Organize and execute the annual entrepreneurship day for BComm Hons students.
For 7 years a part time Lecturer for the Unisa MBA courses Innovation and Strategy. Involved in course development with the Open University in Milton Keynes, UK. Recently MBA Lecturing at Milpark and BA for the Open University.
Mentor for Innovus on innovation at Stellenbosch University
 
 Life is about relationships, trust and knowing that we know so little.
The answer is not with anyone, it is already amongst us, it just need to be found. We need to think and act beyond the obvious and pursue the truth with humility and passion. 
As an unrehabilitateable addict to history, enjoys the stories of the past and to use it to understand today and tomorrow in the firm belief that in every heap of dung, a lily is about to bloom!

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