About Silvertree

Learn more About Silvertree

About Silvertree

Empowering the next generation of Christian leaders in tech.

Our Mission

At Silvertree, we believe that faith is not just a part of life but the foundation that shapes every aspect of it. Christianity isn’t meant to be confined to certain moments or spaces; rather, it should permeate our actions, relationships, and career paths. This belief drives us to build an education that integrates faith and vocation, preparing students to carry their values confidently into the workplace and beyond.

We recognize that landing a position at a reputable organization is a significant step in any career journey. Our mission is to empower students not only with the technical skills needed to excel in their fields but also with the character and confidence to thrive in professional environments. By connecting our students with leading industry partners, we ensure that their education is relevant, rigorous, and aligned with the real-world demands they will face.

Mentorship is central to our mission. We aim to equip students to be a “light in the world” — individuals who inspire and lead with integrity and compassion. Through hands-on guidance from experienced professionals, we mentor our students to embody Christ-like qualities in their careers, making a positive impact wherever they go. At Silvertree, we’re not just preparing students for jobs; we’re preparing them to transform the workplace, bringing faith, excellence, and hope into every role they undertake.

The Vision

We envision establishing a private, Christian, world-class higher education institution in South Africa, to raise a generation of redemptive leaders who will shape culture and transform society. Our mission is to provide affordable, accessible, and holistic education through both online and in-person programs, grounded in industry and academic best practices.

Our approach focuses on developing the next generation of leaders by cultivating strong character, a biblical mindset, and mastery of skills needed to excel in their chosen fields.

As a first step toward this vision, we are launching our inaugural program in 2026: a 1 year NQF-Level 5 software development program designed to equip students with in-demand technical skills and spiritual formation.

The Team

A diverse team, experienced in founding and scaling education and tech ventures, combined with research, policy and private equity experience

Philip Geldenhuys (PhD)
CEO
Philip has co-founded and led several ventures focusing on psycho-social services to children and youth, affordable high schools and entrepreneurship development. He holds a Master’s degree in Social Work from Stellenbosch University and a PhD in Social Development from the University of Cape Town. He was also a Visiting Researcher at the University of California, Berkeley, in the USA.
Laila Ncwana (MCom)
Director of Academic Affairs
Laila is also an independent research consultant and economist, with 10 years of public sector economic cluster experience. She was a member of the National Youth Policy Technical Reference Team responsible for finalizing the South African National Youth Policy (2020-2030). Laila holds a masters degree in Economics from the University of Pretoria.
Renier Kriel (BEng)
Head of Tech Department
Renier leads The Open Letter, a tech startup media company with a community of more than 22,000 members. He's a strategic consultant for tech-enabled businesses and previously founded and led a software agency, which was a market leader by being the first in SA to develop apps for smartphones, building mobile apps for some of the biggest brands on the continent. Renier holds a BEng degree in Industrial Engineering from Stellenbosch University.
Jason George (BEng)
Head of Software Development course & Student Admission
Jason oversees communications, volunteer management, and worship leadership at a multi-site global ministry. Previously, he held senior software engineering roles at various companies, specializing in delivering value to end users through scalable and impactful software solutions. Jason has a BEng degree in Electronics from Stellenbosch University.

Advisory Board

Our advisory board includes leaders from both the tech industry and Christian education, providing strategic guidance to ensure our programs are relevant, impactful, and aligned with our mission

Prof John Volmink

John is the former Chairperson of Umalusi (Council for Quality Assurance of General and Further Education in SA). He served as VC of Cape Peninsula University of Technology and Durban University of Technology. John holds a PhD in Mathematics Education from Cornell University (USA) and has also been awarded an honorary doctorate from Stellenbosch University.

Helen Buhrs

Helen is the CEO of Inscape private higher education, a leading higher education institution in the creative sector and built environment with 5 campuses over South Africa. She has more than 25 years of experience in academic and operational management, programme and site accreditation, and quality assurance.

Wendy Luhabe

Wendy currently serves on the Boards of Pepkor & Richemont. She is a former Chancellor of the University of Johannesburg and recipient of three Honorary Doctorates. She is known for her vision in the founding of Women Investment Portfolio Holdings (WIPHOLD). Some of her past chairperson roles include the International Marketing Council (IMC) and the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC).

Steven Nelson

Steven currently serves as the Dean of the Gordon College School of Business (Boston, USA). Previously, he had a 25-year career at Harvard University, where he most recently served as senior director of external relations and executive director of the MBA Programme. Steven continues to serve on the board of directors of the Harvard/MIT Cooperative Society (The COOP) and Ardent Mentoring.

Ready to start your journey?

Register your interest to join our programme in 2026 and we will keep you in the loop with developments and progress.