Dr. Wynoma C. Michaels has experience that spans various sectors, as well as expertise as a business and management consultant. She combines her experience and skills in change leadership processes, team leadership development, conflict mediation, organisational development, organisational strategic planning, diversity, and business development to assist organisations with developing holistic approaches to addressing their challenges.
Wynoma started her career as a Scientist at Denel Somchem. Her work focussed on the research and development of gun propulsion systems. She later expanded her focus to higher education with her appointment as Deputy-Director at the Institute for Mathematics and Science at Stellenbosch University. The focus of her work was on student preparedness and access to higher education, access of black and female students to fields of Science, Engineering and Technology, as well as curriculum development for post-matric and foundation year programmes at higher education institutions.
Her experience as a student leader, knowledge of higher education and understanding of the challenges facing higher education institutions, led to her appointment as a committee member of the ‘Ministerial Committee on Progress Towards Transformation and Social Cohesion and the Elimination of Discrimination in Public Higher Education Institutions’ in 2008 by the then-Minister of Education, Naledi Pandor, as consequence of the Reitz incident at the University of Free State.
In 2003, she served on a similar committee appointed by the then-rector of Stellenbosch University, Prof. Chris Brink, to investigate student and residence culture at Stellenbosch University with the intention of creating a university and residence culture that is inclusive.
Wynoma’s experience extends beyond higher education to the business arena through her work as a business consultant in sectors such as, Construction, Education, Food and Beverage, Mining and Minerals, as well as the Services industries. Further experience in management consulting was gained through a joint partnership with others in growing a successful management consultancy before starting her company, Wynoma Michaels Consult.
Wynoma’s educational background spans a PhD in Polymer Chemistry and she is a former fellow of the transitional justice fellowship of the Institute for Justice and Reconciliation.
