A Focus On The USB Alumni Association Middle East – Dubai Chapter Committee

The Middle East Dubai chapter of the USB Alumni Association has nominated a new committee in 2017. Under the leadership of Anneke Heckroodt this new chapter has already represented the USB alumni at a series of events. They represent alumni in the Middle East and plans exciting and innovative actions for the future.

On the 9th November 2017, the 10th Eduniversal Palmes of Excellence Ceremony and Awards Gala dinner was held in Dubai. Following a survey completed by Deans and Directors of higher education institutions globally, their vote for academic peers identified the top three schools in all the geographic regions. The USB was identified as one of 3 on the African continent to receive this prestigious award. Prof Steyn Heckroodt and his wife, Chairperson Anneke Heckroodt received the award on behalf of the USB at the Gala Dinner.

The committee promotes USB programme information sessions and deliver testimonials when these events are hosted in Dubai and where new students were recruited. On 19 May 2017 the committee hosted an USB exhibition stall at the USB MBA World Tour in Dubai with USB’s Prof Daniel Malan.

The chairperson calls on all alumni residing and working in the Middle East to contact her with their new contact details as they are valuable partners in the network and the committee wish to include everyone in the network activities.

Anneke Heckroodt, Managing Consultant, LTS Health ME FZ-LLC.Email: [email protected] Tel: +971 568296933

The Chairperson, Anneke Heckroodt is currently working for LTS Health in Dubai as a managing consultant. LTS is a specialist consultancy in laboratory performance improvement and a trusted ally to laboratories across the globe. She joined the company in 2017 after moving to Dubai with her husband, Prof Steyn 

Heckroodt. Anneke graduated from USB in 2000 with a MBA in Strategic Marketing.

She subsequently started a boutique consulting business, Lateral Dimensions (Pty) Ltd, of which she has been the Managing Director since inception. She consulted for many corporate South African companies in projects that involved business strategy, market development, loyalty and rewards program development, SME development and Customer Insight Creation.

She served as Executive and Non-Executive director on various boards of private, non-profit and NGO organisations during the last 25 years.

Anneke acted as virtual faculty member for USB-ED from 2004 to 2016, facilitating programmes in marketing, retail relations, digital marketing. She is also a virtual faculty member for Westford School of Management in Sharjah, and the University of Jumeirah in Dubai.

“Embracing a life change, that also involves a career change later in your life, has been an interesting journey that no business school or academic institution prepares you for. But once you’ve left the safe shores of your home country, the world falls open with vast opportunities. My USB involvement over the years has kept me on my toes, proud of my heritage and training and very enthused to spread my experience where I am currently situated here in the UAE.”

Dr Shaun Vorster was the top MBA student at USB in 2012 and still holds the record for the highest average in the history of the Business School. He was also the recipient of the prestigious CGW Schumann medal for top post graduate student in the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences. He is still associated with the USB as pro bono Extraordinary Professor.

He joined the Expo 2020 Dubai team in early 2015, and he is currently the Vice President for Business Integration and Activations. This department is responsible for creating enabling conditions for SMEs to capture a 20% share of the direct and indirect procurement spend for this multi-billion dollar project, to facilitate B2B2G value creation, to execute all brand activations and to render protocol and event management services.
He describes the Expo 2020 Dubai’s theme of ‘Connecting Minds, Creating the Future’ as his major inspiration – an opportunity to contribute to a better world. Living in one of the most progressive cities in the world, home to more than 200 nationalities, and working in an organisation where visionary leadership and organisational practices are based on the deeply embedded values of Integrity, Respect, Cooperation, Humility and Excellence, is something he regards as a rare privilege and learning opportunity.

Prof Steyn Heckroodt is currently Dean of The Business College at the University of Modern Science in Dubai. Previously Steyn held positions as the Dean of Jumeirah University, Director of Academic Affairs, Learning and Development at Jumeirah University, Dean of Westford School of Management in Sharjah, UAE. Steyn is also a moderator for Harvard Business Publishing in the Middle East. Steyn has published two books and a number of articles and is an active blogger for industry publications in the field of strategy, supply chain and systems thinking.

He regularly conducts workshops on behalf of international business schools in the Middle East in these subjects. Steyn graduated with a PhD in Strategy, Business Management Administration from Stellenbosch University in 2012.

His current and previous work commitments include:

• University of Modern Science, Dubai. Dean and Professor of the Business College
• Moderator: Harvard Business School Publishing
• Senior virtual faculty – Leoron Development Institute
• Jumeirah University, College of Business (Strategic Leadership) -Dean and Professor
• Westford Education Group (Team Dynamics and Personal Mastery) – Dean
• Stellenbosch Business School – MBA (International Management and Leadership)
• University of Wolverhampton – MBA (Leadership and Management Dynamics)
• Dutch Sudanese Management Centre along with Netherlands Business School (High-Performance Team Leadership and Coaching)