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State-of-the-Art Science Laboratories

Science Laboratories

Life Sciences

Life Sciences is an exciting study of life in an environment that is constantly changing. The pupils are encouraged to develop along three interdependent pathways:

  • Learning by investigation.
  • Developing a sound understanding of biological concepts and processes.
  • Applying the concepts to society and the environment.

Focus is placed on the value of understanding the workings of one’s own body and the natural world in order to make informed decisions regarding our human health and that of the environment in which we live. Many stimulating activities ensure that pupils develop a wide range of inquiry, problem-solving and critical-thinking skills. Some of the tasks/projects undertaken are problem-solving projects carried out by Middle Vs, devising solutions for food sustainability in Johannesburg, and Upper Vs, devising solutions for the environmental impacts of COVID-19 and the human and environmental impact in the Delta Park area.

Life Sciences is one of the fastest growing fields with ongoing new developments that are likely to impact our daily lives. The highly dynamic nature of the subject allows for the incorporation of new topics as advances in the field occur. The incorporation of these new research findings into lessons allows pupils to appreciate the impact that biological science is having on society and the environment today. The impact of COVID-19 and the development of subsequent medical technology is the perfect example. In this light we also study biotechnology and its many applications. The Lower Vs complete many practical applications of biotechnological processes in food production and the Matrics actually transform bacteria using recombinant DNA technology.

Something we believe to be essential to studying Life Sciences is the skills focus of the subject. As a department we enjoy approaching the teaching of Life Science in a practical way. We believe this allows our pupils to approach tasks with wonderment and awe, which then leads to enjoyment, and the positive effect of this prepares them for learning at a deeper level and allows a more effective development of the understanding of the concepts in Life Sciences. As a result, we try to incorporate as many practical activities as possible into learning. Some examples are: microscopes to teach cells; building models to teach different body systems; practicals to teach complicated processes of photosynthesis, respiration etc; practical applications of asexual reproduction in plants.

The curriculum exposes pupils to various ethical debates in biology. Many scientific breakthroughs in the biological arena have ethical implications that need to be unpacked and understood as they influence decision making at both individual and societal level. It also strives to make pupils aware of how experimental bias can undermine an investigation and how to critically evaluate scientific process.

Sciences Laboratories

Physical Sciences

A good definition of science is this: “The intellectual and practical activity encompassing the systematic study of the structure and behaviour of the physical and natural world through observation and experiment”.  

It is the ‘observation and experiment’ part of this definition that is often neglected. In the Roedean Physical Sciences department we aim to incorporate as much experiential learning into our curriculum as possible. Our philosophy in Lower V (Grade 8) is that we will teach only concepts that can be experienced in some way by the pupils. The use of technology has greatly improved our ability to investigate atomic phenomena using animations and simulations, while we continue to expand our equipment base to ensure that any investigation that can be done by the girls themselves, is done by them.

It is our belief that science would be greatly benefited by the input and wisdom of more women, and so we aim to get the young scientists at Roedean to be fascinated by and curious about the physical world around them. This, we believe, will lead to more of these young women pursuing careers in Engineering, Pure Mathematics, Chemistry and Physics, allowing them to lead lives of significance in these historically male-dominated fields.

Dale Quaker

Dale Quaker is currently the Chief Financial Officer for Cupric Africa, a private equity owned mining company which through its Botswana sister company Khoemacau Copper recently completed the building of its copper silver project.

He was previously the CFO of the Khoemacau Group leading the finance function as the Group transitioned from an exploration company, through the fundraising of a $650m debt, streaming and equity funding package through to completion of construction..

Prior to joining Cupric, he was an independent consultant to the mining and construction industries. In his last corporate role, he headed up the marketing and logistics function for Xstrata Coal South Africa, after having fulfilled a senior finance role in the company previously..

Dale held roles at BHPBillition subsidiary, Samancor Chrome, both at the operations and corporate office in Johannesburg. Dale is a qualified Chartered Accountant and Chartered Management Accountant and has three daughters at Roedean.

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Yusuf Noorbhai

Mr Yusuf Noorbhai is a Senior Executive at Standard Bank, heading up the Corporate Finance Division. He also serves on the Executive Committee for Investment Banking.

He has over 18 years of global corporate experience, with a strong track record in building businesses, managing teams, client relationships, and operating effectively at a senior stakeholder level across a variety of cultures and markets throughout the world.

Yusuf has represented Standard Bank in various capacities, and has served on external boards of companies and investment funds in which the bank has strategic shareholdings. He has been integral to the development and execution of the Diversity and Inclusion Strategy for Standard Bank, which has afforded him insight and knowledge into the subject matter, coupled with an important appreciation of the challenges faced by any institution in navigating this complex yet crucial initiative.

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Sipho Maseko

Mr Sipho Nkosinathi Maseko is Group Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director at Telkom SA and Principal at Kleoss Capital. He also serves on the boards of Afrox Healthcare, the Centre for Development and Enterprise, and the Gyro Group.

Previously, he held the positions of Chairman of Shell and BP South African Petroleum Refineries; Chief Executive Officer of BP Southern Africa; Chairman of the Business Connexion Group; Managing Director and Group Chief Operating Officer of Vodacom SA; Chief Operating Officer and Executive Director of the Vodacom Group; and Managing Director of Vodacom (Pty) Ltd.

He holds a graduate degree from the University of KwaZulu-Natal and an undergraduate degree from the University of the Witwatersrand.

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Paul Moeketsi

Mr Paul Moeketsi is the Managing Partner of Sanlam Private Equity and has over 15 years of investment and financial services experience. Prior to joining Sanlam, Paul was the Investment Director at Value Capital Partners, leading a number of high-profile transactions and serving on the boards of Adcorp Holdings, Metair Investments and Sun International.

Prior to joining VCP, Paul was a Principal at Medu Capital across multiple funds, leading transactions such as Van Schaik Bookstores, Exclusive Books, Universal Paints and Elite Truck Hire.

Paul also spent time at Investec Corporate Finance advisory as well as KPMG Financial Services division.

Paul holds the following qualifications: BCom (Honours) Accounting; CA (SA); Senior Executive Programme (London Business School).

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Nomsa Daniels

Ms Nomsa Daniels is CEO of Blue Zebra Projects and is a Director and Business Development Manager at Anibok Investment Research Chambers. She has a Master’s Degree in Geography and Environmental Studies from Hunter College, New York.

She says: “As Nelson Mandela once said, ‘Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.’

“At Roedean, we live and breathe this ethos every day by striving to inculcate in our girls a love of learning and confidence in their abilities to contribute to society as they see fit.

“Through our transformation, diversity, and inclusion work, we also strive to create an environment where our stakeholders have a strong sense of ownership and belonging. It is only when girls and women claim their space that the world will be a better place for all.”

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Dominique Laroque

Dominique Laroque is a third generation Roedeanian. She matriculated with distinction and was awarded the prestigious white honours blazer for colours across four sport disciplines. In tertiary she graduated at the top of her class with a BSc QS and a BCom (Law).

Dominique enjoyed a very successful career path in construction and mining before moving into investment banking. As an analyst at JP Morgan she achieved ratings in various sectors locally and abroad and gained extensive corporate finance experience as a member of JP Morgan’s global aerospace advisory team. She then spent years in research management at Credit Suisse and Nedbank before starting her own stockbroking company in 2017 as an empowerment initiative.

It has been an upward trajectory for Dominique and her team who have developed a mathematical model which evaluates an organisation’s ability to generate long-term value for investors. They are currently ranked no. 3 in South Africa in this field.

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Asanda Ntile

Ms Asanda Ntile is a strategy executive with over 18 years’ experience in financial services. In her last corporate role, she drove the strategy for a business that turned over R1bn in annual profits, and was responsible for the end-to-end strategic management process and delivering business outcomes.

With a Master’s degree in Corporate Strategy and an Honour’s degree in Mathematics, she balances technical skills with the creativity required to engage varied stakeholder groups meaningfully, in order solve problems and achieve results.

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Gerhard Rudolph

Mr Gerhard Rudolph is Managing Partner and Head of the Litigation & Investigations department at Allen & Overy. He has extensive experience in representing and advising both domestic and multinational corporate clients in a broad range of contentious matters in South Africa, across the African continent and beyond.

Gerhard has an international practice, with numerous cross-border mandates in the following key focus areas:

  • Large disputes in the energy, mining, and infrastructure sectors.
  • Complex transactional and regulatory disputes involving financial institutions, including regulatory and compliance investigations, asset tracing, global recovery processes, and judicial commissions of enquiry.
  • Contentious restructuring and insolvency disputes for several local and multinational corporates.
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Thembi Mbengashe-Mazibuko

Ms Thembi Mbengashe-Mazibuko serves as the Chief People Officer at Pick n Pay, where she leads the overall People function across PnP retail stores, serving a workforce of over 33 000 employees. With a career spanning close to two decades in the retail and communication sectors, Thembi possesses qualifications in finance and information systems.

Throughout her career, Thembi has held various leadership positions at PnP, Unilever and Woolworths. She has held diverse roles across Marketing, Strategy, Commercial/Buying, ESG, and currently, People/HR. In her current role, she assumes responsibility for directing the strategy and implementation of the complete employee value proposition, which spans recruitment, training, reward, change management and industrial relations. Thembi’s commitment lies in cultivating a customer-focused, values-led, diverse, and inclusive team within the organisation.

Beyond her professional pursuits, Thembi finds great fulfilment in her role as a family-oriented individual. She has two young children, who attend Roedean and St John’s College. Furthermore, she embodies optimism regarding the future of her country and wholeheartedly believes in actively engaging as a social citizen.

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Dale Quaker

Mr Dale Quaker, is currently the Chief Financial Officer for Cupric Africa, a private equity owned mining company which, through its Botswana sister company Khoemacau Copper, recently completed the building of its copper silver project.

He was previously the CFO of the Khoemacau Group, leading the finance function as the Group transitioned from an exploration company, through the fundraising of a $650m debt, streaming and equity funding package, through to completion of construction.

Prior to joining Cupric, Dale was an independent consultant to the mining and construction industries. In his last corporate role, he headed up the marketing and logistics function for Xstrata Coal South Africa, after having fulfilled a senior finance role in the company previously.

Dale held roles at BHP Billiton subsidiary, Samancor Chrome, both at the operations and corporate office in Johannesburg. He is a qualified Chartered Accountant and Chartered Management Accountant and has three daughters at Roedean.

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Lindi Dlamini

Mrs. Lindi Dlamini has been at the helm of Roedean as Executive Director of Roedean since January 2023 and is the first black woman to be in this role in the 120 years history of Roedean. She has a wealth of leadership experience with 20 years executive leadership experience. She serves as an Independent Non-Executive for a bank and wealth management firm.

Prior to her tenure at Roedean School (SA), Lindi was the CEO of the President’s GBVF Response Fund1 which was set up in 2020 to resource the fight against Gender-Based Violence and Femicide as part of South Africa’s commitment to SDG5 (Gender Equality) and the country’s National Strategic Plan (NSP) on GBVF. She was previously a CEO of Safrican Insurance Company, Group Executive of PPS Human Capital, MD of Alexander Forbes Retail and Group Executive for Emerging Consumer Markets and Retail Operations in South Africa at Liberty Holdings. She has over twenty-five years of financial services experience. She is a fellow of the sixth class of the Africa Leadership Initiative (ALISA) and the Aspen Global Leadership Network (AGLN).

She holds BA (LAW); LLB and LLM degrees.