Working on Fire
Executive
Committee
Who we are
Working on Fire
Board of Directors
Non-Executive
Edith Vries
Prof. Edith Vries serves as a Independent Non-Executive Director on the Kishugu Holdings Board and as the Independent Non-Executive Chairperson for the Working on Fire (Pty) Ltd Board.
Her leadership and experience in executive management, both within the government and academia, bring a wealth of strategic oversight to Kishugu’s operations.
Prof. Vries had a distinguished career as Director-General in two national government departments prior to her retirement.
She also served in executive management at the University of the Western Cape (UWC), further demonstrating her broad leadership experience across sectors.
Prof. Vries holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Science, Honours in Psychiatric Social Work, and a Master’s in Social Science, specialising in Clinical Social
Work.
She is a fellow of the South Africa Harvard Fellowship Programme, the Wits Harvard Senior Executive Programme, and the Harvard Business School.
Prof. Vries completed the International Organisational Systems and Design Programme with the Gestalt Institute of Cleveland.
She is also a certified and licensed GrowthWheel Business Advisor and a certified SEED Business Development Services Advisor, adding expertise in business strategy and development.
Johan Heine
Johan Heine serves as a Non-Executive Director on the Kishugu Holdings Board, Working on Fire (Pty) Ltd, and the Kishugu Aviation Division (Pty) Ltd.
As a co-founder of Kishugu (formerly the Forest and Fire Association), he played a pivotal role in shaping the company’s leadership in wildland firefighting. He was central to the development of the Integrated Fire Management model, which has been adopted by countries worldwide and implemented across all nine provinces in South Africa.
Johan started his aerial firefighting career in 1985, following a study tour of the US Forestry Service in 2003.
He contributed to the creation of the Veld and Forest Fire Act, influencing fire management policies.
His efforts were crucial in the establishment of the Working on Fire Programme, with Kishugu becoming the implementing agent for the South African government.
Johan also serves on the FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization) Aerial Firefighting Working Group.
Johan Heine holds an Master of Business Administration (MBA).
With over 30 years of experience in fire management, Johan’s pro-active and integrated approach made Kishugu an industry leader in firefighting.
After exiting the company in 2018, he continues to contribute to its success as a Non-Executive Director.
Stanley Henderson
Mr. Henderson serves as an Independent Non-Executive Director on the Working on Fire (Pty) Ltd Board.
His extensive experience in managing large-scale government programmes provides strategic insight to the Board, supporting the goals of the Working on Fire Programme.
In July 2004, Mr. Henderson joined the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) as the Chief Director for Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E). Since 2009 he has led and managed the government’s internationally recognised Public Employment Programme (PEP), thus overseeing its development and operation for over 20 years.
From March 2000 to July 2004, Mr. Henderson served as Director of the National Statistics System at Statistics South Africa, contributing to national data management and statistical initiatives.
Mr. Henderson holds a Master of Arts (M.A.) in Geography from the University of the Western Cape (UWC). The focus of his thesis was on the relationship between changing domestic energy consumption patterns and environmental degradation. He completed his B.A (Hons.) in Political Geography at UWC between 1975 and 1978. Subsequently he obtained a Higher Diploma in Education (post-graduate) at Unisa.
With over two decades of experience in senior roles in South Africa’s public sector, Mr. Henderson has contributed significantly to the management of national programmes like the EPWP in both urban and rural settings.
His expertise includes public programme management, data systems, monitoring & evaluation (M&E) and leadership in national development projects, drawing on his academic background in geography and his long-standing public service.
Working on Fire
Board of Directors
Executive
Trevor Abrahams
Mr. Abrahams is a Director on the Board of Directors of Kishugu Holdings (Pty) LTD, serves as the Non-Executive Chairperson of the Board of Directors of Kishugu Aviation Holdings (Pty) LTD, as a Non-Executive Director of Kishugu Training (Pty) LTD and Managing Director on Working on Fire (Pty) LTD. He joined the Kishugu Group of Companies in 2007.
He also served as the Secretary General of the XIV World Forestry Congress between February 2015 and March 2016, hosting the first World Forestry Congress in Africa in September 2015.
Prior to that he Managed National Airways Corporation’s Charter Division, founded the Soputh African Civil Aviaiton Authority and served as the Commissioner for Civil Aviation (1998-2003). He also served as Special Advisor to South African Government Ministers (Trevor Manuel, Alec Erwin, in Trade and Industry and the late Sibusizo Bhengu in Education) and as Commissioner for Civil Aviation to the Minister of Transport.
He Obtained his Undergraduate and Postgraduate Degrees: B.A. and B.A. Hons from the University of Cape Town and M.A. from the State University of New York, while on a Fulbright scholarship. He worked as a Psychology Tutor at the University of Cape Town and Associate Professor in the U.S.A. at the State University of New York and Broome Community College.
He is the former National Director of the SACHED Trust and Secretary for Africa at the World University Service in Geneva.
He is a FAA Certified Flight Instructor and Commercial Pilot and PADI Scuba Instructor.
Megon Norman
Megon Norman is the Deputy Managing Director of the Working on Fire Programme and serves as the Executive for Auditing, Risk and Quality Control and OHS.
Her extensive auditing background ensures the integrity and quality of internal processes within the Working on Fire Programme, playing a vital role in maintaining high standards. She also serves on the Kishugu Aviation Board
Megon has 16 years of experience in both internal and external auditing across the public and private sectors. She completed her trainee articles with the Auditor General of South Africa, gaining valuable experience in public sector auditing before transitioning to other auditing roles.
She joined the Working on Fire Programme in August 2020.
Megon holds a degree in Accounting from the University of the Free State. She also holds an Honours Degree in Business Management from UNISA.
Megon is a Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) and a member of the International Institute of Internal Auditors.
As Executive for Auditing and Quality Control, her experience and certifications contribute to overseeing and maintaining auditing excellence within the programme.
Goodness Lubisi
Goodness Lubisi is the Executive responsible for Finance and SCM in Working on Fire and serves as an Executive Director in the Working on Fire Board and Kishugu Holdings Boards
Her leadership in finance and supply chain management, along with her extensive experience in the finance sector, ensures efficient financial operations within the Working on Fire Programme.
Goodness joined Working on Fire in October 2005 as a Debtors Clerk.
She advanced within the company, first becoming a Bookkeeper in 2007, then an Accountant in 2009, and was appointed Finance Manager in 2011. In July 2020, she took on the role of Finance and Supply Chain Management Executive.
Goodness holds a Bachelor of Commerce in Accounting from the University of Limpopo.
She has obtained a certificate of Introduction to MBA from the University of Stellenbosch in 2022 and Certificate of Executive Development Program from Wits University in 2024
Goodness holds certificates for both Pastel Partner and Pastel Evolution
With 19 years of experience in the finance, Goodness has developed expertise in financial and supply chain management including debtor and creditor management, supply chain and procurement, budget and cashflow management, financial data analysis and engaging with stakeholders (internal and External)
Working on Fire
Board Sub-Committee
WoF BARC
Johan Heine*
Stanley Henderson*
Edith Vries*
Trevor Abrahams
Megon Norman
Goodness Lubisi
Emile Grobbelaar
Tony Mancos
Working on Fire
Board Sub-Committee
WoF Support Services
Stanley Henderson*
Johan Heine*
Edith Vries*
Trevor Abrahams
Megon Norman
Goodness Lubisi
Hlengiwe Nhleko
20
Years'
WILDFIRE FIGHTING EXPERIENCE
- Adopting the annual operating plans and annual budget of the company.
- Providing Strategic Direction on the day to day business and affairs of the Company. Specifically: The development, review and monitoring of the implementation of policies of the Company; Establishing best management practices and functional standards; The adoption of implementation strategies of the Company; Prioritising and allocating the Company’s capital, technical and human resources.
- Providing input to the Senior management appointments in Working on Fire and reviewing the performance management of and incentivising WOF personnel.
- Maintaining a group-wide system of internal control to manage all group risks associated with WOF’s operations are effectively managed in line with the DEA contract and the Ministerial Determination.
- Ensure that the policies and practices of Working on Fire are complaint with all legal and regulatory prescripts.
- Make recommendations, request for action and table reports to the Board relating to matters beyond the scope of its authority.
- The Executive is authorised to form sub-committees to assist it in the execution of its duties.