Photo Credit: Titans Cricket
The Elise Lombard Leadership Academy (ELLA) was launched late in 2023 with the purpose of equipping talented women in sport and entertainment with technical skills for their development beyond the field of play and big stages.
Named after former Titans Cricket CEO, the late Elise Lombard, the Leadership Academy is inspired by Lombard’s groundbreaking tenure at the helm of Titans Cricket.
Lombard was CEO of the SuperSport Park based cricket union for 12 years, and worked there for a total of 31 years, and under her leadership began the dominance of Titans and what is today the most successful team and cricket union in South Africa.
At the time and till this day Lombard was the only woman to head a cricket union. And much of the work she did laid the foundation for what Titans Cricket is today.
“She was such a remarkable lady and made so many valuable contributions to who we are today that it only made sense to name the academy in her honour.” Explained Titans Cricket CEO, Dr Jacques Faul.
“She was a bit of a mentor to me and always offered guidance when requested, also very influential and encouraging of other CEOs around the country, a real beacon for us so naming the academy after her is our way of honouring her legacy.”
Tertiary institution MANCOSA have committed to support the leadership academy and will be involved in the nurturing and development of candidates.
The inclusion of MANCOSA in the Elise Lombard Leadership Academy is a perfect coming together, owing to the shared values of MANCOSA and ELLA.
2023 saw Titans Cricket and MANCOSA launch the Women in Leadership Program, which is aimed at training future leaders within Titans Cricket’s structures with skills necessary to advance the game at a club cricket and professional level.
Having successfully carried out the inaugural six-month program and seen the progress of the graduates, MANCOSA involvement will bring immense value to in ELLA.
“I must acknowledge MANCOSA for coming on board. With them by our side we accomplished a lot in the Women in Leadership Program. We could not be more thankful for their association, and I’m assured ELLA will succeed.” Faul said.
