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Dr Andre Philip Van der Merwe 

Andre has spent the past thirty years gaining experience in many aspects of project management while being employed by various organisations. At present he is a self employed professional (Infinite.org.za),  where he makes use of process consultation techniques to operate, on assignment, as an independent advisor in the fields of Project Management, Capital Management, Information Systems and Technology.

Further, he lectures at universities several courses that he has developed including: Practical Project Management, Prioritising Multi-Projects, Understanding Log Frame Technique, Implementing Strategic Objectives as Projects, Tender Board Procedure and Contract Methods, including Tender Without Specification - a unique contract method which he developed.

His 30 years of work experience ranges from being part of a construction gang to commissioning Control and Instrumentation systems at Koeberg Nuclear Power Station. Project Management experience was gained as Project Leader for more than 2000 simultaneously occurring projects with a total value of 5 Billion Rand, which he managed to within 99.5% of time and budget, receiving a management award for innovation.

More recently he has been developing processes, procedures and systems for managing multi-projects with DAI (Netherlands) Transnet, KPMG, ESKOM and Siemens, Software implementation and Process Re-engineering with Anderson Consulting (SAP/R3), Gauteng Provincial Government (IS/IT) and the California State Department (US). His clientele is predominantly among governments and NGOs in the Industrial development, Business development and Social development industries.

He is a qualified electrician, a Communications Electronics technician, holds a postgraduate Diploma in Project Management from Henley College, Oxfordshire, and is the first South African to hold a Project Management MBA from the University of Brunel in London. This has led him to concentrate on business transformation through project management methodology as well as effective and efficient management of multi-projects within an organisation, leading to the financial success of that organisation. "Business Development: A project management approach" is the topic of his Doctoral research at Rand Afrikaans University.

He has published several papers and regularly speaks at international workshops, seminars, congresses and symposiums on the education of Project Managers, Social development and tools that he has originated to prioritise and control multi-projects of which the Project System (Pencil and paper approach to project management) is attracting intense interest. His latest publications can be seen in the International Journal Of Project Management, published by Elsevier Science, for whom he referees. A manuscript  he has prepared entitled; "Implementing Strategic Objectives as Projects in the Third World" is being considered for publication. He has  hosted several conferences and corresponds with interested parties on the Internet.

Andre is the Founder of the Association for Project Management in South Africa, a full member of the Association for Project Management in the UK, a past Council member of the International Project Management Association in Zurich, regional representative of the Commonwealth Forum on Project Management, A past member of the South African Qualifications Authority Standards Generating Body, Member of the Doctoral Colloquium and conference programme committee for the European Conference on Research Methodology for Business and Management Studies, Member of the Editorial Board for the International Journal of Management and a member of MENSA Society. 

He donates time, effort and money to social development and the furtherance of Christianity.

Service to:

Universities, Profession & Community

2002 Member of the Editorial Board for the International Journal of Management published by the Faculty of Organisational Science for the University of Belgrade.

2002 Member of the conference programme committee for International Symposium on Management Sciences “SYMORG 2002” held by the University of Belgrade.

2001-2 Member of the Doctoral Colloquium and conference programme committee for the European Conference on Research Methodology for Business and Management Studies held at Reading University.

2001 Member of the conference programme committee for International Symposium on Project Management “YUPMA 2001” held for the University of Belgrade.

2000 Member of the Global Forum on Project Management for International Development.

1999 Only South African to be appointed to the Council the International Project Management Association in Zurich.

1999 Member of the Global Forum on Project Management for Education.

1999 Member of South African Qualifications Authority Standards Generating Body, for project management.

1998 SABC Advisory Committee for Lifelong Learning.

1998 Regional representative of the Commonwealth Forum on Project Management.

1998 First South African to be appointed as a referee to the International Journal Of Project Management published by Elsevier Science.

1997 Serve on the National Advisory Committee for Technikon Curricula.

1997 – 1999 Moderator of the Project Management Module for the MBA Program at Technikon SA.

1997 Founder, Chairman (until 2000) and Fellow of the Association for Project Management South Africa Branch.

1996 One of only 10 full members of the Association for Project Management in the UK who are based in South Africa. 

1996 First South African to complete Project Management MBA at Brunel University. 

1995 Member of MENSA Society. 

1994 Top student at Henley Management College. 

1979 Chairman of the Students’ Representative Council at the Witwatersrand Technikon. Received a special commendation from the dean for student affairs.