Meet the Board
Kristine Berry
Michelle Pillay
Michelle Pillay
Founder and Director
Kristine and Michelle bring a combined 40 years of diverse experience in recruitment, corporate sales, and youth empowerment, making them a formidable team dedicated to fostering leadership and personal development among young people through their non-profit organisation, RISE.
Kristine
Founder and Director
Kristine and Michelle bring a combined 40 years of diverse experience in recruitment, corporate sales, and youth empowerment, making them a formidable team dedicated to fostering leadership and personal development among young people through their non-profit organisation, RISE.
Kristine has over 25 years of experience in recruitment, primarily in the engineering sector, where she has successfully delivered talent solutions for global clients on multi-million-dollar projects. After earning her degree in Psychology, she advanced to Managing Director at Network Recruitment in South Africa before co-founding Peopleconnexionin Australia in 2007.
As the Founder and Director of RISE, Kristine has developed impactful mentoring programs, including an online initiative for the Business Coalition for Women in Papua New Guinea and a leadership program for executive women in collaboration with KumulConsolidated and the New Zealand High Commission. Her contributions to The Smith Family's iTrack mentoring program and involvement in the RCSA Australia and New Zealand's PEARL Mentoring Program further underscore her commitment to empowering individuals to reach their full potential.
Michelle Pillay
Michelle Pillay
Michelle Pillay
Founder and Director
Michelle Pillay complements Kristine's expertise with over 15 years of experience in corporate sales and a strong background in strategic growth solutions and operational excellence across the private, public, and social sectors. Her passion for problem-solving has enabled her to manage c
Founder and Director
Michelle Pillay complements Kristine's expertise with over 15 years of experience in corporate sales and a strong background in strategic growth solutions and operational excellence across the private, public, and social sectors. Her passion for problem-solving has enabled her to manage complex clients and projects across Africa, the Middle East, and APAC, consistently setting high standards.
As an executive director for a prominent mentoring and empowerment organisation in South Africa, Michelle has dedicated herself to uplifting underprivileged teens and young women. At RISE, she leverages her diverse skill set to further the organisation's mission of youth empowerment, fostering personal growth and providing mentorship opportunities.
Together, Kristine and Michelle are committed to investing in the next generation, believing that empowering youth is essential for building a brighter future. Their combined experience and dedication to driving positive change make them exceptional leaders in the field of youth mentoring and empowerment.