Our team

With over 25 years of industry experience, Gillian is considered to be a top authority on tourism in Africa. She joined Grant Thornton’s tourism consultancy in 1988 and has been heading it since 1997.

Gillian carries out and heads project teams for market feasibility studies, financial viability assessments, macro tourism planning, economic impact assessments, valuations, tourism strategies, marketing strategies and other general tourism and market research.  Gillian was appointed Head of Specialist Advisory Services for Grant Thornton in 2009.

Gillian Saunders
Principal
Direct: +27 11 322 4572
Email: gsaunders@gt.co.za
BSc (Hons) Hotel, Catering & Tourism Management (Univ. of Surrey); MBA (Cum Laude) (Wits)

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Christelle directs the Grant Thornton PPP Unit and is a public sector consulting expert. She joined Grant Thornton in 1990 and was appointed a director in 1997.

Christelle carries out and heads project teams for PPP transaction advisory services, PPP diagnostic assessments, feasibility studies, financial viability assessments, business plans, macro research, economic impact assessments, valuations, strategy development, standards monitoring and general research.

Christelle Grohmann - Director
Direct: +27 11 322 4575
Email:cgrohmann@gt.co.za
BComm Marketing (Univ. of Pretoria); MBA (Unisa)

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Lee-Anne directs the Grant Thornton research based consulting service line and is a strategic research expert. She joined Grant Thornton in 1997 and was appointed a director in 1999.

Lee-Anne is responsible for feasibility studies, business plans, economic and social impact assessments, business valuations, market and social research, human resource development strategies, skills needs and demand assessments, property consulting and strategic management consulting.

Lee-Anne Bac - Director
Direct: +27 11 322 4576 Email:lbac@gt.co.za
BSc Microbiology & Zoology (Wits); MBA (UCT)

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Martin is an economic impact and tourism planning specialist. Martin joined Grant Thornton in 1998 as a consultant and was promoted to senior consultant in 2001 and as General Manager: Cape in 2003 and was appointed a director in 2008.

Martin has worked extensively throughout Africa and also in the Middle East on a variety of projects, including market feasibility studies, financial viability assessments, macro tourism planning, economic impact assessments, valuations, strategies and other general research.

Martin Jansen van Vuuren - Director and General Manager: Cape
Direct: +27 21 481 9142 Email: mjvvuuren@gtct.co.za
BComm Investment Management (Univ. of Johannesburg), BComm (Masters) Economics (Univ. of Johannesburg)

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Pila joined Grant Thornton as a senior consultant in 2006, with considerable management consulting experience, particularly in the area of strategic and process planning for public sector. His particular area of interest is demographic data research, analysis and modelling.

Pila carries out and heads projects teams for feasibility studies, business plans, social and market research assessments, sector strategy studies and general data research and analyses.

Pila Rulashe - Senior Consultant
Direct: +27 11 322 4812 Email: prulashe@gt.co.za
M.A. Applied Demography (Georgetown University, USA), MBA (Wits)

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Marga joined Grant Thornton in 2002 as a consultant with a strong tourism industry operations background. Her particular focus is tourism destination strategic planning, however she also carries out feasibility studies, financial viability assessment, business plans, property research and consulting, tourism strategies, marketing strategies, economic impact assessments and other general research.

Marga van der Merwe - Senior Consultant
Direct: +27 11 322 4705 Email: mvdmerwe@gt.co.za
BComm Hotel & Tourism Management (Honours, Univ. of Pretoria), MBA (GIBS)

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Judy joined Grant Thornton in 2005 as the consultancy’s operations officer. She is responsible for ensuring that relevant management systems are developed, implemented and monitored for the optimum administrative management of the consultancy.

Judy Holding - Operations Officer
Direct: +27 11 322 4541 Email: jholding@gt.co.za
Management Accounting & Finance Diploma (Varsity College)

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Beryl joined Grant Thornton in 2003, and manages and carries out administrative and secretarial support services for the consultancy in Cape Town.

Beryl Brits - Secretary
Direct: +27 21 481 9174 Email: bbrits@gtct.co.za

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Patricia joined Grant Thornton in 2006 and is responsible for general secretarial support services for the consultancy in Johannesburg.

Patricia Zuma - Office Assistant
Direct: +27 11 322 4763 Email: pzuma@gt.co.za

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