The Board - The Learning Initiative

TRUST MEMBERS

Dr. Ingrid AhlertFounder & Director

Ingrid is a Counselling Psychologist with 15 years experience both in private practice and in the public sector. She has worked with multi-disciplinary teams at various schools, focusing on educational assessments, concessions and enhancing the resilience of children with learning barriers.

Hilton Calder

Hilton Calder (BA Communications, MA Clin Psy) is a Clinical Psychologist who works independently in the Counselling, Human Resources and Sport/Health Psychology fields. He focuses on psychotherapy, executive coaching, psychometric assessments and business consulting. He has also owned and run his own franchise enterprise in the service industry.

Marius Oosthuizen

Marius Oosthuizen(B.Comm, LL.B, LL.M) is a practising attorney since 2003 and has extensive civil litigation experience. He also has a special interest in wills and estates, trusts, business risk and contracts.

Andrew Wium

Andrew Wium (B Com, B Compt Hons, CA SA, H Dip Tax) is a practising Chartered Accountant specializing in Tax, especially tax investigations and tax planning. He serves as Trustee on numerous trusts.

David O'Brien

David O’Brien has worked in financial services for over 25 years, including 20 years at Old Mutual in product design. He is a qualified actuary and has a special interest in financial wellness. David currently heads up an innovative organization which harnesses digital technology to foster a culture of saving.

Dr. Teresa Swart

Dr. Teresa Swart (MBChB,Mphill Pall Med) is a GP with 30 years of experience in general practice. She has a keen interest in early childhood development and palliative care.

FOUNDERS

The founders of The Learning Initiative, Dr Ingrid Ahlert and Welma Wehmeyer have both been extensively involved in supporting learners experiencing barriers to learning for the past ten years both in private practice and at schools. During this time they have been inundated with requests by parents and educators to assess and support learners who are struggling to cope with academic demands placed on them due to learning barriers. The majority of the referrals are unable to afford private rates. These children are placed on a waiting list for support from the Western Cape Education Department’s psychologists, who are very thinly stretched. This results in learners being left without the necessary support. This plight motivated them to establish this non-profit organization in order to provide professional support services to the less privileged.

Dr. Ingrid AhlertFounder & CEO

Ingrid is a Counselling Psychologist and founder of The Learning Initiative. She has a special interest in neurodevelopment, learning barriers, and family resilience. She loves working with children and appreciates their innocence, inquisitiveness, strength and determination. Through the project she hopes to inspire, empower and equip children, their parents and teachers to become their personal best. She is proud of the passionate team committed to making this dream a reality.
In her spare time, Ingrid enjoys spending time with family and friends, being in nature, reading and cooking.

Dr. Welma Wehmeyer Founder

Dr. Welma Wehmeyer is an Educational Psychologist with 17 years of experience in education. She has been providing support services to learners experiencing barriers to learning both in private practice and in schools for the last eight years. She completed her doctoral degree specializing in a trans disciplinary approach for providing services to learners experiencing barriers to learning.