Hein Olckers has over two decades of extensive management experience in the hotel and entertainment industry. His comprehensive knowledge and skills were employed to project manage the entire hotel management component for the inception of the five-star Santé Wellness Centre in Simondium, Paarl which opened in September 2003. This commission followed upon his return from America following a successful two-year contract as hotel manager of the highly acclaimed, prestigious Peninsula Beverly Hills Hotel in California, which hosts global industry leaders, celebrities and Hollywood stars.

His ability to teach and transfer knowledge saw him develop and start up a hotel management course for the Free State Technikon (Bloemfontein). He also lectured at the Technikon's Hotel School. He holds a National Diploma in Hotel Management(Wits Technikon) and an internationally recognised Certified Hospitality Educator (by the renowned Educational Institute of the American Hotel and Lodging Association). Hein also completed courses in Strategic Marketing and Strategic Hospitality Management at Cornell University (Itacha, New York, USA) in 2001.

During his career locally he managed both resort and specialised hotels ranging from Kruger Park Lodge (Hazyview), the Strand Hotel (Swakopmund, Namibia), the Alpine Heath Resort and Conference Village (Drakensberg) as well as Sun International's Thaba ‘Nchu Sun Hotel and Casino and luxury Western Cape hotels Lord Charles (Somerset West) and Cape Sun.

His project management skills and ability to enable team work saw him refurbish the prestigious Carlton (Johannesburg) and Royal (Durban) Hotels as special projects manager for Three Cities Hotels. Apart from seasoned people and management skills, his career saw him develop computer literacy, marketing and advertising acumen and, above all, the discipline to ensure customer satisfaction and delivery by both staff and suppliers.

• American Hospitality Academy Master Licence holder.
• AHA Certified Educator.
• Associated training properties include: Hilton, Hyatt, Marriott, The Ritz Carlton, Sheraton and Westin.

Susina holds a B. Ed Home Economics (University of Stellenbosch), B. Ed Honours (University of Potchefstroom) and has recently finished her Master’s degree (University of Stellenbosch) with research topic: A Curriculum Framework for Continuous Professional Development in Culinary Studies." She has also completed four continuing-education programmes at The Culinary Institute of America(New York), as well as a short course at Le Cordon Bleu (Paris), and the Diploma in Professional Cooking from "City and Guilds" (London).She is one of the most dedicated culinary professionals you will ever come across.

Susina is also very involved with the school subject, Hospitality Studies. She pioneered the implementation of this subject in the Northern Cape where she was also the chief examiner for 5 years. Susina is currently consulting the Western Cape Education Department and individual schools, on the implementation of Hospitality Studies and is engaged in the training of their educators. Since 1998 Susina has been co-ordinating annual workshops during the winter holidays for educators from all provinces of South Africa and Namibia.

Susina is an expert in food and wine education. With over 20 years educational experience and a passion to inspire others to grow as culinary professionals, she is living her dream. Having been a science teacher for 12 years, Susina has a very unique ability of combining the art of cooking with a scientific understanding. By exposing students to a disciplined but fun learning environment, she has trained many to be successful and honourable in what they do.

After her teaching career, Susina was a senior lecturer for five years, head of department, and head of continious education at the Institute of Culinary Arts at Spier, in Stellenbosch. She recently started her own company, Joy of the Table, which mainly focuses on short courses, fun-filled cooking classes and skills training.

Susina Jooste is co-owner and one of the directors of The Private Hotel School. Susina will ultimately be responsible for the Academic side of The Private Hotel School and will be in charge of the culinary education, training and development arm of the business.

During her studies (internships), she fulfilled the role of general manager at African Oceans Manor, a 5 star property in Mossel Bay. Erika also worked as Duty Manager at the Garden Route Casino Hotel and Spa in Mossel Bay and during her final year of studies, assisted IHT Hotel School with administrative duties and marketing activities.

Erika will be responsible for the teaching of first year subjects in Hospitality Management and will act as a mentor for first semester students.

Jeanette Barry's culinary excitement started in Africa on a guide and cooking safari. Since then she has continued to expand her culinary adventures to Cambodia deep-frying tarantulas, planting rice in Vietnam and cooking an outside buffet for Swaziland King Mswati III's 41st birthday celebration.

Jeanette studied at the ICA in Stellenbosch for two years from 2005 to 2007 and completed her Diploma in Culinary Arts. During her studies there she did her internship at Singita Game Reserve, voted Best Hotel in the World (Con de Nast Traveller). One week after her final exam, she left the country to be the personal chef for one of Britain’s well-known thoroughbred horse trainers, Italian Luca Cumani. Visiting the Royal Ascot - hat and all!

Between Cambridgeshire and Isle of Skye, she’s been the personal chef for Major Colville, moving onto Scotland’s West coast. She found herself working for the world-renowned writer, cook and cookery demonstrator, Lady Claire MacDonald’s Kinloch Lodge, Skye’s only Michelin star restaurant. Jeanette was one of 6 chefs lead by Head Chef Marcello Tully, who was trained by Roux Brothers’.

Finding her feet back in South Africa, she finished an Interior course at BHC School of Design at the Old Biscuit Mill, and completed her internship at In.tu.it Signature Concepts. Since then she has moved on to become branch manager and demo chef at Pretoria Girls High Food & Wine show in 2009, having the honour to cook with Lacanches and the latest Sous vide methods.

Jeanette joined the Private Hotel School in July 2010 as junior lecturer in culinary arts.

Louw Kotze entered the culinary world as a teenager, working in his family’s Butchery, where he discovered the treasures of the food industry and decided to make it his career choice. He studied at the ICA in Stellenbosch from 2001 to 2002 and successfully completed his Diploma in Culinary Arts. Extensive international travel took him to Europe, Africa, England and, most recently, to Beverly Hills California, where he worked as a sous Chef at the newly built, Montage Beverly Hills. This has provided him with a broad spectrum of exposure to, and expertise in, the culinary world.

Chef Louw Kotze, a contemporary chef, is passionate about the prospects for service industry in the 21st century. He is inspired by food that is becoming fast-paced and cutting edge, from both the perspective of ingredients, as well as the adoption of technology. The utilization of traditional knowledge, complemented with the application of modern techniques and equipment, is a motivational factor in his work at the Private Hotel School.
Louw joined the Private Hotel School in July 2010 as the Chef instructor for 33 Dine.

Starting her work experience with Kelly Girl Temping agency as an all rounder temp, Glenda gained the opportunity to broaden her experience office management and bookkeeping. Completing a Business Computing Diploma course with Coopers & Lybrand in 1996 and a Pastel Accounting Certificate later that year, she has worked as bookkeeper and office manager for various companies and industries.

Glenda joined the Private Hotel School in May 2009 as our new Bookkeeper.

Louise studied at The Private Hotel School from 2007 until 2008. Apart from her academic studies, she has also gained knowledge and experience at the Lanzerac Hotel & Spa, a five star property in Stellenbosch, where she worked in various departments as part of her in-house training. Her work experience and studies at The Private Hotel School well prepared her for the hospitality industry.

After the successful completion of the Diploma in International Hospitality Management, Louise broaden her horizons in the hospitality industry, and worked as assistant manager at Rusthuiz, a four star guest house in Stellenbosch.

Louise joined The Private Hotel School again in June 2009 as the assistant manager at our new campus, 33Stay, Stellenbosch.

Bianca van Wyk pursued her hospitality interest and travelled to Abu Dhabi in 2005. There she worked and gained extensive knowledge and experience in the food and beverage department, developing her aptitude as a waitress, hostess, cashier, supervisor and public relations.
Bianca returned to South Africa to further her studies at the Private Hotel school in 2007 and successfully completed the Diploma in International Hospitality Management programme in 2009.