Our PEOPLE, at your service

Sé Higgins

(Managing Director African Micro Mills. Member African Mill Mentors)

Unable to ignore the huge growth potential of entrepreneurial staple food industries in Southern Africa, Sé founded African Micro Mills in 2004. Originally from an electrical engineering background, Sé also boasts a Masters Degree in Project Management and Business Administration. In his nearly thirty years in the food, grain milling and baking industries in South Africa (including Nestle, Premier Milling, Blue Ribbon and AIB Bakeries) Sé has been responsible for several milling and bakery installations or rebuilds. More recently, he has been instrumental in establishing more than fifteen new grain milling sites and 5 added value basic food manufacturing plants in Southern Africa. His dedication and deep understanding of the value-added staple foods and grain milling industry continues to drive the growth of African Micro Mills.

Tony Elliot

(Director, Educational Operations African Micro Mills. Member African Mill Mentors)

Tony has, during his 47 years in the grain milling industry, been Technical Consultant to the National Chamber of Milling and Area Technical Manager & Head Miller for Premier Milling. He is currently a tutor and trade tester for the South African Grain Milling Federation. He brings this wealth of experience to his roles in training, mentorship and advice for African Micro Mills clients.

Percy Fell

(Director, Technical Operations African Micro Mills. Member African Mill Mentors)

Percy brings our clients the benefit of over 45 years of experience as Head & Mill Manager, Technical Manager and Operations Manager and National Operations Manager with the Premier Group. His expert technical advice is widely sought after and he has written technical papers for both Premier Foods and the Grain Milling Federation.

Jane Higgins

(Director, Communications African Micro Mills)

After obtaining a degree from Rhodes University, Jane worked in various communications positions in the UK and South Africa. She joined African Micro Mills in 2005, and manages all communications, from corporate identity and publications to business proposals and presentations. Jane ensures that all African Micro Mills' clients and partners are kept up-to-date on industry and in-house news.

Alf Knott

(Milling Specialist African Mill Mentors)

After obtaining his City & Guilds senior milling qualification and attending the Swiss Milling School, Alf expertly covered several long-term positions in South Africa, Zimbabwe, Zambia and Nigeria. He has worked both with large corporations such as Genfoods, and with small-medium entrepreneurial milling companies, affording him a unique all-round perspective on the grain milling industry. Alf has been highly involved in the commissioning, operation and running of several African Micro Mills projects. He provides our clients with both theoretical and hands-on understanding of all components of maize and wheat milling.

Hennie Stander

(Marketing and Sales African Mill Mentors)

Hennie is the marketing and sales guru of African Mill Mentors. Over 29 years in the Southern African food industry, he worked for such leading FMCG and retail groups as Unilever, Lever Ponds, Tastic Rice Corporation and Vandenbergh Foods. Hennie is also an entrepreneur in his own right, having successfully set up and run his own businesses.

Dr Justin Roberts

(Food Scientist African Mill Mentors)

Justin is a renowned food scientist with over 36 years experience in the food industry. His career has incorporated practice in the corporate, production and research sectors, including holding the chair in Agricultural Science at the University of Pretoria. More recently he has been the technical advisor for Southern Africa with Solae/DuPont, the world's largest Soya producer. Justin provides our clients with expert advice on a variety of finished product variant options and processes including starch, maize and soya formulations and more particularly dietary and nutritional formulations.

Rob Harpur

(HR Specialist African Mill Mentors)

Rob has extensive general Human Resource knowledge with a focus on Education, Training and Development of people. With over 30 years of experience, Rob has occupied senior HR positions in blue chip companies, including HR Director of Barloworld Group which included Tiger Oats. As Chairman for the MLG Group, he has initiated and successfully implemented a number of community and social investment projects such as Snowflake Bake for Profit, Pick ‘n Pay Support Bakery and Operation Hunger - Village level operation and management water pump and community sustaining garden.