Shawn Theunissen of South African small business developer Property Point, a Growthpoint Properties initiative, has been named 2018 Aspen Network of Development Entrepreneurs (ANDE) Global Member of the Year.
The announcement was made at the ANDE Global Conference this October in New York, as members from around the world gathered to propel entrepreneurship in emerging markets. ANDE has 291 members operating in over 150 countries and supporting tens of thousands of small business entrepreneurs. Its members provide critical finance, education and business support services to small and growing businesses, which help to improve national business environments.
Theunissen, Head of Corporate Social Responsibility at Growthpoint Properties, Founder of Property Point and ANDE’s South Africa Chapter steering committee member, accepted the award which is given to individuals who go above and beyond in support of ANDE in the collaborative spirit that serves the bigger picture of the network
Jenny Everett, ANDE’s MD, says, “Theunissen has proved invaluable to the effectiveness and growth of the ANDE South Africa chapter. He has mobilised the entire Property Point team to help ANDE achieve its goals of building thriving regional chapters and effective entrepreneurial ecosystems.”
ANDE helps entrepreneurs working to drive prosperity in developing countries. A neutral, global organisation, ANDE supports locally-driven solutions that help entrepreneurs build self-sustaining businesses that create jobs and a better, cleaner, healthier and more inclusive world. ANDE believes that small businesses have the power to help lift families, and entire nations, out of poverty.
Property Point has successfully developed sustainable small businesses for the property sector for over a decade with Theunissen at its helm. Over the past 10 years it has facilitated market opportunities worth R1.14bn for the 168 SMEs that have taken part in its two-year enterprise and supplier development programmes. It has also created more than 2,405 full-time jobs. Its SMEs report an average 44% growth in revenue.
Pioneering collaboration across the property industry and beyond, Property Point works with the public and the private sector. Its partners include Attacq Limited and the South African Department of Small Business Development (DSBD).
Property Point is a member of Washington-based ANDE and works closely with its South African office, which is one of eight ANDE offices in emerging market countries. ANDE is part of the Aspen Institute, a nonpartisan forum for values-based leadership and the exchange of ideas.
More information from +27(0)11 833 0340 / www.ettp.co.za or ANDE at www.andeglobal.co.za
