Dr Bennie Fourie – Chief Executive Officer
Dr Bennie Fourie is a distinguished educational leader, strategist, and entrepreneur with over three decades of experience in South Africa’s private education sector. He holds a Doctor of Commerce in Strategic Management from the University of Johannesburg, conferred in 2007. In 1993, he co-founded Royal Schools, an organisation focused on the development and management of affordable, high-quality independent schools. Through a series of strategic mergers and expansions, the organisation evolved into Core Education - a leading education group comprising 27 schools across 12 campuses in three provinces of South Africa. The group serves more than 11,000 learners and employs over 800 permanent staff.
As Chief Executive Officer, Dr Fourie is responsible for driving institutional excellence, innovation, and sustainable growth. He leads Core Education with a clear vision: to be the independent school of choice in the communities we serve, guided by the organisation’s core purpose that Every Child Matters. His leadership continues to shape the future of independent schooling in South Africa through a values-driven, learner-centric approach.
Beverley Bennett – Chief Human Resources Officer
Beverley Bennett is a seasoned Human Resources Executive with over 25 years of strategic leadership experience across the manufacturing, mining, recycling, and education sectors. Known for aligning HR with business strategy, she has led large-scale transformations, built high-performance cultures, and delivered impactful people solutions across complex, multi-site organisations. A values-driven leader, Beverley is respected for her integrity, ethical leadership, and commitment to fostering transparency, trust, and accountability. Her work has earned recognition across corporate and public sectors, including a nomination for the prestigious CHRO Awards in 2021. She holds an MBA (Cum Laude) from Monash University South Africa, a BCom Honours in Industrial Psychology, and a BCom in Human Resources Management from North West University. She also completed the Management Advancement Programme (MAP) at Wits Business School, a Post Graduate Certificate in Education (PGCE), and is currently enrolled in the Masterclass Board Series through Business Engage. Beverley brings a rare blend of strategic insight, operational excellence, and principled leadership, making her an integral part of Core Education’s executive team as it drives its next phase of growth and transformation.
Faiza Mallick – Chief Marketing Officer
Faiza is a purpose-led marketing strategist with over 12 years of experience leading brand and communication initiatives across education, publishing, financial services, and international development. Before joining Core Education, Faiza led Marketing and Communications at the NEPAD Business Foundation, strengthening brand visibility across Africa and managing communications for key projects. Prior to that, she spent five years at the Gordon Institute of Business Science. Her work earned a Silver Award from the Association of MBAs for a COVID-19 Small Business Survival Toolkit. At Core Education, Faiza is building a cohesive marketing function that supports school growth, drives learner recruitment, and strengthens stakeholder engagement. She blends strategy, creativity, and data-led insights to unify messaging and communicate the group’s commitment to access, inclusion, and educational excellence. She holds three degrees including a Postgraduate Diploma in Marketing Management from the University of Cape Town (UCT), a Postgraduate Diploma in Journalism and Media Studies from Rhodes University, and a Bachelor of Social Science (UCT).
Elsabé van Heerden – Chief Financial Officer
Elsabé van Heerden is a seasoned Chartered Accountant with over 15 years of distinguished financial leadership experience across diverse industries. She has built an exceptional career driving strategic financial outcomes in complex, high-growth environments while maintaining unwavering standards of governance and compliance. Elsabé has demonstrated remarkable expertise in financial management, strategic planning, risk assessment, and corporate governance. Her results-driven leadership style, combined with deep technical knowledge and strategic foresight, has consistently delivered shareholder value through sound fiscal strategies and robust financial controls.
Known for her integrity, precision, and collaborative leadership approach, Elsabé has served as Financial Director and Board member at Huge Connect, where she provides strategic oversight and manages all aspects of financial operations. She holds a BCom Honours in Accounting Sciences from the University of Pretoria and is a registered CA(SA) with SAICA.
Lovinia Moyo – Head of Schools
Lovinia leads academics as the Head of schools for the Core Education group, focusing on academic quality assurance, transformational education, lifelong learning, STEM, robotics, E-learning, and modern classroom methodologies. Lovinia earned her teaching qualification from Belvedere Teachers College in 2001 and has continued to expand her expertise through specialised courses in curriculum design, school leadership, and managing learner diversity. Her 24-year career began as a language and commerce educator at Sikhulile High School and Greenwood College before joining Royal Schools Princess Park College in 2011. She was nominated as the best Business Studies educator in the Tshwane South District for five consecutive years, consistently achieving the highest distinction rates.
In 2014, she achieved the second-best Business Studies results in Gauteng. Her leadership journey saw her promoted to High School Principal in 2013 and Executive Principal in 2015. In 2017, she joined Royal Schools Alberton as Executive Principal, leading their first matric class to top performance in the Ekurhuleni South district. In 2021, the school was nominated as the topperforming school in its circuit.
Shaun Van Reenen – Head of Operations
Shaun brings a unique blend of educational passion and corporate expertise to his role as Head of Operations at Core Education. With over two decades of experience across education, retail, and FMCG sectors, he is known for strategic foresight, operational excellence, and a commitment to service delivery. He began his career as an educator, serving in the classroom for eight years and as a Head of Department before moving into the corporate world. He went on to hold senior roles at leading organisations such as PepsiCo, Simba, Pioneer Foods, and Willowton/Cape Oil, spanning sales, logistics, warehousing, marketing, human resources, and customer management. Shaun’s leadership has earned him several accolades, including the Shoprite National Supplier of the Year Award, the UMS and Shield Regional Supplier Awards, and international recognition from PepsiCo for Best World Class Customer Engagement.
He is known for building inclusive, high-performing teams that consistently deliver results. Now back in education, Shaun applies his extensive experience to ensure the safe, efficient, and future-ready operation of Core Education’s campuses. He holds a Bachelor of Arts, Higher Diploma in Education, and a Bachelor of Education, and remains deeply committed to creating environments where learners and educators can thrive.