Who Guides Us
Case Forward’s leadership combines strategic, financial and operational expertise with a deep commitment to justice reform, guided by innovation and accountability.
Founder and Executive Director
Founder and Executive Director, Sophia Dewberry
Sophia Dewberry is a South African strategic lead, entrepreneur and systems-driven project director who believes deeply in this country and its people. She is action-driven and brings urgency, determination and a creative, solutions-focused mindset to everything she does.
Her background in the media industry spans more than two decades, leading campaigns, large-scale productions and advocacy-driven projects. She has managed teams, budgets and timelines on demanding, complex projects, with a strong focus on clarity, communication, organisation and delivery. Over the years, she has founded businesses, delivered work across diverse sectors and produced widely recognised content in health, justice, environmental, educational, social and advocacy spaces. This experience now informs the strategic support and coordination work she leads through Case Forward to help improve crime management and processes.
Her involvement in forensic DNA awareness and training projects began in 2009, focusing on education and communication efforts to improve understanding of DNA’s role in fighting crime. That work found sharp focus in 2024, when she stepped into a lead role supporting and coordinating key aspects of a high-profile murder investigation. True to her instinct to do a deep dive, and drawing on years of experience in strategic thinking, problem-solving and complex coordination, she gained a clearer understanding of how and why processes in crime management often fail. This insight became the inspiration for Case Forward and now informs the strategic support and coordination work she leads.
Sophia does not come from a traditional justice background. She comes from the world of delivery — managing people, systems and information under pressure. She is a creative thinker, a problem-solver, and someone who focuses on making things work better. She is always open to new ideas, learning from others, and finding better ways to deliver results. Case Forward is how she has chosen to act. It reflects her belief in collaboration, creative thinking, and the practical changes that help systems work better.
Sophia leads with creativity, compassion and solution-focused action.
Non-Executive Director
Non-Executive Director,
Ayanda Vabaza-Mvandaba
Ayanda is a chartered accountant and award-winning entrepreneur, recognised among Mail & Guardian’s Top 200 Young South Africans and SAICA’s Top 35 Under 35. She brings deep governance expertise, financial acumen and innovative board leadership, with a strong track record of bridging entrepreneurial thinking and accountability.
Ayanda’s financial leadership ensures our work is accountable and future-ready.
Ayanda is also a driven entrepreneur. She is the Owner and Managing Director of Drink Nil, a non-alcoholic beverage retailer she acquired and grew in 2024. She is the Founder and Managing Partner of the Ayanda Vabaza-Mvandaba Bursary Fund, and Co-Founder and Chief Executive of Mvandaba Group. Her dedication to social impact includes co-founding the Lange Siphe Foundation, a non-profit supporting women and children, and Kwandiso Consulting, a financial services consulting firm.
Her governance experience is extensive, serving on numerous boards and advisory bodies including the Southern Regional Council for SAICA, African Phoenix Investments (as Chair of the Risk and Audit Committee), Founders Foundation, and the Western Cape Gambling & Racing Board. She has also contributed her expertise to Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Wesgro, Equal Education, ABASA Western Cape, Milpark Education, and the Western Cape Government.
Ayanda brings to Case Forward a blend of financial acumen, entrepreneurial energy, and a strong belief in the role of ethical, accountable leadership in driving sustainable change.
Non-Executive Director
Non-Executive Director,
Pavithra Pillay
Pavithra is a leadership coach and business strategist with more than 15 years’ experience in HR, project management and organisational transformation. As Managing Director of Afro Ant Consulting, she focuses on people-centred change and practical improvement, bringing a philosophy of “we win or we learn” into her leadership practice.
Pavithra’s people-centred change philosophy strengthens every partnership and reform we deliver.
Her career has been defined by a focus on aligning business goals with human potential, delivering strategies that are as practical as they are inspiring. Pavithra’s leadership style is anchored in uplifting individuals, fostering a vibrant and collaborative environment, maintaining transparent and frequent communication, and living by the principle “We either win or we learn.”
Beyond her corporate work, Pavithra is deeply committed to advancing social good and empowering future generations through education. She believes in leaving a lasting impact not only in the organisations she serves but also in the communities she touches.
Pavithra brings to Case Forward her strategic insight, her ability to energise teams, and her belief that transformation is possible when people work together with intention and purpose.