Melinda Potgieter

Melinda Potgieter has extensive work experience in the field of strategic information, research, and data management. Melinda began their career in 1997 at the CSIR, where they analyzed and mapped crime statistics and led a project on quality assurance for police station boundaries. Melinda received an Excellence Award for their contribution to crime prevention. From 2002 to 2006, Melinda worked as a consultant, focusing on crime mapping, food insecurity, population projections, and providing advisory services to various organizations.

In 2006, Melinda joined Statistics SA as a Professional, where they conceptualized, planned, and designed surveys in social statistics. Melinda also managed the section on poverty during a period without a permanent manager. From 2007 to 2009, Melinda worked as the Manager of Data and Information at the FFC, where they managed the information section and provided research support in various fields. At John Snow, Inc. (JSI), from 2009 to 2012, Melinda served as the GIS Task Lead, managing and coordinating a GIS unit and writing proposals for innovative monitoring and evaluation systems.

From 2012 to 2015, Melinda worked at Futures Group International/Now the Palladium Group as a Data Demand and Use Advisor, leading the development of monitoring and evaluation systems and contributing to district profiles. Melinda then joined CDRMAPS in 2015 as a Project Manager for six months. In 2016, Melinda took on the role of Research Officer at FHI 360 for two months before joining Right to Care as a Senior Researcher. In this position, they developed interoperability systems and proposed a system to find lost to follow up patients.

Throughout their career, Melinda has demonstrated expertise in strategic information, research, monitoring and evaluation, GIS, and data management. Melinda has a strong track record of leading projects, developing tools and systems, and providing research support in various sectors including health, education, and social development.

Melinda Potgieter's education history starts with their matriculation at Goudrif from 1977 to 1981. Melinda then attended the University of Pretoria/Universiteit van Pretoria from 1986 to 1987, where they pursued an Honors degree in Industrial Sociology. Following that, from 1987 to 1988, they continued at the same university to complete an Honors degree in Demography and Population Studies. Moving forward, they pursued a Master's degree in Demography and Population Studies at the University of Pretoria from 1989 to 1996. Lastly, in 2014 to 2015, Melinda Potgieter acquired an MPhil in Marketing Management, Research from the University of Pretoria/Universiteit van Pretoria, specializing in Marketing Research.