Founding Director of Open Design Afrika
Suné was born and raised in Cape Town where she still lives and work today. She is the co-founder, custodian and CEO of Open Design Afrika (ODA), a social enterprise and not for profit company.
She is a designer, impact entrepreneur, design activist and educator who strongly believes in the power of creativity as a change agent and catalyst to drive and scale systemic change, and to develop a future-making culture who can confidently add value to the greater good, drive the UN SDG’s agenda and contribute to the design of regenerative economies, thriving communities and flourishing environments. ODA was designed as a key platform and vehicle to demonstrate, advocate and drive these important agendas.
Suné has published extensively and was one of the key drivers behind convincing the National Department of Basic Education in South Africa (SA) to introduce Design as a subject choice at secondary school level. Back in 2006 SA was the very first country in the world to introduce the subject Design at this level. She contributed to the new curriculum in an advisory capacity and later stepped in as the contributing editor for the first Design textbooks and teacher manuals for grades 10-12 which are still in use today.
She was the designer, concept and content developer of the Woolworths “Making the Difference Through Design” (MTDTD) program - a finalist in the 2009 INDEX: Design to Improve Life® Awards.
Suné was also an assistant researcher for the WDC2014 (World Design Capital) bid in Cape Town and contributed to the initial development phase of the Western Cape Design Strategy (a first for Africa). Currently she also serves on Cape Town’s UNESCO City of Design team and is a proud member of the Pan-Asia Network.
