PDF Print E-mail

Our Team

Dr Amanda Hamilton-Attwell

CEO of Business DNA

Dr Amanda Hamilton-Attwell has been involved in communication for the past 33 years. She started off as a journalist, lectured at the University of South Africa but has spent most of her time conducting communication and organisational research at the National Productivity Insitute in Pretoria. In 2000 she started Business DNA as a communication and organisational research group. As her client base grew she extended her services to include training and implementation solutions.
 
Dr Hamilton-Attwell was one of the first people in South Africa to be awarded a Doctorate in Communication Science, in fact she was the first woman in South Africa to obtain this qualification. She started her studies in 1970 at the Potchefstroom University, now called the Northwest University, and completed it in 1981 at the University of South-Africa.

 As a “serial volunteer” she has been the Chairperson of the Board of the Child and Family Care Society, a founder member and secretary for the Southern African Communication Association, (SACOMM), a board member responsible for training of the South African Association for Industrial Editors (SAIE), board member and deputy director of the Pretoria and Gauteng North Chambers of Commerce and Industry. She served four years on the Millennium Trust as representative of the Handelsinstituut (AHI) where she was a board member. Currently she is the past president of the Northern Areas Chapter and deputy president of the Africa Chapter of the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC).

Dr Hamilton-Attwell is one of only a few people in South-Africa that has the distinction of being an Accredited Business Communicator (ABC) with the IABC.

Her philosophy of life is “If this was the last day, it must have been a wonderful day”.

 

Sandra Engelbrecht

Statistician

Sandra has close on twenty years business research experience in diverse organisations and industries, focusing on human attitudes, behaviour, communication and performance with a view to provide information to guide business decisions and eventually enhance productive behaviour. She has also been involved in numerous projects involving desk research.


 

Sandra has spent most of her time conducting organisational and desk research at the National Productivity Institute in Pretoria, but seeking a new challenge she joined Business DNA in 2000. She is primarily involved in questionnaire design, face-to-face interviews, conducting focus group discussions, statistical processing of research results and report preparation. Sandra’s strengths lie in systematic planning, analysis, commitment to quality, the ability to work independently or in a team and the ability to work with employees at different organisational levels.

Her ability to develop suitable models to integrate seemingly loose standing aspects into a sensible whole and her attention to detail makes her a valuable asset. She simply adores her husband and long-awaited son and tries to spend as much time with them as possible. Apart from being a researcher she’s also quite adept at playing “Mom’s Taxi” and “Best friend”.

Wimpie van Olst

Exhibition Design Manager

Wimpie started with a career in design and construction of exhibitions and models in 1979. He has built up a skilled team that can deliver a wide range of communication aids through the use of models, displays and exhibits. Clients can be assisted from the conceptualising of a project, through design and construction. The most appropriate methods are employed, from a sculptural work to a laser-manufactured item. Lighting, electronic control systems and mechanical animation are available.

 
 

Wimpie sees life as an adventure. He participates in ballroom dancing, tourist guidance and bird watching in his leisure time.

Marié van den Heever

Professional Assistant

Marié holds several secretarial qualifications. Her key responsibilities in the team are:

  • The management of the office
  • The scheduling and arrangement of interviews, focus group discussions and questionnaire completion                                                                                                        
  • The finalisation, duplication and distribution of questionnaires
  • The capturing of data
  • The preparation of graphs and research presentations.