01 Oct Penreach appoints Susanna Behrendt as CEO
Penreach appoints Susanna Behrendt as CEO to drive next phase of growth and systemic impact
MBOMBELA – Penreach NPC proudly announces the appointment of Susanna Behrendt as its Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately. Behrendt’s appointment reflects Penreach’s ongoing commitment to empowering women in leadership and to driving inclusive, transformative solutions in South Africa’s education sector.
Behrendt steps into the role after serving as Acting CEO and Chief Operating Officer, bringing more than a decade of leadership experience at Penreach. Her appointment represents both continuity and renewal for the organisation as it enters a new phase of growth and systemic impact.
“One and All has always been Penreach’s heartbeat, rooted in the vision that began at Penryn. As CEO, I want to lead with that same spirit of inclusivity and possibility – honouring the legacy we’ve built, while driving innovation and partnerships that ensure every child has access to quality education,” Behrendt said. “My leadership is grounded in respect, accountability, integrity, and collaboration, empowering people and building trust-based partnerships so that together we can deliver real and lasting impact. I am especially proud to serve alongside the Penreach team — our true gold — whose dedication makes this vision possible every day.”
With Behrendt’s proven track record of leadership, her deep knowledge of the organisation, and her strong relationships with staff, funders, and government partners, she is uniquely positioned to lead Penreach with stability while advancing its next phase of deepened impact — at a time when education in South Africa needs it most.
“For me, this role is deeply personal. I have seen and experienced what access to education opportunities can do for an individual. Working with others to solve some of the most pressing challenges around access and quality teaching is what drives me – and what keeps me bothered in the best possible way.”
According to Ms Shirley Mnisi, Chair of Penryn Council, Susanna has shown exceptional leadership and vision during her time as Acting CEO. “We are confident that under her guidance, Penreach will continue to grow as both a trusted implementer and a system enabler in South Africa’s education landscape,” Mnisi alluded.
With Behrendt at the helm, Penreach reaffirms its mission to deliver scalable, high-quality education initiatives that transform lives and communities across South Africa.
About Susanna Behrendt.
Susanna Behrendt has been with Penreach for more than a decade, serving most recently as Acting CEO and Chief Operating Officer. She holds a Master’s in Education from the University of Johannesburg, with a specialisation in ICT in Education, and has published research on innovation in early learning.
During her tenure, she has led major organisational strategies to expand Penreach’s systemic impact across Early Childhood Development, Foundation Phase, teacher development, and leadership. She has been central to building strong partnerships with government, universities, and international foundations, while driving innovation through data-led monitoring and evaluation systems.
Behrendt also serves on the Board of NASCEE, where she contributes to shaping the national education agenda. Her leadership has positioned Penreach as both a trusted implementer and a system enabler, with a track record of scaling evidence-based models and securing multi-year funding partnerships.
Career highlights include:
* Leading the design and rollout of the Mpumalanga Grade R Programme (MP-R), reaching thousands of learners through partnerships with the Department of Education and international funders.
* Securing and managing multi-year partnerships with global foundations such as the Roger Federer Foundation, expanding opportunities for systemic change in early learning.
* Introducing digital MERL systems to Penreach, embedding a culture of evidence-based decision-making across all programmes.
* Scaling Penreach’s impact across ECD, Foundation Phase, and leadership, developing models now recognised as scalable by government and civil society partners.
* Serving on the NASCEE Board, contributing to national advocacy and collaboration in the education sector.
Founded more than 30 years ago under the Penryn tree, Penreach is a leading non-profit education organisation based in Mpumalanga. With a vision of “educational excellence for One and All,” Penreach works in partnership with government, funders, and civil society to improve outcomes across the education continuum — from Early Childhood Development to leadership and STEAM education.
Each year, Penreach reaches thousands of children, teachers, and schools, across five provinces driving systemic change and enabling opportunity in some of South Africa’s most under-resourced communities.
For more information, visit: www.penreach.co.za