CMC 2025 Keynote Speakers
Dr. Anthony Townsend
Dr. Anthony Townsend is a clinical psychologist and researcher focused on psychedelic-assisted therapy. He runs a private practice in Sandton, lectures at the University of Pretoria, and collaborates with Johns Hopkins University. Co-founder of Equanimity Wellness and Syntonic, he integrates neuroscience, psychotherapy, and innovation to offer new hope for mental health care.
Organisation Representation and Current Practice:
https://www.syntonic.me and https://www.anthonytownsend.co.za
Dr. Laurie Rauch
Dr. Laurie Rauch is a wellbeing consultant and research scientist with a remarkable story of resilience. After a serious cycling accident in 1997 left him with multiple traumatic injuries, he rebuilt his life and career, completing his PhD and postdoctoral research. Laurie shifted his focus from elite sports performance to exploring how our biological needs, stress responses, and nervous system functioning drive human behaviour and wellbeing.
Organisation Representation and Current Practice:
The Calm Foundation (https://www.keepingcalm.co/) and HPALS at UCT advance research on stress, wellbeing, and peak performance. Laurie studies the brain-heart link and guides new scientists.
Anna-Beth Aylward
Anna-Beth Aylward is the General Manager of Autism Western Cape (2024–present), previously serving as Training Coordinator where she developed training material, stimulation kits, and an online training platform. With over 30 years’ experience as an occupational therapist, manager, and trainer, she has worked across autism, psychosocial disabilities, ADHD, and child development. Her career spans leadership roles at Cape Mental Health, private practice, and schools, always focused on empowerment and inclusion.
Organisation Representation and Current Practice:
Autism Western Cape, a Cape Town NPO established in 1967, envisions a society that is inclusive of individuals with autism. Originally the Society for Autistic Children, it has evolved to focus on awareness, intervention, and capacity building for families, caregivers, and communities. Guided by values of support, trust, empathy, passion, empowerment, integration, and advocacy, the organisation works to create acceptance and equal opportunities for people on the autism spectrum.
Kevin Chaplin
Kevin Chaplin is a businessman, public speaker, and author of CAN DO! Making the Impossible Possible, a leadership and motivational book that has sold nearly 4,000 copies. With 26 years in banking, he held senior roles at FNB before founding the SA Ubuntu Foundation and later rescuing the Amy Foundation, building it into a thriving organisation. Awarded the Melvin Jones and Paul Harris Fellow Awards, he is also a family man who values nature, travel, and making a difference.
Organisation Representation and Current Practice:The South African Ubuntu Foundation is an NPO empowering the business community by breaking down barriers of colour, culture, religion, and language through events that foster unity and growth. The Amy Foundation educates and empowers disadvantaged youth in 7 centres, addressing gaps in education, steering them from crime and drugs, and building well-rounded future citizens. www.amyfoundation.co.za
CMC Talk Speakers and Facilitators
Nikki Edwards
Organisation Representation and Current Practice:
NikkiEdwards.com and The Recovery Clinic help individuals, families, and organisations shift from adversity to growth through coaching, counselling, and lived experience.
Nikki Edwards is an International Master Recovery Coach, Specialist Addiction Counselor, and Trauma-Informed Practitioner. Based in Cape Town, she blends academic expertise with cultural, neuro-spiritual, and relational wisdom. Her work integrates modern neurobiology with ancient healing practices, offering trauma-informed, holistic care. Nikki’s programs empower clients to reconnect with themselves through self-compassion, emotional resilience, and embodied recovery.
Amy Kaye
Organisation Representation and Current Practice:
Write On! empowers people to heal and grow through expressive writing, narrative coaching, and workshops that help overcome blocks and connect through personal storytelling.
Amy Kaye is a narrative coach, expressive writing teacher, and founder of Write On!. With a background in storytelling and documentary filmmaking, she helps people rediscover their creative voice and heal through writing. Her trauma-informed workshops guide individuals to explore their stories, overcome blocks, and reconnect with themselves through meaningful self-expression.
Sue-Ann Richardson
Organisation Representation and Current Practice:
The Family Counselling Centre and Taking Time offer safe spaces to pause, reflect, and grow through workshops that foster connection, mindfulness, and balanced living.
Sue-Ann Richardson is a social worker in private practice and a TRE provider passionate about helping individuals and families heal. With deep experience in community development, child and family advocacy, and foster care, she now works with multi-disciplinary teams to create safe spaces for stress release and emotional growth through creative therapy and somatic work.
Kerry Domoney Williams
Kerry Domoney Williams is a movement specialist, master fitness coach, and certified TRE provider. A former dancer, choreographer, and dance educator, Kerry channels her passion for anatomy and movement rehabilitation into helping people reconnect with their bodies after trauma. She works with diverse groups, blending somatic stress release, guided movement, and embodied care.
Wezet Botes
Organisation Representation and Current Practice:
Noonday Social Services offers accessible, cost-sensitive social work and forensic services in Cape Town’s Deep South, led by experienced social worker Wezet Botes.
Mrs Wezet Botes is a seasoned social worker with 25 years of experience in child protection and forensic practice. Director of Noonday Social Services, she conducts court-mandated investigations and child abuse assessments. Wezet has shaped national programmes for vulnerable children, published books and manuals, and is passionate about building capacity in child protection services.
Catherine Valentine
Organisation Representation and Current Practice:
Healing Spaces Wellness and C. Valentine Inc. create supportive spaces for mental health and growth through therapy, retreats, and creative, community-based healing.
Catherine Valentine is an experienced Occupational Therapist and co-director of Healing Spaces Wellness. With nearly 20 years in mental health, she helps people of all ages navigate anxiety, depression, and life transitions. Using the Model of Creative Ability, she guides clients to reconnect, manage emotions, and find hope and meaning through everyday creativity and connection.
Mark Khan
Organisation Representation and Current Practice:
Love Yourself for No Reason works online or in-person with individuals in navigating the immense challenges that life brings us. Mark is also the author of Love Yourself for No Reason
Mark holds a BCom and a Master’s in Clinical Psychology (Wits). With 25 years as a management consultant and 43 in private practice, he has advised the UN World Food Programme on traumatic stress and co-founded The Resilience Company. He developed resilience workshops, trained facilitators, and worked with leading SA organisations. His integrative practice applies IPA, person-centred and brain-based therapies. He is also an executive coach, conflict resolution expert, and former Stellenbosch Business School faculty.
Cheka Bearcroft
Organisation Representation and Current Practice:
UPside works alongside all people, building them up through opportunity programmes, to help move people from brokenness to wholeness, hopelessness to freedom.
Cheka Bearcroft specialises in Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA), using evidence-based strategies to support individuals in the field of neurodiversity. With a focus on compassion and practical impact, she helps people build new skills, strengthen communication, and create more balanced, fulfilling lives. Cheka is dedicated to providing tailored interventions that promote growth, inclusion, and meaningful change.
Cllr Francine Higham
Councillor Francine Higham is the Mayoral Committee Member for Community Services and Health in Cape Town. A Rhodes University journalism graduate, she built a career in media and communications locally and abroad before entering public service. Previously with the Western Cape Government and now MMC and Ward 77 Councillor, she champions inclusive service delivery, social development, youth empowerment, public health, and community-driven solutions that uplift all Capetonians.
Dr. Waseem Hawa
Organisation Representation and Current Practice:
Valkenberg Hospital which is over 130 years old, is part of the Department of Health and Wellness (Western cape). The hospital dedicated to providing excellence in mental health services to all people.
Waseem Hawa is Principal Psychologist and Head of Psychology at Valkenberg Psychiatric Hospital, and Senior Lecturer in Psychiatry and Mental Health at UCT, roles he has held since 2019. His work focuses on Psychosocial Rehabilitation in mental health services. Previously, he served as a Clinical Psychologist at Lentegeur Psychiatric Hospital and with the Department of Correctional Services, bringing extensive experience in clinical and rehabilitative mental health care.
