MiDO Academy addresses youth unemployment and the need for more cyber professionals by equipping young South Africans with industry-relevant tech skills, and connecting them to companies needing work-ready talent.
MiDO Academy was established by a group of like-minded individuals who wanted to respond to cybersecurity skills shortage in South Africa, while training youth from low-income communities to become employable in the field.
The academy was founded by Dale Simons, the founder of MiDO Technologies, and Anna Collard, EMEA Senior Vice President, and Evangelist at KnowBe4. Together, Dale and Anna explored how the academy could effectively launch and engage with key stakeholders, including the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) of the UK.
These efforts led to MiDO Academy being selected for FCDO’s Africa Cyber Programme, where the academy was identified as a key learning provider to advance cyber career opportunities for underprivileged students.
Since the academy has launched, there has been tremendous support from various local and global organisations, employers, and government institutions. These partnerships have been crucial in advancing our mission and contributing to sustainable growth.
We are a dedicated, experienced, and purpose-driven team, passionate about seeing the lives of young South Africans transformed.
Co-founder & CEO
Dale is the head of MiDO Group, and has a passion for societal transformation. He specialises in ICT software solutions, support, training, and systems implementation, and is dedicated to leveraging his ICT expertise to prepare youth for the 4th Industrial Revolution.
Co-founder & Evangelist
Senior Vice President of Content Strategy & CISO Advisor for KnowBe4 Africa, where she drives security awareness across the African continent. She is passionate about bridging the cyber skills gap, making her a driving force in the academy’s efforts to connect youth with entities in need of IT professionals.
CFO
With more than 22 years in the banking industry and extensive experience in credit/credit risk, internal audit, and operations management, Raymond is dedicated to helping small businesses improve operations and financial management. Bringing his expertise to the Academy, he is a key player in the academy’s financial longevity.
Programme Director
Maureen has more than 22 years of experience in the banking industry, and in operations and management. She is passionate about seeing the lives of young people transformed, and positively influencing youth to reach their full potential.
Facilities & Administration Officer
Working at MiDO helped Maruzanne discover a love for working with youth, and motivating them to make a success of their lives. Playing an instrumental role in the academy’s daily operations has enabled her to witness and be part of many of the academy’s success stories.
Student Success Manager
Learning Systems Coordinator
Head of Partnerships
Customer Relations Co-Ordinator
Cyber Lab Assistant
Junior Administrative Assistant
