Bessie Gabashane
Project Management, Heritage Practitioner , Educator
Johannesburg
Summary
Professional Project Management Specialist with experience working with teams to accomplish short- and long-term project goals. Managed budgets and monitored project costs.
Overview
21
21
years of professional experience
7
7
Languages
Work History
SEF Gauteng project coordinator & Kickstarter facilitator
Assitej SA
06.2022 - Current
- Project coordinator for arts organisations in Gauteng, as well as Kickstarter Creative arts facilitator in schools
- Kickstarter works with Department of Education to roll out creative arts education, CAPS aligned, Grade 4-6.
Education Officer (contract)
South African Property Owners Association
05.2023 - 09.2023
- Coordinated webinar series for the industry
- Coordinated their various training courses on offer in collaboration with University of Johannesburg, University of the Wits, University of Cape Town, Career Excel Academy and Enterprises: University of Pretoria
- Stakeholder engagement.
Client Liaison Manager
Keynote Finance
02.2021 - 05.2022
- Stakeholder management of clients, contract signing and overall project management and communication.
Webinar coordinator
Puku Children’s Literature Foundation
04.2021 - 06.2021
- Overall coordination of ten webinars on ‘The Role of Children’s Literature in preserving and promoting our Indigenous languages
- Webinars conducted in our Indigenous languages.
Project Administrator & Communications Officer
Equity & Institutional Culture, Rhodes University
07.2019 - 02.2020
- Project coordination of equity and transformation awareness and advocacy events for staff & students
- Communications and media work
- Coordination of the Gender committee, Disability committee and the Visual Representation, Arts & Culture Committee
Project Manager (part-time)
Ubom! Eastern Cape Theatre Company, Drama department, Rhodes University
01.2017 - 07.2019
- Administration, grant management and coordination of production schedule, project marketing and communications as well as managing community artists.
Theatre Administrator (part-time) & Lecturer: Arts Management
Rhodes University, Drama Department
03.2015 - 06.2019
- Administration of the Rhodes Theatre for teaching purposes, as well as productions that the theatre hosts
- Marketing and Media Relations for productions and events
- Forming strategic partnerships, as well as Stakeholder management
- Teaching a semester of Arts administration & management to third year students for two years.
Part-time Conference Co-ordinator & Registration Manager
Highway Africa Conference
- 09.2014
- Co-ordination of the annual conference, specifically around Registration, catering, venues, book launches and Media co-ordination.
Heritage Programme Manager
Trevor Huddleston Memorial Centre, Sophiatown
02.2011 - 11.2013
- Overall management of the Heritage programme and Sophiatown Heritage & Cultural Centre
- Events management, Fundraising and grant management, as well as report-writing; Stakeholder and media management
- Coordination of the oral history project with former residents of Sophiatown.
Project Co-ordinator: Annual Winter School
Khanya College
02.2010 - 01.2011
- Overall Project management of the annual Winter School which is a week-long gathering of social activists, social movements, organizations, and partners locally, nationally and from the region
- Activities included a conference, 2-day skills workshops (10 hosted in 2010), 2-day network meetings (9 hosted in 2010), an NGO Fair, 2nd Annual Jozi Book Fair, Film screenings and a Cultural Festival, showcasing live performances, poetry and an art exhibition, all speaking to the annual theme
Curator and Developmental Manager for the Workers Museum of Migrant Labour
Khanya College
02.2010 - 01.2011
- Worked with the development and conceptualizing of the Workers Museum of Migrant Labour in Newtown
- Advocacy and coordination of community programmes
- Liaising and conceptualizing with various stakeholders (including JDA, Gauteng DSRAC, and Museum Africa).
Stakeholder Communications Officer
Rhodes University
01.2009 - 02.2010
- Overall communication and management of internal and external stakeholders of the institution
- Co-ordinating and implementing communication strategies
- Co-ordinating special events and liaison for the Communication and Marketing Department.
Marketing & Events Officer
School of Journalism & Media Studies (Rhodes University)
05.2005 - 11.2008
- Overall marketing and events coordination for the school
- Communication liaison, student recruitment bursary grant management.
Centenary Events Coordinator
Rhodes University
04.2003 - 12.2004
- Coordinated the Centenary celebratory events for the university, planned out for the whole year of 2004
- Ranging from opening concert with the late Mama Africa Miriam Makeba, special lecturers, exhibitions to mention a few.
Education
Masters in Ethnomusicology (completing) -
Rhodes University
Honours in Ethnomusicology - undefined
Rhodes University
BA (Dramatic Arts) - undefined
University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg
Skills
Project Lifecycle
Good Judgment
Multiple Priorities Management
Change Management
Conflict Resolution
Budget Preparation
Virtualization
Cost Management
Project Management
Team Leadership
Attention to Detail
Customer Service
Problem-Solving
Detail Oriented
Time Management
Flexible and Adaptable
Resource Management
Personnel Management
Decision-Making
Performance Monitoring
Resource Coordination
Critical Thinking
Cultural Sensitivity
Relationship Building
Strategic Planning
Training and Development
Presentation Creation and Delivery
Research
Community Outreach
Technical Writing
Public Speaking
Event Planning and Execution
Proposal Development
Stakeholder Relationship Management
Report Development
Skills Competencies
Excel, MS Word, Internet, and Email, Exceptional communication skills, both verbal and written., Excellent marketing, Public Relations skills, Excellent Stakeholder Relations/Management, Northern Sotho, isiXhosa, Setswana, English, Afrikaans, Southern Sotho, Exceptional writing & research skills, Transcribing skills, Organisational & Facilitation skills (groups as well as projects), Administrative skills., Web administration
Preferred Name
Katlego
Telephone Number
079 790 8500
Boards Affiliations
- 2008 - 2009, International Library of African Music, Former board member
- 2019 - present, Access Music Project
- 2018 – 2021, ASSITEJ, Theatre for Youth Eastern Cape Representative
Personal Information
- Date of Birth: 05/20/79
- Nationality: South African citizen
References
- Mr Kgabo Moshia, Operations & Human Resource Manager, South African Property Owners Association, 011 883 0679, opsmanager@sapoa.org.za
- Ms Tersia du Plessis, Production Manager, Drama Department, Rhodes University, t.duplessis@ru.ac.za, 046 603 8819
- Dr Zethu Mkhize, Head of Transformation, Stellenbosch University & Former Harassment & Discrimination Manager, Rhodes University, zethu@sun.ac.za, 021 808 2864
Timeline
Education Officer (contract)
South African Property Owners Association
05.2023 - 09.2023
SEF Gauteng project coordinator & Kickstarter facilitator
Assitej SA
06.2022 - Current
Webinar coordinator
Puku Children’s Literature Foundation
04.2021 - 06.2021
Client Liaison Manager
Keynote Finance
02.2021 - 05.2022
Project Administrator & Communications Officer
Equity & Institutional Culture, Rhodes University
07.2019 - 02.2020
Project Manager (part-time)
Ubom! Eastern Cape Theatre Company, Drama department, Rhodes University
01.2017 - 07.2019
Theatre Administrator (part-time) & Lecturer: Arts Management
Rhodes University, Drama Department
03.2015 - 06.2019
Heritage Programme Manager
Trevor Huddleston Memorial Centre, Sophiatown
02.2011 - 11.2013
Project Co-ordinator: Annual Winter School
Khanya College
02.2010 - 01.2011
Curator and Developmental Manager for the Workers Museum of Migrant Labour
Khanya College
02.2010 - 01.2011
Stakeholder Communications Officer
Rhodes University
01.2009 - 02.2010
Marketing & Events Officer
School of Journalism & Media Studies (Rhodes University)
05.2005 - 11.2008
Centenary Events Coordinator
Rhodes University
04.2003 - 12.2004
Part-time Conference Co-ordinator & Registration Manager
Highway Africa Conference
- 09.2014
Masters in Ethnomusicology (completing) -
Rhodes University
Honours in Ethnomusicology - undefined
Rhodes University
BA (Dramatic Arts) - undefined
University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg