Adri Marais is a visionary education leader dedicated to transforming lives through access, purpose, and opportunity. As chief executive of Christel House South Africa, she leads a dynamic, female-driven organisation committed to breaking the cycle of poverty through education and character development. “Every day is fast-paced and full of purpose,” she says. “The work is fundamentally about leadership — the better one can steward the cause, the more effective everyone becomes.” Before joining Christel House, Adri co-founded TSIBA Education, a pioneering institution that opened pathways for under-resourced youth to access accredited business education. Under her leadership, TSIBA launched its BBA and Postgraduate Diploma in Small Enterprise Consulting — achievements that reshaped entrepreneurial learning in South Africa. At Christel House, she has since led the expansion of the organisation’s Simunye Project and Youth Bridge Initiative, as well as the development of a second high school, extending its impact to even more communities. With an MSc in Biochemistry, an MBA from City University (USA), and a Postgraduate Diploma in Higher Education Studies from UCT, Adri’s scientific background instills confidence in her leadership. Grounded, innovative, and purpose-driven, she continues to build systems that empower young South Africans to shape their own futures.
QUALIFICATIONS
- MBA, City University, USA
- Post Diploma in Higher Education Studies, University of Cape Town
- MSc Biochemistry, Wits University
- BSc (Hons) Biochemistry, University of Johannesburg
- BSc Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Johannesburg
ACHIEVEMENTS
I co-founded TSIBA, got our Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) and Postgraduate Diploma in Small Enterprise Consulting (PGDip SEC) written and accredited, wrote Varsity College’s Sport Management Diploma, visualised and developed Christel House SA’s Simunye Project as well as their Youth Bridge initiative, and built our second high school.
