Meet the team

Jes is the face of the Foundation.  She also corresponds with other survivors, offering support, guidance and motivation to them via social media.  Jes’ main focus is overseeing that all the project’s within the foundation endorse the foundation’s three key areas: education, awareness and support.

Trish worked in the banking industry from 1979 to 2012, finishing her service with ABSA Bank. She worked for ABSA for 15 years where she started off as a Sales Leader, and worked her way up to Regional Management level, where she won three prestigious awards from ABSA for leadership and community service. She is grateful for the knowledge and skills she acquired during her working career in the banking industry and hopes to be able to give back to the community until her full-time retirement. Trish was born into a family where values, integrity and serving your community were the cornerstones of her family.

Trish is what you would call a big-sky thinker and she carries that into everything she does, moving from vision to action very quickly. Trish’ interests start with her family, with God in the centre. Trish is passionate about working within the community, and it is this passion that lead her to join the JFF Board.

Elka Aulsebrook, is an innovative entrepreneur and founding owner of a thriving SME business in Durban. Her business sells offcut textiles to the informal sector and has been operating since 1980. No stranger to supporting worthy causes, Elka supported her late husband John in local political initiatives during the critical period of South Africa transition to democracy, having been nominated as a councilor in a local government election. Her time in politics provided exposure and insight into the rural and urban township communities.

Elka is a keen marathon runner, and has completed several marathons, both locally and overseas. Elka has known the Foord family since 1995 when she formed a firm friendship with Jaqui who worked for her husband. Her involvement with the foundation began on the day of the incident. She chose to give Jes and her family all the support since that day. When the board was formed, she was honoured to have been asked to be a part of the Jes Foord Foundation, which has grown from strength to strength due to Jessica’s determination from a free-spirited girl to a mature woman.

 Debbi holds a diploma in Office Administration – 1984 as well as a Dip BM from Varsity College in 2009. Debbi is the founding member and CEO of Mitras Amenities, a company based in Durban that distribute Hotel Toiletries to hotels throughout Sub Saharan Africa. Mitras have a factory based in Cornubia any employ 30 women in the business that are all from disadvantaged backgrounds. The company upskills staff into their various positions. Debbi established the company in 2001 and has received many awards for entrepreneurship. She was the winner of the Umhlanga Woman Achiever Awards in 2011. Ernst and Young Winning Women in 2015 as well as Being finalists in the Africa Awards, National Business Awards and Topco Gender Awards. She is currently working on the companies expansion programmes by incorporating a Promotional Goods Company and Mitras first retail store Debbijane’s. She has been the chairperson of the Umhlanga Woman Achievers in 2012 and the Business Woman’s Association Regional Chairperson from 2017 – 2018. 

Ever since the brutal attack on Jes and himself, Tim has been by Jes’ side every step of the way, on her journey from victim to survivor and has been hugely supportive in every aspect of her life. Tim has continued his unwavering support of Jes, through his involvement on the JFF Board of Directors. A qualified photographer and avid sailer, Tim has used his skills and hobbies to raise funds and awareness for The Foundation. Tim is ever present at all JFF events.

Rohan is a qualified Accounting Officer and a registered member of The South African Institute of Professional Accountants. He is also a member of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants. Rohan completed his Bachelor’s Degree at the University of KZN, before going overseas and joining the corporate world in Ireland. He returned to South Africa in 2001 to start his own accounting firm. In 2010, Ross and Rohan joined forces to form Osborn Thomson, an accounting firm situated in Hillcrest. Having bought a bookkeeping practice which handled the Jes Foord Foundation’s bookkeeping requirements, Ross and Rohan decided to offer their service pro bono. In 2013, Rohan joined the board as a Director.