Hesta van den Heever

Director of Global Programs and Partnerships

With over a decade of experience across primary, secondary, and tertiary education in Southern and Eastern Africa and the Middle East, Hesta van den Heever is an education specialist passionate about culturally responsive and future-ready learning. Her career spans formal and informal education systems, from lecturing and curriculum design at universities in South Africa to directing operations and experiential learning at Barwaaqo University in Somaliland.

Hesta’s expertise lies in curriculum development and cultural adaptation, teacher professional development, and coaching for experiential learning. She has designed and implemented 21st-century, values-based learning programs that equip educators to build student agency and resilience. Her work bridges theory and practice, integrating international best practices with local contexts to ensure relevance and sustainability.

Having led multicultural teams and educational initiatives in diverse environments, Hesta brings a combination of academic rigor, operational insight, and human-centered leadership to her role at Hello Future.