28 May 2025.

Chairman’s Report.

Dear Fellow ODs,

Thank you to everyone who participated in the recent ODU committee elections. You have chosen a diverse and competent group of individuals who will work as a team. We are committed to making you proud — both as ODs and as active, engaged members of this community.

A special word of thanks to ‘The Boss’ David Leslie for his unwavering support, energy, and guidance during this transitional period.

Welcoming a New Era

The OD Secretary has long been the lifeblood of the Union, providing continuity in an ever-changing world, but we have not had an incumbent for the last few years. In recognition of the nature of the role, we have changed the title from OD Secretary, which suggested a purely administrative role, to Executive Director, the person who implements the plans and work of the OD Committee and ensures that the ODU operates optimally for the benefit of its members.

We’re therefore delighted to welcome Andy Wood (1977G), our fellow committee member and the top vote-getter in the Council elections, to this vital role. Andy retires in June after 18 years as an international School Principal and can therefore commit himself full-time to this position. Andy’s knowledge and ability to understand both the School executive and Council processes has been clearly evident in recent meetings and will be of great benefit. You can read more about his impressive background on the ODU website. We look forward to him taking up residence at The Mitre from 1st July.

We also extend our appreciation to David Leslie for managing the robust, transparent selection process that confirmed the talent available within the OD community.

New Structures and Initiatives

At our 11th April meeting, each committee portfolio presented its plans for the year. Rather than summarising each one here, we’ll share updates directly from the subcommittee Chairs soon. However, a few key developments are worth highlighting now:

1. Cape Town Chapter Established.

Recognising that the ODC should not manage Cape Town and the global OD network simultaneously—especially with over 50% of ODs residing in Cape Town—we’ve formally established the Cape Town Chapter. It will also oversee university branches at both UCT and Stellenbosch.

Chair: Steve Ciolli.

Secretary: Dr Paul Murray (retaining his OD Ambassador role and based at The Mitre).

Support: Jordan Flax, who will assist in developing the university branches and coordinate events.

The Cape Town Chapter will host the annual OD Dinner and hold its first event at The Mitre on 5th June.

2. Introducing PODS – Parents of ODs.

We’re proud to announce the upcoming launch of PODS (Parents of ODs), chaired by Wouter Penz. This initiative honours the invaluable contributions of parents, grandparents and family members who have supported ODs over the years.

PODS recognises that our community extends beyond the students themselves and seeks to foster long-term relationships with families who have invested in Bishops. These members will help bridge communication between the school, ODs and parents, and will collaborate on events and networking opportunities.

Strengthening Engagement Across Generations

We’re committed to building a framework that encourages meaningful engagement between ODs of all ages. Importantly, this doesn’t always need to be centrally organised. Long standing traditions—like the Buchanan/Koster Cup, now in its 16th year—demonstrate how grassroots efforts can have a lasting impact. To everyone maintaining friendships, mentoring others and giving back — thank you!

Inspired by this, Richard Webber (1977W) proposed a global OD event — OD Connect Day — where ODs around the world can gather on 6th September for a braai or barbecue, linked via podcast, Zoom or live stream. The committee has approved the idea and we’re excited that it will bring old friends together and forge new bonds.

Empowering the Next Generation

Thanks to Nik Augoustatos and Jordan Flax, we’ve launched the OD Youth Council, made up of ODs under 30. Each young OD has joined a subcommittee, paired with a senior mentor. This initiative aims to build strong intergenerational bridges within our community. There has never before been such large and enthusiastic participation by young ODs!

Productive Dialogue with the School

Recent engagements mark significant progress. Meetings on 19th May (with the School Executive) and 22nd May (with OD Council members) were structured, respectful and constructive.

Rather than relying on quarterly headmaster updates, we’ve initiated a more dynamic, question-driven quarterly dialogue. Summaries and action points from these meetings will be published and key issues — such as the boarding model and stakeholder representation — are being actively pursued.

In order to secure and document the ODU’s tenure at The Mitre we are working on formalising and signing a MOU.  Access to the school’s sports facilities for ODs on a Sunday is also being considered.

Council Nominations and Governance

I will be participating in the upcoming Nominations Committee to select Councillors for the 3 vacant positions.

We are nominating:

Andy Wood – brings invaluable international private school leadership experience.

Steve Ciolli – a construction expert and former ODC Vice Chair.

Andrew Day – a Chartered Accountant and current ODC Treasurer.

These individuals were the top three vote-getters in the November elections. We’ve taken a strong stance against “backdoor” OD nominations and are committed to transparent, democratic processes.

The ODC has also voted (11-0 with one abstention) on the following key principles:

ODs are a major long-term stakeholder group in the school.

The nominated ODs for the Council must be elected by ODs, not invited.

The Council should reflect its stakeholder base.

Looking Ahead: Funding and Data

We’re exploring fundraising models to support OD tertiary education. For context, Wynberg Boys' High School raised R60 million in just three years for similar purposes.

Updating data

We’re also making a concerted effort to update and verify OD contact data. Accurate information is vital for effective engagement, networking and communication. Many ODs joined the ODU before emails, mobile phones and WhatsApp existed and we simply don’t have data, especially for our older members. Please, please, please, take a few minutes to log into the ODU website and check that we’ve got your current information.

https://www.odunion.com/home

Thank you

We bid farewell to Lynn Swanevelder, who resigned in April after serving as our part-time assistant. We thank her for her dedication and wish her all the best.

Finally, I want to express my deep appreciation to the entire committee. Change is never easy, but the commitment, leadership and energy of this team have been outstanding. Together, we’re building a stronger, more inclusive and more dynamic OD community.

Warm regards,

Simon Koch.
Chair: OD Committee.