Teams

Norma Hughes

Norma Hughes is in charge of the operational management for our sites. She has an extensive laboratory background and many years of experience in clinical trials in various fields.

Mrs Hughes has been at TASK since the inception of the company in 2005.

Dr Naadira Vanker

Dr. Naadira Vanker is TASK’s Chief Operational Officer. Previous to this she was the head of laboratory operations. Dr Vanker has been an investigator at TASK and has over 5 years of experience in clinical pathology in various leadership roles, and holds a MBChB and MBA.

Johann De Bruyn

Johann De Bruyn is TASK’s Chief Financial Officer, a Chartered Accountant and completed his MBA through Bradford university in the UK. He has had finance and general management roles in various industries, the latest being as General Manager for the Africa region of an international relocations company.

Key contacts & Individuals

Duncan McDonald

Duncan McDonald is TASK’s Head of Business Development & Marketing. He has an entrepreneurial background, previously owning and managing a digital advertising agency.

Duncan is your first point of call for any service related enquiry at TASK.

Dr Caryn Upton

Gerben van den Hoogen

Gerben van den Hoogen is TASK’s Clinical Support Executive. He completed his master’s in clinical epidemiology through Radboud University, Nijmegen, the Netherlands. Gerben has over 20 years’ experience in general epidemiology, health policies, laboratory services to clinical trials, both in the Netherlands and South Africa, and clinical research site operations. He is currently elected in the South African Clinical Research Association (SACRA) Exco and has been with TASK since 2020, overseeing laboratory, data management, quality/academy/regulatory, and facility teams.

Riana Stander

Riana Stander is TASK’s Head of Special Projects, supporting TASK with business operations in achieving the organisation’s goals and strategic intent, a role she has held since 2020. She brings a wealth of experience from a successful career in clinical research and health services.

Previous to her current role, Riana was TASK’s regulatory lead and site start up specialist and prior, regulatory manager.