Board of Directors
Touching Dreams is governed by a seven-member Board of Directors, each bringing extensive experience in travel and tourism. The Board provides strategic oversight, governance and industry insight to guide the organisation’s growth and impact.
Board Chair
Chris Godenir
Chris is an experienced hotelier with more than four decades of experience managing properties across South Africa and the United Kingdom. He is currently the Property Director at The Peninsula All Suit Hotel, Cape Town, where he has worked for 21 years. Chris began his hospitality career in the late 1970s as a trainee at the Carlton Hotel in Johannesburg. He studied through the American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute (AHLEI) and is a Certified Hotel Administrator. In 1988, he completed the Professional Development Program at Cornell University.
He is widely recognised for leading The Peninsula through the Covid-19 pandemic and spearheading three Hospitality Industry Think Tanks. In 2024, he was named FEDHASA Hotel General Manager of the Year.
Chris is a member of the Vanguard division at Dream Hotels & Resorts, where he leads the Art of Creation Business Unit focused on collaboration, sustainability and community upliftment. He also serves as Chairman of the THACSA Pension Fund and is a Director of Croydon Vineyard Estate Wineco.
Anthea Faulds
Anthea is a Chartered Accountant with a background in science and finance. She holds a BSc (Hons) in Chemistry and a Postgraduate Diploma in Accounting (PGDA). Anthea began her career at EY, where she gained 3.5 years of professional experience. In 2018 she joined Dream Hotels & Resorts, where she contributes to the organisation’s financial management and strategic growth.
She has always been passionate about helping those less fortunate. During her school years, she volunteered weekly for five years at Acres of Love, supporting vulnerable children. Giving back has always been important to her, and through Touching Dreams she aims to continue making a meaningful impact.
Rosa-Anne Naude-Potgieter
Rosa-Anne is an experienced tourism and hospitality professional with a strong background in strategic leadership and industry research. She holds a PhD in Tourism Management and an MBA, and brings over a decade of senior experience across the tourism, hospitality, and gaming sectors. Her expertise spans operations, marketing, and business intelligence.
Rosa is currently in an academic leadership role at the Tshwane University of Technology. She contributes to industry and governance structures through various board and advisory appointments focused on skills development and organisational performance.
Michael Puffet
Michael is Head of partnerships for Africa at Profitroom, where he builds and strengthens strategic relationships across the continent’s hospitality technology ecosystem. For over 25 years, Michael has been developing and training leaders and entrepreneurs globally. He lived in the UK for 16 years and delivered leadership training in more than 25 countries. His work spans government departments, corporates, businesses, NPOs, and sports teams.
At Profitroom, Michael collaborates closely with PMS providers, channel managers, payment gateways, and leading technology groups across Africa. He creates seamless technology ecosystems that genuinely solve hotel pain points and unlock growth. Michael has always had a passion for community impact and was one of the pioneers of the Wonderful SA foundation and the Great Brak Youth Cafe in the Western Cape.
Sonja Reyneke
Sonja’s working journey began at 13 at a convenience store to help support her single mother. Without formal qualifications, she built her career through determination and resilience — moving from waitressing and retail into her first full-time role at a computer servicing firm at 18. She joined Dream Hotels & Resorts in 2009, where she progressed through the organisation from the stock department to Executive Assistant to the CEO and COO in 2019.
She has a deep love for South Africa and has travelled extensively throughout the country. She is passionate about contributing to positive change through Touching Dreams and believes that meaningful CSR and community initiatives in hospitality can empower lives and broaden opportunities for all South Africans.
Chris Snyman
Chris is the Chief Development Officer at Dream Hotels & Resorts, where he leads the group’s development pipeline, asset management strategy and franchise expansion. With over 20 years of hospitality leadership, he focuses on unlocking asset value and driving revenue growth across diverse property portfolios. He also supports operational tech upgrades to enhance efficiency and elevate the guest experience.
A former General Manager and Cluster Operations & Development Manager, Chris combines strategic insight with practical, hands-on experience. He holds certifications from Cornell University and American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute (AHLEI) and is known for his commercial acumen and guest-centric approach.
Fundraising and
Communications Team
Tonia Allan
Tonia Allan is the Internal Communications Lead and L&D Team Specialist at Dream Hotels & Resorts. She is passionate about people, positivity, and bringing ideas to life. As a people-focused professional, she thrives on creating engaging, meaningful workplace experiences. She is a team player who enjoys connecting people, driving engagement, and bringing teams together through clear communication and collaboration. Known for her creative thinking, Tonia is committed to fostering an inclusive culture and making a lasting impact through connection and continuous improvement.
As a member of the communications and fundraising team for Touching Dreams, Tonia is responsible for helping to tell the Touching Dreams story. She helps spread the word publicly by managing the organisation’s Facebook page and uses Dream Hotels & Resorts internal channels to drive engagement with its employees. She is committed to using her strong communications skills to help make a positive impact.
Gemma Linforth
Gemma Linforth is the Regional Operations Manager Zululand at Dream Hotels & Resorts. She has worked in hospitality for two decades, managing lodges in different parts of South Africa. A trained teacher, she is passionate about education, community upliftment, and creating opportunities for young people.
Her commitment to giving back was shaped by years spent working in different communities and travelling in developing countries. These experiences exposed her to both the challenges many children face and the resilience found within these communities.
Through her involvement with Touching Dreams, Gemma focuses on initiatives that support vulnerable children and communities, helping to create environments where young people can learn and grow. She is driven by the idea that when people are given encouragement, resources, and opportunity, they are empowered to build brighter futures for themselves and their communities.
Laura Rapson
Laura Rapson is a global communications consultant who has been in the industry for over 15 years. She began her career in sales and marketing at ClubMed UK. She moved into PR in 2010 at a boutique agency in SA whose clients consisted of luxury hotels, game lodges and tour operators. She also managed the PR for Wilderness Safaris’ non-profit organisation, Children in the Wilderness.
Laura then moved to WE Communications, a global agency primarily focused on technology and social impact brands. Here she worked on global brands including Microsoft, Intel and Cisco and led the local PR team for the 2013 One Young World summit in Johannesburg. In 2017 she joined Mimecast, as Senior PR and Communications Manager, looking after EMEA and APAC. Beyond driving brand awareness for the company’s core offerings, she managed the external comms for it's ESG initiatives.
Laura currently manages communications for Touching Dreams and works for other organisations, in sustainable mining, climate change and agriculture.
Natasha-Lee Shunmugam
Natasha-lee Shunmugam is a Talent Attraction and Engagement Lead at Dream Hotels & Resorts, driving innovative recruitment strategies, enhancing candidate experience, and building strong employer branding across the group. With a passion for people and a keen understanding of talent dynamics, she is dedicated to attracting, engaging, and retaining top talent within the hospitality industry.
Beyond her corporate role, Natasha-lee is an ambassador for Touching Dreams. In this capacity, she plays a key role in driving social media visibility, supporting recruitment for the Think Big Academy, and supporting the marketing of fundraising initiatives. Her involvement is rooted in a genuine desire to create impact, leveraging her skills to amplify the organisation’s reach and inspire participation.
Melissa Terry
Melissa Terry is the Financial Lead at Dream Hotels & Resorts, overseeing the KZN and Cape properties. She has a BCom from the University of Pretoria and has worked in the hospitality industry since 1999 in a variety of operational and financial positions.
Throughout her career she has been strongly invested in numerous CSI initiatives. When she worked at Southern Suns she volunteered regularly and was involved in several donation drives. In 2013 and 2014, she volunteered for the Shine programme, an initiative focused on literacy where she helped Grade 2 and 3 children learn to read. Shine volunteers also helped to build and launch a library at a school, and held regular fundraising drives for the upkeep.
During her time at eXp Realty she supported the “9 miles project” through Laureus Sport for Good SA, which focuses on community upliftment through surfing. The programme offers after school programmes for at-risk children and youth in coastal communities. In her personal capacity she volunteers and donates to several initiatives in KZN that support children in need. Melissa believes that when people show up for others, through time, kindness and support – we create a ripple effect.
