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Grants Management
Streamlined Grant Management for NGOs
Board Expense Guidelines
Efficient Board Expense Management
Declaration of Interest
Automated Declaration of Interest Process
DocuPortal
Efficient document exchange and management
Actions Management
Unlock the full potential of your team's productivity
Compliance Management
Staying compliant with ever-changing regulations
Leave Management
Streamlines the process of requesting and managing employee time off
Professional team
Rob Newsome
B.Com (Hons), CA(SA), CIA, CRMA
Director PKF (VGA) Advisory Services (Pty) Ltd
Rob Newsome brings over four decades of distinguished leadership in audit, risk management, and advisory services to WHYX.
As a former partner at the world's leading professional services firms and Chief Audit Executive for major corporations, Rob combines deep technical expertise with strategic insight to help organisations navigate complex risk landscapes and build resilient governance frameworks.
Professional Excellence
Currently serving as Director at PKF (VGA) Advisory Services since 2019, Rob has been instrumental in developing innovative service lines and compliance software solutions, including the Comply and Declare platform.
At WHYX, he provides specialised expertise in risk assessment, framework development, and methodology design, helping organisations build comprehensive risk management systems supported by cutting-edge technology.
Distinguished Career Journey
Rob's 41-year career represents a unique blend of academic excellence, professional leadership, and global experience.
Beginning with his election as National Committee President for AIESEC South Africa in 1979, he completed his articles with Arthur Young (now EY) as a Computer Audit specialist before spending five years as a senior accounting lecturer at Rhodes University.
His partnership track includes leadership roles at South Africa's most prestigious firms:
- Fisher Hoffman Stride (now PKF) - Partner (1988-1993)
- KPMG Johannesburg - Partner (1997-2004)
- EY - Partner (2004-2006), including West Africa operations, implementing SOX for Shell
- PwC Johannesburg and Nigeria - Partner (2006-2016)
Between these partnerships, Rob served as Chief Audit Executive for Eskom (1993-1997) and the MTN Group (2004), bringing corporate insight to his advisory practice.
Post-retirement from PwC, he continued his impact as Director at ORCA (2016-2018), Chief Audit Executive for SANBS, and Interim Chief Risk Officer at SAA (2018).
Industry Leadership
Rob's contribution to the profession extends far beyond client service.
He has served in numerous leadership positions:
Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA)
- IIA South Africa Board Member (1995-2018)
- IIA SA President (1999-2001)
- IIA Global Board Member and Vice Chairman (2008-2009)
- Committee Chair for multiple IIA Global committees (2001-2018)
Professional Development
- SAICA Audit Standards Committee Member
- Chairman, SAICA Continuing Professional Education Committee
- Founding Member and Chairman, IOD Corporate Audit Network (South Africa and Nigeria)
Core Expertise
- Enterprise risk management framework development
- Chief Audit Executive Advisory Services
- SOX implementation and compliance
- Risk assessment methodologies and technology enablement
- Governance, risk, and compliance (GRC) software development
- International audit and risk management standards
- Cross-border advisory services (Africa focus)
Qualifications & Professional Memberships
- Academic Credentials:
- B.Com (Honours), Rhodes University (1978)
- Chartered Accountant CA(SA), SAICA (1979)
- Certified Internal Auditor (CIA), IIA (2004)
- Certification in Risk Management Assurance (CRMA), IIA (2012)
Professional Affiliations:
- South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA)
- Institute of Risk Management South Africa (IRMSA)
- Institute of Internal Auditors South Africa (IIA SA)
- Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE)
Thought Leadership
Rob is a recognised voice in the profession, having presented at numerous local and international conferences and contributed extensively to professional publications and journals. His insights on risk management, internal audit, and governance continue to shape best practices across Africa and beyond.
Advisory Philosophy
Rob believes in building practical, technology-enabled risk frameworks that evolve with organisational needs. His approach combines decades of experience with innovative solutions, ensuring that risk management becomes a strategic enabler rather than a compliance burden.
Herman Nieuwoudt
B. Com (Hons); CA(SA); RA
Professional Experience
Herman qualified as a Chartered accountant in 2008. He is a director of PKF (VGA) Chartered Accountants Inc. and has a solid background in external audit, internal audit and management accounting.
Since completing his articles, he acted as a lecturer at Forbes Lever Baker Training Institute for accounting students studying towards their CTA qualifications (BCompt Hons) and worked on a variety of projects, including JSE-listed entities.
He has extensive exposure to specialist technical assistance to clients relating to PFMA compliance, performance audits, GRAP and IFRS accounting, listing requirements, tax and risk management and Corporate Governance reviews based on King II and King III.
Patrick Ganesan
▪ BSC
▪ CISA, CRISC, CGEIT, CISM, CDPSE (ISACA)
Patrick Ganesan is a distinguished technology and governance expert with extensive experience in IT governance, cybersecurity, data analytics, and assurance services across Africa's leading financial institutions and critical infrastructure organisations. At WHYX, he brings deep expertise in transforming traditional audit and governance approaches through advanced analytics, automation, and strategic technology implementation.
Professional Excellence
Patrick has pioneered the integration of data analytics within assurance practices, particularly revolutionising financial services audits through innovative approaches to revenue and cost analysis. His vision for incorporating RPA and AI into audit functions has enabled organisations to shift focus from data gathering to strategic interpretation and value creation.
A recognised authority in IT governance, Patrick has developed comprehensive governance frameworks for major institutions, including WSU, Competition Commission, OPSC, Transnet, and Eskom, while conducting strategic assessments and implementation roadmaps for organisations such as NSFAS.
His expertise extends to IT project governance, where he conducts multiple high-stakes reviews annually, including SAP ERP implementations at Wescoal, Great Plains ERP at NSF, and critical data migration projects at CATHSETA.
Patrick has directed cybersecurity reviews for South Africa's most critical institutions, including the Presidency, Transnet, Eskom, Telkom, BCX, Barloworld, Unemployment Insurance Fund, and the South African Reserve Bank, as well as international engagements with the Reserve Bank of Malawi and Central Bank of Lesotho.
Core Expertise
- Strategic data analytics integration and audit transformation
- IT governance framework development and implementation
- Cybersecurity assessment and risk management
- Project assurance and ERP implementation governance
- Business continuity planning and development
- RPA and AI adoption strategies for audit functions
- Enterprise risk management and compliance
Industry Impact
Patrick's client portfolio spans telecommunications giants (MTN, Vodacom, Cell C, Telkom/BCX), where he notably served as IT Senior Manager Internal Audit at Cell C, financial institutions (SARB, UBank, Grindrod Bank Limited, Finbond, ABSA, Nedbank, FNB Trust), critical infrastructure (Transnet, Eskom), and government entities (AGSA, Department of Health, 360 Life and Health).
Professional Certifications
Patrick holds an impressive array of ISACA certifications that underscore his comprehensive expertise:
- CISA - Certified Information Systems Auditor
- CRISC - Certified in Risk and Information Systems Control
- CGEIT - Certified in the Governance of Enterprise IT
- CISM - Certified Information Security Manager
- CDPSE - Certified Data Privacy Solutions Engineer
Leadership Philosophy
Patrick champions the transformation of traditional governance and audit functions through strategic technology adoption. His approach combines rigorous governance frameworks with innovative analytics and automation, enabling organisations to enhance decision-making capabilities while maintaining robust risk management and compliance standards.
Tatiana Papanicolaou
CA(SA)
Co-Founder and Head of Global Operations
Tatiana Papanicolaou is a Chartered Accountant and strategic operations leader with over 15 years of experience spanning financial and technology assurance, systems implementation, and management consulting. As Head of Global Operations, she drives operational excellence and strategic growth initiatives across international markets.
Professional Journey
Tatiana's career uniquely bridges the worlds of technology and finance. She began in the technology sector, serving as Head of Quality Assurance at Polymorphic Group and Test Analyst at SoftAudit Services, where she developed deep expertise in systems testing, implementation, and quality assurance frameworks while completing her academic studies.
Following her technology foundation, she pursued her Chartered Accountant qualification at Deloitte South Africa, where she completed her articles and specialised in IT and Cyber Risk Advisory. This strategic move allowed her to merge her technical expertise with financial acumen, focusing on technology audit and risk management for diverse clients across multiple industries.
Returning to her technology roots with enhanced financial and risk expertise, Tatiana co-founded CommStack in 2020, where she continues as Director. This entrepreneurial venture leverages her unique combination of technical, financial, and operational expertise to drive innovation and growth.
Core Expertise
- Strategic operations management and global expansion
- Financial and technology assurance
- Systems implementation and testing methodologies
- Management consulting and business transformation
- Quality assurance frameworks and process optimisation
- Cross-functional team leadership and stakeholder management
Education & Qualifications
Tatiana holds the prestigious CA(SA) designation and has built her academic foundation through:
- Certificate in Theory of Accounting (CTA), University of South Africa
- Bachelor of Commerce Honours (BCTA), University of Johannesburg
- Bachelor of Commerce, University of Johannesburg
Her comprehensive education in accounting, auditing, financial management, and taxation provides the analytical rigour that underpins her operational leadership approach.
Leadership Philosophy
Tatiana combines her deep technical expertise with a strategic mindset to drive operational excellence and sustainable growth. Her approach emphasises data-driven decision-making, continuous improvement, and building scalable systems that support long-term organisational success.
