DISTRICT 9350

District Governor Elect Shân Biesman-Simons and John

District Governor Elect 2010 - 2011

DGE 2010-2011 Shân Biesman-Simons and John

DGE SHÂN BIESMAN-SIMONS

Shân's husband, John, refers to her as the rough diamond from Kimberley! Her father and paternal grandfather were very involved in the charter and outreach of the Kimberley Rotary club so Rotary has always been part of Shân's life. She attended Belgravia Junior School in Kimberley and then was a very happy and involved boarder at Herschel Girls School in Claremont. 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 went to UCT two years after matriculating (as he was also an exchange student and did a year's army training) and qualified as a chartered accountant. He did his articles at Deloitte and after 22 years, most of them as an audit partner, 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. At this time Shân did some part-time work and first experienced the joys (and tribulations) of motherhood. Shân and John's daughters, Claire and Tessa, were both born in Sandton and the family moved back to Cape Town when Tessa was a few months old.

Shân has had an active private practice as a dietician 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.
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 walking, water related activities, hiking, tennis, reading and good food, red wine and chocolate.