committee 2023

Robyn Ann Meloni

President

I am a mother of 3 beautiful daughters aged 24, 21 and 17, 4 naughty but lovable doggies and 2 kitties. I’ve been married to Juan for 25 years and have lived in Durban all this time.

My work life in the past was always in corporate but in 2018 I decided to bite the bullet and become a full-time business owner of Striving Mind Promotions. My journey has been pretty much a rollercoaster ride with unexpected highs and lows and I’ve learned and evolved in many ways since then…
Things I love besides my family are, music, dancing, theatre, outdoors, people watching, being creative and coming up with new concepts plus a regular G&T!

I have not been with UWA for many years but I can attest to the love, unity, support, encouragement and good intentions for the success and growth of our organisation and its members. We hope to nurture and harness these values as we plan and lead our sisterhood through 2022!

Natalie Burne

Vice President

Hi, my name is Natalie Burne. First and foremost, I am a mother to a gorgeous 6-year girl as well as numerous furbabies (My passion).

In the workplace, I’m the Office Manager for a law firm that I run with my husband called Burne & Burne Attorneys, we have been a family business for over 140 years, and it’s always amazing to me to be assisting the next generation of clients that remember my husband’s grandfather.

For my side hustle, because do what you love as well, I own a Honey Fashion Accessories Franchise, where I get to work with Women (and even a few men) nationwide and get to empower them to run their own businesses.

I have been with UWA since 2013 and am proud to have previously served on the committee for 4 years, therefore truly honoured to be serving again. I’m a glass-half-full person and will always try to find a solution to a problem, one day at a time. My motto is to stay positive and keep dreaming.

Ray Till

Treasurer

After nearly 20 years with SAA as an air hostess and later as an instructress I left to be a stay-at-home Mom for my two laat lametjies.

We moved to Durban in 1998, and in 2001 I joined my husband in starting Richmond Plumbing. We make a good team because where he is weak, I am strong and vice versa.

I joined UWA about ten or more years ago and have thoroughly enjoyed every event. It’s now time for me to give back, and I look forward to my time as treasurer.

Louise Davies

Secretary

I am currently not working but my past experiences include the owner of Riverside Day Spa, reflexology/reiki/massage therapist and marketing and training with Prefcor.

I have been married for 28 years and have a son of 25 and a daughter of 17. We live in Umhlanga.

Gia Maestrami

Committee Member

Born in Johannesburg, however, I grew up in Umdloti and went to Our Lady of Fatima Convent, matriculating in ’98.

I have a 13-year-old daughter in her first year of high school at Danville.

I have worked in some incredibly large corporate head offices in both JHB and DBN such as Mr Price Home, Estee Lauder and Quiksilver; as well as smaller companies such as A Country For Jane, a below the line advertising agency in JHB. I am now based at Vogel van der Sandt Attorneys in Umhlanga which has become my little family. My career has definitely shaped me into someone that tends to make long-lasting friendships in the companies I work for – as well as finally being able to pinpoint my strengths and weaknesses and hone in on those to push myself further.

I attended my first UWA Coffee Club that Bev organised at Granny Griffs a few years ago around Christmas time, and felt immediately a part of an amazing sisterhood, and could not wait for the next get together!

I look forward to being part of this amazing committee for a 2nd year in a row, continuing to nurture friendships that I’ve made with many UWA ladies, that I hold close to my heart.

Michelle Dolly

Committee Member

I started my real estate career when we moved to Durban in 2006. I worked in the Upper Highway Area, I moved to Umdloti in 2019, and that is where I am currently based.

I work for the Real Estate Company, which is a family-run business. They were previously known as Funnell Properties. I love to find people their dream homes. I started my own business in 2018 – Healing by Michelle.

I lost my brother to cancer, and six weeks later, my mother joined my brother. She, too, had been diagnosed with cancer. I was devastated, and a friend mentioned the course at her studio starting within two weeks. I didn’t have time to think about it and signed up. Well, it was the best decision I made in my life as it helped me process my pain, so I do know that integrated healing does work.

That is why I am so passionate about my healing. I am studying further and learning to help in other ways too.

Lynn Easton

Committee Member

My name is Lynn Easton, I am the proud owner of Afscot Financial Services cc. My husband and I formed our company formed in 1999 after we both resigned from the corporate world and took the plunge as entrepreneurs. We have been married for 35 years and have a beautiful son and daughter, James 34 and Nicola 32 this year.

We chose to specialize in the niche market of Hospitality insurance and have very many loyal customers in this industry.

In addition to this we do personal and commercial insurance and have agencies with 15 top insurance companies and have won broker of the year several times.

I have written two virtual books and have plans to publish more during the course of this year, my passion is writing inspirational poetry, making hats, mosaics, doodle art, making dream catcher and dressing up.

For the last year I have become a passionate hula hooper and give back to the community by offering free Hooping to the public every Saturday on the Durban Beach Front. Hooping has become a lifestyle for me and I have some huge dreams I this regards relating to recycling plastic for the manufacturing of hula hoops, empowering people to use the hoop as entrepreneurs and uplifting communities with this magical tool. My Hoopie coach had a game plan in this regards.

I have loved being a member of Umhlanga Women Achievers for 9 years now, and decided it was time to serve on the committee and give back to all the wonderful members of whom, many of are really great friends and clients of our business.

Another passion is travelling specifically to exotic islands we have been to Mauritius, Seychelles, Maldives, Pemba Island, Thailand, Malaysia and definitely have many more destinations in our life plans.

UWA is a most important part of my life and I am so delighted to be able to give back in some way to all the members

Glenda Finegan

Committee Member

I have been married for 30 years and am blessed to be a mother of two, my daughter Jasmine who is 22, and my son Darren who sadly passed in 2017 aged 22. I am also mommy to two dogs and two kitties. I returned to Kzn in 2005 and am so happy to call Umhlanga home.

My career was a Corporate Insurance Broker until November 2020, when I started my own business, Infinite Being, doing alternative healing via the modalities of sound therapy and Access Consciousness Bars. I am also currently studying to be a Reiki Practitioner.

Other Community work I do includes serving as the Secretary of the Rotary Club of Umhlanga and assisting with the projects that we undertake, as well as teaching reading and writing skills to children at Natest Primary via the Shine Literacy Programme.

I joined UWA in 2021 to network with fellow women business owners and have thoroughly enjoyed the love and support that has been offered to me during this time, so am happy to be giving back by joining the committee.