Ilse van der Merwe

I work across programme coordination, stakeholder engagement, systems thinking, and operational delivery, mostly within education, sustainability, arts, and community-facing environments. A lot of my work has involved holding together complex moving parts across institutions, people, reporting, planning, and implementation, often within under-resourced or high-pressure contexts. I am naturally systems-minded, relationship-focused, and good at navigating the space between strategy, people, and practical delivery.

Alongside this, I have a longstanding interest in sustainability, environmental systems, and community-rooted development work.

Manager: Curriculum, Teaching & Learning at Market Photo Workshop (Market Theatre Foundation) (2023-08 – 2026-07)

• Oversaw governance of multiple accredited and non-accredited arts programmes across curriculum, delivery and assessment.
• Monitored course-level budgets, flag over/underspend and proposed reallocations where required.
• Draft and signing of facilitator contracts; managed performance accountability and non-renewals where necessary.
• Support proposal development and contribute to institutional reporting requirements, including engagement during funder site visits.
• Implement evaluation and feedback systems to track programme delivery and learner outcomes.
• Coordinated stakeholders across academic, operational and institutional environments.

Facilitator & Environmental Consultant at The Green Net (2022-01 – 2023-12)

Part-time

• Provided strategic planning and documentation support for environmental and community-based initiatives.
• Developed project plans and proposals within constrained resource environments.

Museum Specimen Photographer at Natural Science Collections Facility (NSCF) (2019-01 – 2022-12)

• Led high-resolution documentation of nationally significant scientific collections, including the Taung Child (Australopithecus africanus) at ESI WITS.
• Contributed to a major digitisation and virtual museum initiative, expanding research and public access to heritage collections.
• Developed documentation standards and digital asset management processes to support long-term preservation and institutional use.

Senior Photographic Trainer & Curriculum Developer at Damelin (National) (2018-01 – 2019-12)

• Standardised and reviewed national curriculum content and assessments.
• Contributed to academic quality assurance processes.

Senior Photographic Trainer at Market Photo Workshop (2007-01 – 2016-12)

• Delivered digital and analogue photography programmes.
• Developed course materials, lectures and assessment frameworks.
• Managed studio and darkroom facilities and supported junior administrative staff.

Professional Photographer & Arts Practitioner at Independent (2003-01 – 2023-12)

Over two decades of professional practice across commercial, documentary and institutional contexts within South Africa's arts and cultural landscape. Delivered commissioned work for cultural institutions, NPOs, engineering firms and media publications. Published in national outlets and worked across science, industrial, documentary and cultural production environments, building deep sector knowledge of creative practice, stakeholder coordination and client management across both funded and commercial settings.

Photographic Mentor at Uzuri Tech (2018-01 – 2018-12)

Early career role

Cofounder & Brand & Communications Lead at Od Organic Desire (2016-01 – 2020-12)

Part-time

Artist Booking Agent at EMI SA (2010-01 – 2010-12)

Part-time

Marketing Assistant at ManTech Electronics (2012-01 – 2012-12)

Part-time

Photographic Trainer at Step Ahead Productions (2009-01 – 2009-12)

Photographic Trainer at Kodak Express (2007-01 – 2008-12)

B-Tech in Photography – Tshwane University of Technology (2006-01)

BA in Environmental Management – UNISA (2014-01 – 2016-12)