Dr. Taddy Blecher, CEO, CIDA

Ph.D (Honoris Causa), B.Sc. (Hons) (Wits)

Fellow of the Institute of Actuaries (London) F.S.S.A.

Dr Taddy Blecher, a qualified actuary, is Chief Executive and Co-founder of CIDA City Campus, the only virtually free higher education institution in South Africa.

Dr Blecher was chosen in 2005 as a Young Global Leader of the World Economic Forum.

He was chosen by Glamour Magazine in April 2005 as their favourite business personality in South Africa, and he was ranked in the publication South Africa's Leading Managers, 2004, by the Corporate Research Foundation, as position number five country-wide amongst business leaders in South Africa.

He was awarded an honorary doctorate by Goodwin College in the US in 2004. This was in recognition of achievements and a contribution to society that is deemed worthy of a PhD.

In 2002, Taddy received the Global Leader of Tomorrow Award from the World Economic Forum, convened in New York. He was recognised as one of 100 young leaders under the age of 37 around the world who are making an exceptional contribution to "making a better world."

He was also recognised by The Star newspaper as being one of the top 100 people in 2002 that made the headlines. He was ranked number six in the country in the business category as, “An inspirational speaker whose incredible story made every major publication in South Africa.”

Taddy turned down a R1.3 million per annum job and numerous similar offers to help uplift his country by building CIDA City Campus, South Africa 's only virtually free university.

Teaching Experience

Dr Blecher has had significant work experience in the fields of Strategy, Management, Statistics, Business Mathematics, IT, Insurance and Financial Services, Leadership and Consulting. He has lectured in several of these fields both at CIDA City Campus and prior to this on a part-time capacity.

Work Experience

Taddy is a former senior project leader with international strategic management consulting firm Monitor Company, where he was voted consultant of the year three years in a row, and was rated in the top 1% of consultants in the firm.

Formerly an actuary at a large South African financial services organisation, Taddy has won several awards and scholarships including the Liberty Life Gold Medal for top Actuarial Honours student in South Africa.

Conference Presentations

Dr Blecher has presented at over 300 conferences over the last 11 years in South Africa and around the world on topics related to poverty eradication, developing economies, innovation in education, and human potential development.