Today, dhk is one of the largest studios in Africa. We employ more than 150 people, and earlier this year joined 10N, a global collective of architectural studios created by Egis. As a leader in our field, we have responsibility to lead by example in delivering outstanding work. This means we talented designers*, and a small army of supporters capable of powering the studio’s daily operations, managing talent and maintaining long-term financial health.

(*Side note - we are recruiting; check out the current open roles on the Careers page.)

So who are these superstar supporters at dhk? Let’s meet them here.

studio management
Studio Manager Natasha Geils leads dhk's administrative team. Tash, as she’s affectionately called, is the Studio Manager and PA to Chairman Derick Henstra. She joined dhk in 2012 and has since become a longstanding and trusted presence within the studio, known for her institutional knowledge, reliability and ability to support both staff and leadership across the business.

The Cape Town office is supported by office administrator Cathy Cooper, receptionist Somikazi Tyaliti, and Tessa Moodaley and Syliva Nedi who are the studio janitors. Rosie Nakani is the expert barista. In Johannesburg, Priscilla Magano is the face behind the reception desk; Thobile Mbali Zulu provides administration support to the team, while Joyce Legodi keeps the office neat and tidy. The team also includes document controllers Trevor Smith and Luzuko Gongxeka who are based in Cape Town but support the whole studio.

“Some people think being a studio manager means buying cake and sending emails about toilet etiquette” says Tash with a laugh, “but there’s so much more”. Tash collaborates with the senior leadership team across a broad range of operational, client-facing and studio management responsibilities. Her role spans executive support, staff management, procurement, facilities oversight, studio operations, event coordination and liaising with clients, consultants and service providers. Working across all departments, she plays a key role in maintaining the culture, professionalism and day-to-day functioning of the studio.

“I am proud of the studio and being able to add to the morale. I’m also proud of the service that my team is able to deliver and maintain. There have been highs and lows and we’ve had to adapt. To see where we are now with the recent 10N integration is unbelievable and it’s beyond exciting,” she says.

people management
The Human Resources team is made up of HR Manager Liziwe Namba and HR Officer Keesha Gabriel. With over 17 years of HR experience, Liziwe joined dhk in May 2025 with a mandate to strengthen the studio’s people strategy and to nurture a culture of growth, learning and excellence. One of her core beliefs is that people and culture are at the heart of every great organisation. Her expertise lies in organisational development, talent strategy and workplace transformation, areas where she has led meaningful change for corporates both in South Africa and abroad.

A unique feature of dhk’s approach is the integration of organisational development with HR practices. Liziwe notes that in most big enterprises those two verticals are treated separately. “Organisational development examines how we need to organise ourselves as a company, why we call certain roles what we call them, what this means for career development and how individuals should be rewarded. That's one of the things I’ve been driving and am excited about.

“I’ve seen the negative impacts when individuals are displaced in their role. Organisational development is about helping people find their place. That’s why I’m so passionate about the approach,” she says.

To this end, the HR team leads various initiatives. These include an Employee Assistance Programme which offers access to expert advice or support for staff in terms of their mental, physical and financial health, or legal support if necessary. A Staff Forum gives employees a chance to help shape the studio experience. The team also helps to entrench a culture of mentorship and professional development at every level.

Asked about the studio’s culture, both Liziwe and Natasha describe it as warm, friendly and full of great personalities. “Here, we have a combination of creativity and technical competence,” says Liziwe. “Our strength lies in our diversity in thought and backgrounds. It makes us rich, textured and layered, which keeps things perpetually interesting. Our well will never run dry.”

financial stewardship
Shantal Ruiters heads up the finance portfolio. Since joining in 2019, she has become integral to the studio's daily operations and long-term financial sustainability. She heads up the finance team, who are finance manager Brinley Scotchman, Shehaam Hendricks, who is financial administrator and bookkeeper Miliswa Mlanjeni.

Shantal joined at a challenging time in 2019: with financial year-end reporting underway, and shortly before the Covid-19 pandemic took hold. And then, just six months in, her predecessor retired, leaving Shantal with full responsibility for the studio’s financial function.

“I’d say 2021 was tough. It was a true test of financial stewardship in terms of managing our budgets and transparency in reporting. On a personal level, it showed me that this ship is guided by leaders who would never hesitate to put staff ahead of themselves and make personal sacrifices,” she explains.

The Covid-19 period reinforced the importance of rigorous systems. Like the design teams, the finance department relies on robust processes to monitor projects, track performance and ensure accountability, risk mitigation and compliance locally and internationally. “We're guided by a very strong, stable leadership team, underpinned by sound financial governance. The long-term financial health of this business is front and centre of our minds. We need to see the storm before anyone else and know how to manage it,” says Shantal.

Over the last ten years, the studio has more than doubled in size and our global footprint has grown exponentially. With the integration into 10N, the studio is strongly positioned to add value through the strength of our multidisciplinary design offerings and our proven track record in architectural concept and execution, as well as urban design and interior design.

Having been part of this growth, Shantal reflects: “It's been an amazing journey. Stepping into new opportunities abroad has enriched everyone and proven that we're strong competition in the marketplace.”

Image: William Hindle