Citizen Leader Lab is pleased to announce the appointment of its Chief Executive Officer, Komala Pillay, as the new Deputy Chairperson of the National Association of Social Change Entities in Education (NASCEE) Board. This appointment marks a significant milestone for both Citizen Leader Lab and the broader civil society education ecosystem, reflecting Komala’s longstanding commitment to strengthening leadership, collaboration, and innovation within South Africa’s education landscape.
NASCEE plays a crucial role in uniting organisations working to improve education outcomes, fostering partnerships, and amplifying collective impact. In her new role, Komala will support NASCEE’s strategic direction, advance sector-wide coordination, and contribute to shaping an enabling environment where education-focused NGOs can thrive and drive sustainable change.
Speaking on the announcement, Communications Manager, Dorcas Dube – Londt expressed pride in Komala’s recognition: “Komala’s leadership has been instrumental in deepening the work of Citizen Leader Lab in transforming school leadership and building strong partnerships between public schools and the business sector. Her appointment to NASCEE reflects the high regard in which she is held across the education sector and affirms her commitment to strengthening systems that support quality education for every learner in South Africa.”
Under Komala’s stewardship, Citizen Leader Lab has continued to champion leadership development as a powerful lever for improving school culture, learner outcomes, and community engagement. Her experience in leading cross-sector collaborations, particularly through programmes such as Leaders for Education positions her well to support NASCEE’s mission of enabling a more coordinated, resilient, and impactful civil society movement in education.
Komala’s appointment comes at a critical time, as South Africa continues to navigate the complexities of educational recovery, inequality, and the urgent need for system-wide innovation. Her role as Deputy Chairperson will contribute to strengthening collective efforts that ensure the country’s most underserved learners benefit from strong, well-supported, and future-ready education organisations.
Citizen Leader Lab congratulates Komala on this important achievement and remains confident that her leadership will continue to inspire meaningful change within the sector.