the Leadership team

Two men sitting at a restaurant table, smiling at the camera, wearing matching black and white collared shirts.

Built by psychologists…
and a few engineers.

Every member of the Fornix team brings deep expertise in psychology, research, data science, or community development
- and a genuine commitment to the African context our models serve.

Osama is the director behind Fornix Community Psychology, combining a unique "triple major" background in Political Science, International Relations, and Psychology to reshape community mental health. As a Golden Key scholar from the University of Pretoria, he specializes in bridging the gap between high-level neuroscientific research and on-the-ground community application. Osama's expertise lies in strategic planning and policy implementation; he successfully founded and grew multiple large-scale community development programs and now directs Fornix’s mission to transform traditional health and policy services into sustainable, scalable community initiatives.

LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/osama-salim-25b769232/?lipi=urn%3Ali%3Apage%3Ad_flagship3_profile_view_base_contact_details%3B6Ix%2BVjoWSeOy%2B7i%2BUSCcaw%3D%3D

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Osama Salim (he/him)
Director
Osama@fornixcp.org

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Ineheleng is a purpose-driven professional who bridges the gap between high-level financial analysis and social development. A graduate in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics (PPE) from the University of Pretoria and a current CFA Level 1 Candidate, her expertise and creativity uses her various business analysis and financial modeling certifications to guide how Fornix can give back to communities and clients alike. She’s honed her expertise in investment analysis and financial reporting at multiple large corporations. At Fornix, Ineheleng oversees community upliftment programs and M&E systems, ensuring that our social impact is both sustainable and data-informed.

LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ineheleng-mpobane-31039031a/?lipi=urn%3Ali%3Apage%3Ad_flagship3_profile_view_base_contact_details%3BgtgjXKtKTXOBfd5eB%2F4ApQ%3D%3D

Ineheleng Mpobane (she/her)
Chief Operations Officer
Ine@fornixcp.org

A motivated and adaptable individual, Darien is a second-year Bachelor of Science student majoring in Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence at the University of Cape Town. His academic background has provided him with a strong foundation in programming, discrete mathematics, calculus, and critical reasoning. Darien has a passion for applying his knowledge to real-world systems, and a curiosity-driven approach to learning new technologies.

His leadership experience as Co-Mayor of the Johannesburg Junior Council and as a Stationed Head Representative for Round Square highlights his ability to coordinate, manage, and execute projects effectively. With technical skills in Python and JAVA, and a keen interest in algorithmic thinking and problem-solving, Darien is a promising and valuable addition to any team.

LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/darien-naidoo-4837973a8/?lipi=urn%3Ali%3Apage%3Ad_flagship3_profile_view_base_contact_details%3B6%2F3jd694S92EpPIGgj7ufQ%3D%3D

Tapiwa serves as the vital link between our clients and internal teams, ensuring seamless communication and exceptional service delivery. A graduate of the University of Pretoria with a BA in Psychology and Criminology, he previously honed his leadership skills as the Research and Transformation Officer for Psyche UP. In this role, he navigated complex institutional landscapes to drive meaningful change. Now at Fornix, Tapiwa applies that same proactive, detail-oriented approach to problem-solving, ensuring that every client interaction is handled with professionalism and care.

LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/tapiwanashe-manase-0b1351126/?lipi=urn%3Ali%3Apage%3Ad_flagship3_profile_view_base_contact_details%3BKGB%2BccrxRxSalC3IsWviDg%3D%3D

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Tapiwanashe Manase (he/him)
Neurotutoring Client Relations Management
Tapiwa@fornixcp.org

Darien Naidoo (he/him)
Ai Tech Lead
Darien@fornix.org

Onkgopotse Tsitsi
Chief Engineer

Pots@fornix.org

Jan-Hendrik Nel (he/him)
Psychometrics &
Data Validation Lead
Jan-hendrik@fornixcp.org

Operating at the nexus of quantitative rigour and human nuance, Jan-Hendrik anchors the statistical validity of Fornix’s evaluation frameworks. With a specialized focus on psychometric test construction and validation , he ensures that our impact measurement tools are not only scientifically robust but contextually calibrated for African populations.

A distinguished scholar from the University of Pretoria and University of Johannesburg, Jan-Hendrik bridges the gap between raw data and strategic insight. He leverages advanced statistical methodologies—including Item Response Theory and Structural Equation Modelling (M+) —to transform complex community datasets into clear, actionable intelligence. His work guarantees that when Fornix reports impact, it is backed by the highest standard of statistical integrity.

LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jan-hendrik-researchpsych/?lipi=urn%3Ali%3Apage%3Ad_flagship3_profile_view_base_contact_details%3BfUzalH8rTWqjqYqlDFuxPg%3D%3D

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Tshenolo Mashile (he/him)
Neurotutoring Research
Tshenolo@fornixcp.org

Mechanical engineering and data science, Onkgopotse Tsitsi anchors the technical validity of SaaS and ERP implementation frameworks. With a specialized focus on technical communication and Graphical Communication, he ensures that system-wide access controls and application permissions are not only rigorously specified but usability-calibrated for multi-user, enterprise-level connectivity products.

A distinguished graduate from the University of Pretoria and current scholar at Stellenbosch University, Onkgopotse bridges the gap between raw data and strategic engineering insight. He leverages advanced technical methodologies—including Python programming, Fabrics Database Pipeline Management, and Computer Vision & Media Pipe—to transform complex datasets and simulated designs into clear, actionable intelligence and validated solutions. ‍ ‍

LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/onkgopotse-tsitsi-a29661260/?lipi=urn%3Ali%3Apage%3Ad_flagship3_profile_view_base_contact_details%3BYDWTtSAaRXqkeZlzDz6%2FjA%3D%3D

Tshenolo holds a Bachelor of Education from the University of Pretoria, specializing in Senior Phase and FET English and History. With a strong academic foundation that includes modules in Psychology and Specialised Education, Tshenolo brings a nuanced understanding of learner needs to the team. His practical experience spans reputable institutions like Crawford International and Bryandale Primary, where he honed skills in inquiry-based instruction and cooperative learning. A natural leader, Tshenolo served as Treasurer for the JuniorTukkie Ambassadors Society and is committed to using 21st-century teaching strategies to empower students from diverse backgrounds.

LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/tshenolo-mashile-349bb5243/?lipi=urn%3Ali%3Apage%3Ad_flagship3_profile_view_base_contact_details%3Bmt0CPdK5TCCKbGGUwz9Evw%3D%3D

Our Proof:
Signature Projects & ImpacT

Program Efficacy Evaluation
Implemented comprehensive pre/post surveys combined with correlational analysis to measure and deliver quantified improvements in individual well-being. Produced detailed reports and presentations that clearly demonstrated these gains, facilitating data-driven decision-making for stakeholders.

Bar graph showing operational budget reduction, with original budget around 55,000 ZAR and reduced budget around 5,000 ZAR.
Line graph titled 'Membership Growth Over Pilot Rollout' showing membership count increasing from May to August. The x-axis is labeled with months: May, June, July, August, and the y-axis with membership count. The line shows steady growth, starting near zero in May, rising to about 250 in June, around 450 in July, and over 800 in August.

Psychosocial Support Roll-Out
Executed a scaled CCIM (Comprehensive Community Intervention Model) across Gauteng, achieving an unprecedented human resource expansion of 242.91%. Impact reports generated from this pilot program directly contributed to a statistically significant increase in repeat funding from Public Benefit Organizations (PBOs), validating the model’s effectiveness and sustainability.

Neuro Empowerment Pilot
Targeted students with neurodevelopmental disorders and those at high psychological risk through a tailored empowerment pilot program. This initiative fostered cyclical improvement in self-efficacy scores. The success of this pilot secured buy-in from clients and institutions, enabling a semester-long extension to expand and deepen impact and a client growth of 175% in 11 months.

Want to work with us?

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    AI & Data Scientists

    Body: Help us solve the psychological application crisis using Statistical Machine Learning (SML). We are looking for talent to help fine-tune models, build MLP architectures, and assist with dimensionality reduction for our psychometric tools.

  • Open notebook on wooden desk with handwritten quote: 'What gets measured gets managed', along with a black pen and two beige pens, and a speckled ceramic mug on a coaster.

    Research Associates (Impact Dept)

    Ideal for Masters/Honours students seeking Work-Integrated Learning (WIL). Assist with baseline assessments, field data collection, and Theory of Change design for real-world NPO projects.

  • An audience watching a video game tournament on a large screen at a convention or event, with several people on stage and blue lighting.

    Visionaries

    Don't fit into a box? Neither do we. If you want to help reduce the burden of cost for mental health and community development in Southern Africa, pitch us your idea.