FLIPPING BOOK CHRONICLE 2024

SPEECH DAY

ADDRESS BY THE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD, MR ANDREW SCHAEFER

11 OCTOBER 2024

Michaelhouse work experience, significant international exposure as well as direct personal experience across a range of senior teaching roles, including being housemaster, head of department, deputy head and head at several leading schools. Bart and Lara Wielenga will both have their parents living in Howick, so there will be strong family connections nearby, albeit their two sons will remain studying at UK universities when they move to Michaelhouse. Any change in leadership brings with it an element of disruption to internal and external relationships, continuity of strategic programmes and priorities, as well as some initial anxiety concerning culture fit and capability while the newly appointed candidate shows and proves their mettle. Nevertheless, change is constant, and successful schools and organizations of all kinds must by design be resilient and nimble, in order to transition seamlessly and effectively, where change arises. Because a degree of discomfort regarding the upcoming leadership changes in 2026 is reasonable and expected, the board and exco will be deliberate and very intentional with transitioning, and will take all necessary measures to promote a positive and smooth succession. Bart Wielenga has already attended part of the last board meeting in September, and he has indicated an intention to visit Michaelhouse and attend the June 2025 board meeting next year in person, with planned attendance at the other quarterly board meetings online. In addition, he will be in regular contact with Antony Clark over the year ahead, and I will have a monthly meeting with him to stay in touch, commencing in a fortnight. Closing the topic of recruitment, I would like to publicly thank Win de Wet for agreeing to serve as Acting Rector for the first half of 2026, and I commit my and the board’s full support for her as she oversees an important leadership transition and the operational continuity of Michaelhouse. The published Generational Plan has been an important long term strategic planning exercise for the board, exco, Old Boys and other Michaelhouse stakeholders to engage with over the past year. It has been a helpful process to debate and align expectations, explicitly define important differentiators for Michaelhouse, as well as sustainability objectives to guide and quantify operational management as well as the efforts of the Development Office. The Generational Plan will be deliberately reviewed and updated on an annual basis as a reality check, for refinement and validation. Tracking and measurement are also being applied to ensure that the plan is progressively implemented and applied over the next 26 years. The intention is to be deliberate and proactive about long-term planning for Michaelhouse, to ensure the school is in even better shape in 2046 at the important 150th anniversary milestone. We are currently in budget season, with the new year fast 23

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ood afternoon, Rector and Dr Clark, our distinguished guest speaker this afternoon, Ms Puno Selesho, parents, staff, fellow board members, ladies and gentlemen and, in particular, the Michaelhouse boys and A Block attending today. By way of introduction, I am very aware that my address is a curtain-raiser to the keynote speakers who follow, and also that we have a busy programme this afternoon. I will therefore be brief and direct, hoping to cover a number of relevant topics from a Board of Governors perspective. I am also pleased to advise that I and a few board members were kindly invited to a Toastmasters’ dinner in September while we were attending our quarterly board and subcommittee meetings. Many of us were allocated speaking duties and duly evaluated for our efforts, which overall were found to be somewhat rusty. The benefit is, I now have a refreshed technical awareness of public speaking skills and evaluation pointers top of mind, so let me progress. I attended a final prize-giving and speech-day ceremony as a school parent two years ago at a different school. I recall it being a very sentimental occasion. The closure of five years of school visits, friendships linked to common interests and sporting events and a variety of community activities fast approaches. It will become more challenging to stay in touch and spend time together, without the common ground and time spent at Michaelhouse. As a reminder, the St Michael’s Club is now ramping up and building momentum to fill the gap. It aims to provide continuity for parents after your sons complete A Block to stay in touch and get together, to be informed of school events and to attend regional gatherings. Fran Bolttler has circulated St Michael’s Club application forms to A Block parents, and it would be my strong suggestion to join and give it a try. The most important function of the Board of Governors is the recruitment and appointment of the Rector. The second most important function is to support the Rector in a non-executive capacity. Effective leadership is fundamental for sustainable performance excellence, and hence the importance of recruiting the best skills and leadership capability to take Michaelhouse forward. It was at last year’s Speech Day that I broached the topic of Antony Clark retiring at the end of 2025, and communicated the recruitment timetable and process that had been mapped out for 2024. I won’t repeat the contents of my letter to the Michaelhouse community announcing the appointment of Bart Wielenga, effective July 2026. I will say, however, that the board is very pleased to have secured an exceptional candidate who will bring to Michaelhouse a unique blend of South African roots, deep Christian values, previous