Sirdar Global Expedition Team

Carl Bates – Managing Director, Sirdar Global Group

BBS (Hons) GradDipBS CA MInstD

Carl has Bachelor of Business Studies Honours (Accountancy) and a Graduate Diploma in Business Studies (Finance). He is a chartered accountant and is a member of the Institute of Directors of both New Zealand and South Africa. Carl has a particular interest in rapid business growth, branding and sustainability. Previously, Carl was the acting chief executive of Quality Health New Zealand, general manager of a 270-bed accommodation complex and a director of the Arena Manawatu and Universal College of Learning (UCOL).

Carl is a recognised leader in the education and implementation of governance for SMEs, as well as in their growth and development. He is a strategist, a management and governance specialist with a holistic approach to business and a published author.

Carl established Sirdar in September 2006 because he saw the opportunity to support enterprise development, thereby uplifting communities’ economic well-being. Carl is currently based in Pretoria where he acts as the chief executive of the Sirdar South Africa Group, as well as the managing director of the Sirdar Global Group. Carl is passionate about challenging business owners to see new potential in their own dreams, and provides the insight required to enable them to reach the summit of Extreme Business Success.

George Zacharias 

BA LLB ACIBM

George was admitted as an attorney in South Africa and Zimbabwe in 1988 and practiced as an attorney in Johannesburg before being appointed as internal legal counsel and company secretary for top 100 listed companies in various industries including food and beverage, electronics and telecommunications, insurance and mining.

George has also had extensive expertise in group risk management, compliance and investor relations. George leads Sirdar Legal – a division of Sirdar Global and a key aspect of Sirdar’s support to AME’s in South Africa and around the globe.

Belinda Doveston

BCom Hons (IS)

Belinda has a Bachelor of Commerce Degree (CA Stream) with majors in Information Systems and Accounting and a Bachelor of Commerce Honours Degree (Information Systems). Belinda has over 12 years of experience in the business consulting and education sectors. From 1998 to 2004, Belinda worked as a business analyst, project manager and later a business architect for an IT consulting company. In 2004 Belinda co-founded MetaVarsity, a groundbreaking pioneer in the use of outcomes-based education in metaphysical studies. She has since sold the business, and it continues to grow.

Belinda joined Sirdar because she was inspired by their philosophy, and believed that being part of this company would radically improve her business skills. She joined the Cape Town branch of Sirdar South Africa in 2009 where she worked as an expedition development consultant, while also fulfilling the role of publishing manager for Sirdar Press. Currently, Belinda works for Sirdar on a part-time basis as an expedition development consultant and the Sirdar Press managing publisher, while also pursuing her own interests as a freelance writer, course developer and e-learning advisor. Belinda is passionate about implementing good governance practices in the SME sector and helping entrepreneurs to work smarter, not harder. Through her work with Sirdar Press, Belinda is also involved in creating inspiring and relevant books for entrepreneurs.