The Pinotage Youth Development Academy (PYDA) is pleased to announce the appointment of Roger Domingo as its new executive director, effective 1 June 2023. With two decades of leadership, management and governance experience in the non-profit sector, Roger brings a wealth of experience to PYDA.
Roger’s professional journey is marked by an uninterrupted period of 11 years devoted to youth development, including implementing education and training initiatives aimed at enhancing access to economic opportunities.
Prior to joining PYDA, he served as the managing director of James House, an organisation dedicated to promoting the rights and potential of children and youth.
In that role, he led initiatives aimed at providing psychosocial and educational support to facilitate comprehensive development to break the cycle of poverty.
Roger’s other notable professional experience is the work he did in two affiliated organisations, focused on land reform, food sovereignty and climate change. From 2015 to 2018, he served as the executive director of the Support Centre for Land Change (SCLC) and then as the CEO of the Surplus People Project (SPP) until the end of 2021.
During this time, he also held the position of chairperson of Tshintsha Amakhaya (TA), a national alliance of organisations committed to advancing land, food and climate justice.
His experience in organisational governance is reflected in his active participation in various board roles over the past years, maintaining a particular interest in organisations that support the development of young people. Mentionable examples of this commitment include his membership of the Centre for Social Development (CSD) at Rhodes University, his role as a founding member of the Assumption Development Centre, and his tenure as Chairperson of the Upstart Youth Development Project.
Internationally, Roger has been a speaker at several events. His highlights include the talks he delivered on agroecology and north-south solidarity at the side events of COP 22 (2016) in Marrakesh, Morocco, and COP 23 (2017) in Bonn, Germany. Additionally, he was invited to participate in the G7 Counter Summit 2019 in Hendaye, France, and the Gastivists Conference 2017 in Brussels, Belgium.
As a leader and manager, Roger combines his academic background in Human & Social Studies and Management Practice to drive impactful change. His comprehensive range of skills and deep-rooted passion for youth development make him a welcome addition to the PYDA team.
"I am looking forward to adding my range of skills and deep-rooted commitment to youth development to that of the PYDA team. Together, I am confident that we will reach new heights in "Launching Talent To Be The Difference."