by PsySSA-Web Support | Oct 21, 2025
Zariké Gouws is a third-year student at the North-West University, who has consistently maintained a distinction-level average throughout his undergraduate studies, earning him a place on the Dean’s List for two consecutive years. Having completed the National Mentorship Program in 2024, for which he received the Personal Growth Award, he is now serving as the Assistant Secretary for said program. In addition, he has been an elected executive member of PsySSA’s Student Division, reflecting his dedication to student leadership, continuous learning and personal development. His academic interests lie in abnormal psychology, forensic psychology, positive psychology, psychology of love and relationships, narrative therapy, and philosophy. Looking ahead, Zariké aims to further develop his expertise by completing an honours and master’s degree in psychology, enabling him to make meaningful contributions to both research and practice in the field.
by PsySSA-Web Support | Oct 21, 2025
I am an undergraduate student at the University of Venda, pursuing a bachelor’s degree in psychology with the aim of becoming a counselling psychologist, i am currently in my third year of study. My academic focus and area of interest has been centred on human behavior, development and understanding how individuals can overcome challenges to reach their potential.
I am part of the university of Venda international students union and my role has involved engaging students in order to support creativity and social cohesion. I am affiliated with PsySSA SD and have contributed by advocating for increased recognition of PsySSA among students with the aim of building a stronger and more united collective of psychology students in the university of Venda
by PsySSA-Web Support | Oct 21, 2025
Dr Shahieda Jansen is a clinical psychologist who serves as the Deputy Director: Academic & Technology Support at the Parow campus in the Western Cape region since 2016. Previously she headed the HPCSA accredited student counselling centre of the University of the Western Cape with oversight of counselling services and clinical supervision of master’s level national and international psychology interns. Shahieda’ s scholarly interest in relational humanity, and male-focused development was initiated by an accidental men’s group that she facilitated in 2009. Inserting the African multidimensional personhood (AMP) model between the personhood of the mental health practitioner and psychological practice is her recently published article by Taylor & Francis. Homo moyanus, not Homo neoliberalus: Socio-moral subjectivity for a transformed Higher Education is a book chapter that has been finalised for publication. Shahieda is the principal researcher of Unisa’s Community Engagement project: School Belonging for boys which adds another critical layer of research by highlighting the systemic influences on the academic performance of boys. Her longstanding commitment to prioritising humanity over gender is the subject of her book published by Unisa Press, Masculinity Meets Humanity: An Adapted Model of Masculinised Psychotherapy.
by PsySSA-Web Support | Oct 21, 2025
Leonie Vorster is dedicated to ensuring the effective and just use of ethically sourced, contextually relevant, and usable information. She actively promotes empowerment by seeking the furthest limits of the possible and imaginative to make a positive difference and inspiring others to do the same. Her core strengths include:
1) Generating and drawing on evidence-based insights to facilitate decision-making and to make organisations, products, and services work (or work better)
2) Finding the best secondary and primary information sources for co-creating usable insights
3) Writing about things that matter, editing information to ensure effective communication, and presenting information in a memorable way through effective design
4) Making strategic recommendations and advising regarding the integration of available information to ensure relevant, usable insights
5) Evaluating AI Large Language Model responses for the South African context
Leonie has successfully completed more than 400 research and research-based consulting assignments for government, semi-government, private, and not-for-profit clients based in more than 40 countries on five continents. Leonie’s commitment to professional excellence is legendary, and her passion for quality and ethical standards is unwavering.
She holds a BA Communication Science and BA Honours in Psychology from the University of Johannesburg, and a Masters in Research Psychology from Nelson Mandela University, and is registered at the Health Professions Council of South Africa as Research Psychologist.
by PsySSA-Web Support | Oct 20, 2025
Juan A Nel (he/him) holds a doctorate, is a registered clinical and research psychologist, and full professor of Psychology at the University of South Africa (UNISA). As a National Research Foundation (NRF) B-rated researcher, and an elected member of the Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf), he is internationally recognised in LGBTQIA+ mental health and wellbeing, hate victimisation, and victim empowerment and support, more generally. A former president of the Psychological Society of South Africa (PsySSA) (2014–2015), Juan is a member of its Council, founder member of the executive committee of the PsySSA Sexuality and Gender Division (SGD), and representative of PsySSA on (inter)national structures towards furthering its profile as a learned society. In this regard, most noteworthy are his roles as leader of the research sub-committee of the South African Hate Crimes Working Group; co-representative on the International Psychology Network for LGBTI Issues (IPsyNet); and leader of the PsySSA SGD African LGBTQIA+ Human Rights Project towards promoting wellbeing and human rights for LGBTQIA+ persons in Africa.
