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Committee (LOC)

Local Organising Committee (LOC)

Prof. Hans de Ridder

Chair: Spring Sport Science Summit

Prof. Hans de Ridder

Chair: Spring Sport Science Summit

Prof. Dr. J. Hans de Ridder is a senior professor and director of the School of Human Movement Sciences at the North-West University in Potchefstroom, South Africa. He is currently a C1 rated researcher of the National Research Foundation (NRF) of South Africa. He was the receiver in 2002 of the Stals Award for Human Movement Sciences from the South African Academy for Science and Art for his exceptional contribution to kinanthropometry. In 2011 he was the receiver of the Albert Strating Award for Preventative Medicine, also from the South African Academy for Science and Art. At the age of 39 years, he was one of the youngest recipients of the Stals award and also the first in the history of the School of HMS at the North-West University in South Africa. In 2010 he reached a milestone in his research career, when his 50th post graduate student (M’s and Ph.D.’s) graduated. Currently a total of 66 students have completed their masters or doctoral studies under his guidance. He was the author or co-author of a total of 85 research articles published in subsidised academic journals. He is the Senior Vice-President, ISAK; Member of the Board of Directors of the GCH Foundation; President, GoFPEP 2014 and the Founder Secretary-General and current President of the BRICS Council of Exercise and Sport Science. He was also the president of the BRICSCESS 2019 congress in Cape Town. He is married to Elsie, a math teacher, and they have four children Elé, De Wet, Melinda and Maret.

Email:Hans.DeRidder@nwu.ac.za

Dr. Yolandi Willemse

Chair: Workshops & Sponsors

Dr. Yolandi Willemse

Chair: Workshops & Sponsors

Dr. Yolandi Willemse is a senior lecturer in the Centre for Health & Human Performance (CHHP) at the North-West University and Head of the Sport Science and Biokinetics division within the CHHP. Educated in Randfontein at Hoërskool Riebeeck and then continuing with her studies in 1995 at the NWU, Yolandi started a career in Sport Science in 2000 at the NWU. She has been working as a sport scientist for the past 24 years. Yolandi worked as a sport scientist for various sport teams from national, university and school level. She was die sport scientist for the SPAR Protea Netball Team from 2003 – 2010 and a consultant for Netball South Africa during the 2021 – 2022 term. Yolandi was also a sport scientist for the Red Kestrel provincial netball team and the NWU Rugby Institute junior rugby teams. She also lecturers sport science modules with a speciality in the practical training of students. Furthermore, Yolandi is also involved in research with specialization in sport science and sport management.

Email:Yolandi.Willemse@nwu.ac.za

Prof. Andries Monyeki

Chair: Scientific Committee

Prof. Andries Monyeki

Chair: Scientific Committee

Prof. Dr. M. Andries Monyeki is a Senior Professor and Director of Physical Activity, Sport and Recreation (PhASRec) at the North-West University in Potchefstroom, South Africa. He is currently a C3 rated researcher at the National Research Foundation (NRF) of South Africa. He was appointed Visiting professor (2019–2021) at the Physical Activity for Health Group, Department of Psychological Sciences & Health, the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK. He has received many awards; including the Janssen-Cilag Award for the best article of the year in 2003; and South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) Silver Medal for an Emerging Scientist in 2014 (i.e. the first in the history of North-West University). Currently, 38 students completed postgraduate degrees (Ms and PhDs) under his guidance. He authored or co-authored a total of 120 research articles in peer reviewed subsidised academic journals, more than 100 conference presentations, two book chapters, google scholar h-index of 20, and a citation of 1763. He is a member of numerous national and international organisations such as the Healthy Kids South Africa (HAKSA; Lead), International Society for Physical Activity and Health (ISPAH), and African Physical Activity Network (AFPAN). He also participated in the draft of Non-Communicable Disease Prevention: Investment that Work for Physical Activity, in Toronto, Canada in 2010. He was a member in the drafting (2015–2020) and revision (2023–2028) of the Strategic Policy Towards the Prevention and Management of Obesity for the National Department of Health. In 2012, he was an expert in body composition for the research project RAF6042 on application of nuclear techniques to design and evaluate interventions to reduce obesity and related-health risks for the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) with participants from 10 African countries. He was a chairperson of Academic Advisory Panel in the Ministry of Sport and Recreation South Africa – for the SASReCon (2012, 2014, 2017). He is a reviewer or an editor of peer review national and international journals. He plays a significant role in the National Sport Awards (2012 to date) and North West Province (2014–2023) as a member, deputy chair and chair, respectively.

Email:andries.monyeki@nwu.ac.za

Dr. Bertus le Roux

Deputy Chair: Spring Sport Science Summit

Dr. Bertus le Roux

Deputy Chair: Spring Sport Science Summit

Bertus le Roux was born in Pretoria and also completed his school career there but has been a resident of Potchefstroom for the past 39 years, when he began studying at the former PUK in 1985. After completing his BSC Honors studies in Biokinetics, he started his career at the former Naschem. After 10 years of service (during which he was also as Sports Organizer and later as Manager: Human Resources Development), he moved to the PUK/NWU, where he worked, among other things, at the Telematic Learning Department (Logistics Manager) and Registrar's Office (Snr Manager: Higher Grade Admin & Ceremonies. He is currently the Business & Operations Manager of the NWU Centre for Health & Human Performance. Bertus obtained his PhD in Relationship Marketing in 2011 and is very passionate about the principles of Customer Experience Management. For the past 30 years, he has served on various institutions' Councils, including the Potchefstroom Technical College, North-West Academy for Sport, Potch Gimmies Governing Body (Vice-Chairman), NWU Senate, NWU Institutional Forum (Chairman) and NWU Council. He has also been a City Councillor since 2006 and has been both DA Caucus and Constituency Chairman. For the past 22 years, he has been the Residence Parent of Villagers Men's Hostel and also works part-time for the SA Institute for Drug-Free Sport. His hobbies are photography, new technology and cycling. He obtained permanent numbers in the Comrades Marathon (11x), Two Oceans Marathon (13x) and Canoe Ironman Triathlon (15x) and was also several times team manager of national athletics, duathlon and triathlon teams. Bertus is also the proud grandfather of six grandchildren.

Email:Bertus.LeRoux@nwu.ac.za

Prof. Pieter Kruger

CHHP

Prof. Pieter Kruger

CHHP

Prof Pieter Kruger is a Consultant Clinical Psychologist, Director of the North-West University’s Centre for Health & Human Performance, South Africa; Director of International Operations at Cognacity, UK; Professor of Clinical Psychology at the North-West University’s Centre for Health & Human Performance, South Africa; and visiting professor at UCL Medical School, London. Pieter specialises in delivering high-performance strategies to optimise wellbeing and elite performance in high pressure environments on a systemic, team and individual level. He has worked with Olympic and elite athletes, and professional teams globally. Pieter has delivered Executive Coaching across various sectors to senior executives and is currently a performance and mental health coach for the McLaren F1 Racing Team.

Email:chhp@nwu.ac.za

Dr. Retief Broodryk

Deputy Chair: Scientific Committee

Dr. Retief Broodryk

Deputy Chair: Scientific Committee

Dr. Retief Broodryk is a dedicated university lecturer and researcher at the North-West University (NWU) in South Africa. His area of interest is focused on perceptual expertise and video analysis within the domain of Sport and Coaching science. He has always been passionate about the intersection of research and teaching, and the application thereof in practice. Dr. Broodryk earned his PhD in Human Movement Science from the NWU, which focused on gaze behaviors of rugby union goal kickers. He has also collaborated in other research projects, published as co-author, and co-supervised postgraduate students. Currently, he is involved with research projects across a variety of sport codes that include Rugby Union, Rugby Sevens, Cricket, and Soccer. As a university lecturer, Dr. Broodryk has, and continues to teach courses relating to Coaching science, Perceptual expertise, Video analysis, and Rugby. Beyond academia, he is actively involved in practice as a coach, coaching consultant, and coach educator (World Rugby) from grassroots to provincial level, predominantly in Rugby Union. Being an active researcher, lecturer, and coach enables him to remain relevant, and therefore he continuously pursues avenues where science meets practice. Dr. Broodryk looks forward to continuing his journey in academia and making meaningful contributions to the field of Sport and Coaching science.

Karlien van Schalkwyk

Conference Secretariat

Karlien van Schalkwyk

Conference Secretariat

Karlien van Schalkwyk was born in Bloemfontein and have been a resident of Potchefstroom for the last 39 years. In 2006, she completed a Short Learning Programme in Conference, Exhibition, and Events Management at Damelin as well as her BSc degree in Human Movement Sciences and Nutrition at the North-West University (NWU). In 2007 and 2010, she respectively obtained her BSc Honors in Nutrition and her MSc in Nutrition at the NWU. She started her academic career in 2010 as a lecturer and researcher in the Africa Unit for Transdisciplinary Health Research (AUTHeR) of the NWU. During the 12 years working in AUTHeR, she gained extensive experience as project coordinator and project manager of several research and community engagement projects. She also lectured both undergraduate and postgraduate students focussing on transdisciplinary health promotion. She presented at both national and international conferences, published scientific articles in national and international journals and delivered postgraduate students. Since 2022, Karlien has been employed as a project coordinator in the Centre for Health & Human Performance of the NWU. She is responsible for organising various events (e.g. Spring Sport Science Summit), coordinating several projects (e.g. Youth Excellence Support (YES) Programme for young aspiring athletes), and presenting various workshops of which some include Sport Nutrition (for North West Sport Academy) and Social Media Exposure (for NWU Eagle Sport). In addition, Karlien is still involved in postgraduate education (focussing on Research Methodology) and postgraduate supervision across various disciplines.

Email:Karlien.VanSchalkwyk@nwu.ac.za

Elennor de Wee

Conference Secretariat

Elennor de Wee

Conference Secretariat

Elennor De Wee is employed at the North West University’s Potchefstroom Campus as the Secretary to the Director of the School of Human Movement Sciences, Prof Hans de Ridder, since 2018. She was born and bred in Potchefstroom and completed her Schooling career in Potchefstroom. She completed SETA accredited short courses in Business Administration and Generic Management (NQF Level 5). In her current role as Secretary her duties and responsibilities include but are not limited to Secretarial duties to the Director, System and Office Administrative support, Human Resource administration. Elennor is a motivated and hard-working person and aspires to commence with a Human Resource Management (HRM) degree to be better equipped in her current role. In her private time, she loves spending time with her family.

Email:Elennor.DeWee@nwu.ac.za

Leoné Wolmarans

Finances

Leoné Wolmarans

Finances

Mrs Leoné Wolmarans is the Senior Administrative Officer of the School for Human Movement Sciences at the North-West University in Potchefstroom, with her speciality in Finances and Human Resources. She has been in the service of the University since 1994 and at the School for HMS since 2001. She has lectured Sporttrauma and Indutrauma from 1999 to 2000. Mrs Wolmarans has received her B.Tech in Business Administration. As a founding member of the Potchefstroom Judo Club in 2001, she is the Vice Chairperson for the Club and is the Chairperson of the Dr Kenneth Kaunda Judo Association and a National rated Technical Official in Judo. She is married to Hendrik, a police officer and has 2 children Kyra-Kezzia, Jennifer-Anne and two grandchildren Kamilah and Astria.

Email:Leone.Wolmarans@nwu.ac.za

Thina Phadziri

Conference Administration

Thina Phadziri

Conference Administration

Miss Thina Phadziri is employed at the North-West University (NWU) as the Facilities Manager of the School of Human Movement Sciences. Miss Phadziri recently completed her Masters in Recreation Science and has further moved on to obtaining a master’s in business administration with the NWU business school. Beyond work and academia, Miss Phadziri is a football coach and is currently working on obtaining her level 3 accreditation with the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) and the Scottish Football Association (SFA).

Alinah Sepeng

Conference Administration

Alinah Sepeng

Conference Administration

Mrs Alinah Sepeng is employed at the North-West University (NWU) as the Administrative Assistant of the Centre of Health & Human Performances. Mrs Sepeng is in the process of completing her Administration studies and will further her studies in coaching. Beyond work, Mrs Sepeng is a co-founder of Sepeng Training Project which specializes in middle distance athletics.

Papi Ramasilo

Conference Administration

Papi Ramasilo

Conference Administration

Khotsofala Papi Ramasilo is an Administrative Assistant at North-West University in the School of Human Movement Science, PhASRec research entity, I am responsible for Masters & PhD candidates administration. Before I was recruited by the Center for Teaching and Learning at North-West University as an Administrative Clerk and Hybrid Learning Support, and I also worked for Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture Department. I am a graduate in Psychology and Sociology with Public Governance from North-West University Vanderbijlpark Campus. A former student leader at North-West University Student Representative Council and Student Campus Council as the Secretary-General (2019/20), Public Relations and Projects Officer (2019/20), International Students Officer (2018/19) and served at NWU Digital Business Strategy Innovation Team (2020). I am working towards being the next North-West University Vice-Chancellor.

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