JET Education Services appoints new Chief Operating Officer

We’re excited to announce that Nathalie Vereen has joined  JET Education Services (JET) as our new Chief Operating Officer (COO). Nathalie commenced her new role on the 1st of June 2020. She takes over from our former COO, Carla Pereira, a JETSetter for 18 years. 
Nathalie comes from the public sector, having worked with and for the National Treasury and Presidency. She has worked in various capacities in the conflict and governance sectors and education, health and justice clusters, enforcing South Africa’s shift towards the adoption of evidence-based policy-making and evaluation. Nathalie has been entrenched in the development sector for the past 18 years. She has two Masters degrees: an MPhil: Development Finance (University of Stellenbosch Business School, 2016) and a Masters in Development Studies (University of the Free State, 2011).  
Nathalie’s strengths lie in strategic thinking and a hands-on leadership style and we were excited to learn during the rigorous recruitment process that her values align strongly with those of JET. Her vision for JET is to leverage the value chain to enforce and support applied learning; targeted, catalytic and innovative educational investments with diverse and active partners; and measurable development outcomes. She has a reputation for setting the bar high, focusing on impact and building trust within her organisation.
Whilst Nathalie has vast developmental experience working closely with government and international development partners, JET Education Services will immerse her into the non-governmental space. She commented on this: " JET is a highly credible and resource-valid institution shaping education for relevance for the future." Nathalie acknowledges the incredible foundation and legacy that Carla Pereira built and wishes her well in her new role as an international advisor to JET.
The year 2020 has been an important year for JET, more so as the COVID-19 pandemic has been impacting on our education system, and the need for nonprofits working in education has become even more important. This is also the time that we’re realigning our vision and strategic objectives, and currently embracing our new slogan “Think Education. Think JET”. We asked Nathalie what this means to her:  “Education is our most powerful tool for survival, growth, and enjoyment. If we adopt an inquisitive mind, we will question more and aspire to find those answers – as individuals and as a community. Education requires a community and JET has developed and invested in connecting a diverse community,” she adds. 
We're thrilled to have Nathalie join our leadership team to help take us into our next phase of growth.  Watch this space. 
To read more, see link to QandA with Nathalie.