DISTRICT 9350

DISTRICT GOVERNOR SHÂN BIESMAN-SIMONS AND JOHN

District Governor Shân Biesman-Simons and John

Rotary has always been very much part of Shân’s life! Her father and paternal grandfather were very involved in the charter and outreach of the Kimberley Rotary Club She attended Belgravia Junior School in Kimberley and then was a very happy and involved boarder at Herschel Girls’ School in Claremont, Cape Town. In her last year of school she had many leadership roles and captained a number of sports teams. The Kimberley Rotary Club selected Shân for the Rotary Youth Exchange programme and she went to New Zealand for a year filled with amazing experiences, wonderful relationships and great interaction with the Johnsonville Rotary Club (Wellington).  

On her return to South Africa she registered for a bachelor of science at the University of Cape Town. Shân majored in Zoology and the following year she did a post graduate course in Therapeutic Dietetics at UCT Medical School. After graduating she did her internship at Groote Schuur Hospital and continued to work there for a few years. During this time she married John and the following year they were transferred to Miami for eighteen months by Deloitte.

John is from Port Elizabeth and did all of his schooling at Grey (PE). He is also an alumnus of the University of Cape Town and after graduating joined Deloitte where he became an audit partner. After 22 years he left Deloitte and is now involved with a niche insurance company and serves on a number of audit committees.

While in Miami Shân lectured at Florida International University and was also involved in some community nutrition programmes. When they returned to South Africa, they moved to Johannesburg for a few years. During this time Shân and John’s daughters, Claire and Tessa were born. The family was thrilled when they were transferred back to Cape Town.

Shân and John are proud of their daughters who have grown into intelligent and compassionate young women. Claire has recently completed her Masters in Applied English Language Studies at the University of the Witwatersrand and Tessa is living in Pietermaritzburg where she is working as a medical intern.

Shân has had an active dietetics practice in Claremont for many years and has a particular interest in eating disorders and diseases of lifestyle. She works part time at the Heart and Stroke Foundation South Africa where she is the Director of Nutrition and Education. She is also the consulting dietician at an addiction and an eating disorders clinic.

Shân joined Newlands Rotary Club in 1995 and has been involved in many aspects of the club. She was elected as president for the 2002/2003 Rotary year. At a district level she has served on the Youth Exchange committee, been an Assistant Governor for two
years and was special aide to two district governors. Newlands Rotary Club made her a Paul Harris fellow and also awarded her a sapphire pin.

When not working or doing Rotary related activities, Shân loves to spend time with her family and friends at home and at their holiday cottage in Rooiels. She enjoys the sea, hiking, tennis, reading, good food, red wine and chocolate!

Shân feel that the 2010/2011 Rotary theme of Building Communities   Bridging Continents is so expressive of what we as Rotarians do and she feels privileged to have been given the responsibility of being District Governor of District 9350 for the 2010/2011 Rotary year.