Anesh Singh

Accomplished higher education executive, academic leader, fundraiser, and strategist with over 30 years of leadership experience spanning institutional advancement, business school management, deanship, university governance, fundraising, labour relations, marketing, and digital transformation.

Currently serving as Director: Institutional Advancement at the University of the Western Cape, leading fundraising, alumni relations, marketing, communications, events, and institutional reputation management. Recognised for transforming academic and advancement units, building high-performing teams, introducing and managing change, curriculum development, driving institutional visibility, strengthening stakeholder engagement, and securing strategic partnerships and donor support. Experienced in executive leadership, governance, policy development, strategic communications, and organisational turnaround initiatives.

Director: Institutional Advancement and Full-Professor in Management - University of the Western Cape - Cape Town, South Africa

(2021-06 - 2026-05)

Led a division responsible for fundraising, donor relations, alumni relations, marketing, communications, events, branding, and stakeholder engagement. Whilst providing leadership for the department, also carried fundraising targets and managed the entire fundraising cycle for own donor portfolio.

• Led and managed a team of 30 staff members across multiple advancement functions
• Provided strategic direction for fundraising and institutional reputation management
• Introduced and launched the UWC Legacy Fund initiative
• Developed and implemented integrated fundraising and alumni engagement strategies
• Strengthened institutional branding and communication systems
• Developed institutional brand and social media policies
• Expanded donor stewardship and recognition programmes
• Fostered a learning culture that resulted in significant staff participation in postgraduate studies
• Managed personal fundraising targets and the full donor management cycle, including prospect identification, proposal development, donor engagement, negotiations, stewardship, and the successful securing of funding

Executive Director: UKZN Foundation - University of KwaZulu-Natal - Durban, South Africa

(2016-07 - 2021-04)

Provided strategic leadership to the University and its fundraising function, leading a team of 10 staff members, including five fundraisers. Developed and implemented the five-year strategy and annual operational plans, ensuring financial sustainability, organisational growth, and alignment with the Foundations mission and objectives. Held overall accountability for fundraising performance, donor stewardship, corporate engagement, partnership development, governance reporting, and stakeholder management.

Reported quarterly to the Board of Trustees on fundraising performance, financial sustainability, strategic risks, and organisational progress. Led the review and refinement of the Trust Deed to strengthen governance, improve organisational agility, and align the Trust's operating framework with contemporary nonprofit and philanthropic practices.

• Led a fundraising division with annual fundraising targets exceeding R100 million
• Managed and mentored a team of 10 staff members, including five fundraising professionals, building fundraising capacity and organisational effectiveness
• Expanded the active corporate donor base from 150 to 200 donors through strategic relationship management, targeted engagement, and strengthened donor stewardship
• Personally managed the full fundraising cycle for a portfolio of major donors, including prospect cultivation, proposal development, donor engagement, negotiation, reporting, and funding acquisition
• Developed and implemented the Foundations five-year strategic plan and annual action plans, creating a clear framework for growth and sustainability
• Strengthened corporate engagement and strategic partnerships, increasing investment from the commercial and philanthropic sectors
• Introduced donor reporting automation systems that improved efficiency, accountability, and donor communication
• Established crowdfunding initiatives that diversified income streams and broadened stakeholder participation
• Reported regularly to the Board of Trustees and contributed to strategic decision-making, governance oversight, and institutional sustainability
• Led the successful review and modernisation of the Trust Deed to ensure greater flexibility and relevance within a changing philanthropic and regulatory environment
• Directed award-winning fundraising and donor engagement campaigns that enhanced the Trust's profile and fundraising performance
• Met the five year income target of R500 million
• Won a bronze certificate in the MACE annual awards for campaign innovation

Dean and Head of School: Accounting, Economics and Finance - University of KwaZulu-Natal - Durban, South Africa

(2013-07 - 2016-06)

Served as Dean and Head of one of the largest and most complex Schools within the College of Law and Management Studies at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, providing strategic, academic, operational, financial, and people leadership across multiple disciplines including Accounting, Economics, Finance, Taxation, Accounting Information Systems and Supply Chain disciplines. The School comprised approximately 60 academic staff and 18 administrative, support staff, serving close to 3,000 undergraduate and postgraduate students across multiple campuses. The role required high-level executive leadership in academic governance, financial management, quality assurance, accreditation compliance, strategic planning, staff development, stakeholder engagement, curriculum transformation, research leadership, postgraduate supervision, and school performance management.

• Led the strategic direction and operational management of the School
• Managed a multimillion-rand operational budget
• Oversaw academic planning, staffing, resource allocation, and programme delivery
• Led Academic Leaders across multiple disciplinary clusters
• Ensured continued compliance with SAICA accreditation requirements
• Acquired Financial Planning Institute accreditation
• Drove research productivity and postgraduate growth
• Chaired School management and governance structures
• Managed staff performance, mentoring, recruitment, promotions, and succession planning
• Led stakeholder engagement with professional bodies, industry partners, alumni, and government stakeholders
• Oversaw curriculum review, programme innovation, and quality assurance processes
• Provided leadership during periods of organisational and academic transformation
• Successfully led the turnaround and stabilisation of the School during a complex institutional period
• Maintained and strengthened SAICA accreditation standards
• Guided the introduction of the Postgraduate Diploma in Financial Planning
• Improved academic governance and operational efficiency
• Strengthened the School's research culture and postgraduate supervision capacity
• Enhanced collaboration across disciplines and campuses
• Mentored emerging academic leaders and researchers
• Improved stakeholder confidence and engagement with the School
• Contributed strategically to College and University leadership structures

Head of School: Graduate School of Business - University of KwaZulu-Natal - Durban, South Africa

(2006-04 - 2013-06)

Served as Head of the Graduate School of Business and later Associate Professor, providing strategic, academic, operational, and financial leadership to the School. Responsible for the overall management and strategic repositioning of the business school, including academic leadership, programme development, quality assurance, financial sustainability, marketing and branding, industry partnerships, executive education, staff development, international engagement, and research growth.

• Successfully transformed the School from 13th position to a Top 5 PMR-ranked business school nationally for four consecutive years
• Positioned the Graduate School of Business as the Top Brand in KZN in 2011
• Generated more than R2 million in third-stream income profit
• Strengthened executive education and postgraduate programme offerings
• Expanded partnerships with business, government, and international institutions
• Improved operational efficiency and financial sustainability
• Enhanced research productivity and postgraduate supervision
• Strengthened stakeholder engagement with industry leaders and professional bodies
• Led marketing and positioning initiatives that significantly increased the School's profile locally and internationally

Associate Professor - University of KwaZulu-Natal - Durban, South Africa

(2012-01 - 2013-06)

Dean's Assistant – Research - University of KwaZulu-Natal - Durban, South Africa

(2006-01 - 2006-12)

Deputy Dean - University of KwaZulu-Natal - Durban, South Africa

(2003-08 - 2004-12)

Acting Head of Department: Information Systems & Technology - University of Durban-Westville - Durban, South Africa

(2003-03 - 2004-12)

Senior Lecturer: Information Systems & Technology - University of Durban-Westville / University of KwaZulu-Natal - Durban, South Africa

(2003-01 - 2006-12)

Lecturer: Information Systems & Technology - University of Durban-Westville - Durban, South Africa

(2002-01 - 2002-12)

MBA Coordinator & Lecturer: Management Information Systems - University of Durban-Westville - Durban, South Africa

(1999-11 - 2001-12)

Part-time Lecturer: Management - University of Durban-Westville - Durban, South Africa

(1999-02 - 1999-10)

Director and Founder - Tri-Pyramid Training Centre - South Africa

(1993-09 - 1999-04)

Human Resources Assistant Manager - Pick n Pay - Pietersburg, South Africa

(1990-02 - 1992-07)

Enquiries Clerk - First National Bank - South Africa

(1989-05 - 1990-01)

Bachelor of Arts - Arts - University of Durban-Westville (1989)

Master of Business Administration - Business Administration - University of Durban-Westville (1999)

Doctor of Business Administration - Business Administration - University of Durban-Westville (2001)

Postgraduate Diploma - Labour Law - University of the Western Cape (2025)

Diploma - Marketing Management - Executive Education (1989)

Diploma - Personnel & Training Practice - Executive Education (1990)

Master's Certificate - Labour Relations - Rand Afrikaans University (1992)