Ravin Bugwandass
Group Head of Creative
National Diploma: Fine Art & Graphic Design (CFAD); Digital Marketing (UCT); Strategic Marketing (GIBS Business School)
Commenced on 01 June 2019
Ravin Bugwandass is an award-winning multidisciplinary Creative Director, who led his team to win the Best Creative stand at the Tourism Indaba. With over 17 years of industry-experience, he joins the Berea Group as Head of Creative. He is responsible for Group creative, branding, campaigns, social media, and online and integrated advertising. Ravin has worked at many leading ad agencies, including Sussens Mann Creative and The HerdBuoys on many global brands including RBM, Barloworld’s Lifestyle Magazine, Mastercard4More (Standard Bank) and Oxygen Magazine (Discovery).
In 2006, he joined the Three Cities Hospitality Group and spearheaded creative solutions for various signature brands, including David Livingstone Safari Lodge, Clifftop Exclusive Safari Lodge and Mandela Rhodes Hotel. In 2012, he joined the largest provider of private education in South Africa, as the Group Creative Head, where he strategically developed, led and directed a team of creative multimedia specialists.
Ravin is married to Seema and is a proud dad of two daughters. His motto is: “Be Bold, Never Regular or Italic”.
Connect with Ravin on LinkedIn or email him on Ravinb@bct.az.za
Jessie Naidoo
Group PR Manager (Public Relations, Customer Relations Management, Content & Communication)
BA Honours: Media and Cultural Studies (UKZN), BTech: Public Relations Management (DUT), National Diploma PR (DUT); Social Media Strategy (UCT)
Commenced 01 July 2019
Jessie Naidoo joined the Group in July 2019 to steer the PR portfolio. An avid writer, editor, author, and PR strategist, Jessie has spent over 20 years of her career managing national and international brands to broaden market publicity. She has worked as a journalist and ran an independent PR consultancy. In 2012 she joined Educor as Head of Communications and was instrumental in the Carte Blanche and 3rd Degree crisis management and setting up the Customer Care division. Jessie has also worked for niche brands such as Dunlop, Tongaat Hulett Development, Hulett Sugar, Rewards Co, BHP Billiton, JT Ross and the Development Bank of SA.
In her new role, Jessie is responsible for the Group’s Customer Relations Management (CRM) and has recently set-up the Centre for Student Relations. She also manages the Marketing and PR content for the Group and all internal and external communication. She aims to instil a culture of staff, student and parent care, which is at the heart of the organisation’s strategic vision.
Jessie is passionate about mentoring women in the workplace. She is married to Oliver and they have two teenage daughters, Leah and Kayla. She enjoys adventure rides, running and escaping with a good book. .
Connect with Jessie on LinkedIn or email her on : jessien@bct.ac.za