Marlene le Roux

Marlene le Roux
Born	17 September 1967 Wellington, Western Cape, South Africa
Alma mater	University of the Western Cape
Employer(s)	Women's Achievement Network for Disability, Artscape Theatre Centre

Marlene le Roux (born 17 September 1967) is a South African disability and women's rights activist. She is co-founder of the Women's Achievement Network for Disability, ^[1] and CEO of the Artscape Theatre Centre in Cape Town. ^[2]

Biography

Marlene le Roux was born in Wellington, Western Cape, 17 September 1967. ^[3] At three months old, le Roux contracted poliomyelitis which left her with a weakened leg for which she wears a brace. ^[4] She matriculated at Bergrivier Secondary School ^[5] then went on to earn a B.Mus. degree in 1988 and a Higher Diploma in Education in 1989 followed by a B.Ed. in 1991, all at the University of the Western Cape. In 2002 and 2003 le Roux continued her education with a Diploma in Management and a Diploma in Senior Management from Stellenbosch University . ^[6]

Le Roux served as an international expert on the London Olympic Committee and Arts Council England to select arts projects for the London Olympics and Paralympics 2012. ^[7]

Le Roux and Karen Smit launched the Women's Achievement Network for Disability, in August 2014, ^[8] "to raise the profile and awareness of disabled women and girls in South Africa, so that their human rights may be advanced and promoted". ^[9]

Selected works

• le Roux, Marlene, ed. (2008). Look At Me. photography by Lucie Pavlovich. Cape Town: Genugtig! Publishers. ISBN   9780980260670. Featuring stories of 23 women with various disabilities, the photography is by Lucie Pavlovich. ^[10]
• le Roux, Marlene; Ommundsen, Ludmila (2012). Mitchell's Plain : a place in the sun : the story of Mitchell's Plain as told by its people 1974-2011. Cape Town: Mikateko Media. ISBN   9780981416861. Everyday life in Mitchells Plain, a large township on the outskirts of Cape Town. ^[11]
• le Cordeur, Michael; le Roux, Marlene (2013). Olivier, Ria (ed.). Die Wellingtonse klopse : 100 jaar se onvertelde stories. Tygervallei: Naledi. ISBN   9780987038821. About the minstrel history in the town of Wellington, Western Cape. ^[12]

Awards and honours

• Shoprite/Checkers Woman of the Year – Art Category, 1998
• Desmond Tutu Legendary Award, 2001
• Chevalier des Ordre des Arts et des Lettres, a French Knighthood in the Performing Arts, 2002 ^[5]
• Alumni of the Year 2003, University of Stellenbosch
• Western Cape Provincial Award, Arts & Culture, 2005
• Honorary Membership in the Golden Key International Honour Society at the University of Stellenbosch, 2007
• Alumnus of the Year 2007, for excellence in Management, University of Stellenbosch Business School, 2008
• CEO Magazine Awards. SA's most Influential Women in Business and Government. Recognition of achievement in the Arts & Culture Sector, 2010
• Ordre National Du Merite from the French Government, 2012
• German Africa Prize from the German Government for work done in disadvantaged communities, 2012 ^[13]
• Honorary doctorate in education from Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2017 ^[14]
• Commonwealth Point of Light Award, 2018. ^[15]

References

1. Ngwenya, Jabulile S. (7 August 2017). "PICS: WAND inspires girls with disabilities to reach for the stars". Independent Online. Retrieved 10 October 2017.
2. "Doctorate for Artscape CEO". News24. 11 April 2017. Retrieved 10 October 2017.
3. "Sterling marlene le roux summary". safacti.ml. Retrieved 24 September 2019.
4. Smith, Gilmore (Winter 2017). "Not an enigma, but a champion!". Atlantic Seaboard Views. Cape Town: CA Publications. pp. 24–25. Retrieved 10 October 2017.
5. "Marlene le Roux Appointed Chief Executive Officer of Artscape Theatre Centre". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 10 October 2017.
6. "WAND | Co-Founder - Marlene le Roux". www.wand.org.za. Retrieved 10 October 2017.
7. "Taking on the Vavis and SA's holy cows". Fin24. News24.com. 27 August 2013. Retrieved 11 October 2017.
8. "Artscape Women's Humanity Arts Festival". Artslink. 12 July 2014. Retrieved 11 October 2017.
9. "CANSA & WAND – Creating Awareness Among Disabled Women to Reduce Cancer Risk". www.cansa.org.za. CANSA – The Cancer Association of South Africa. Retrieved 11 October 2017.
10. Johnston, Lisa (11 August 2008). "Writing their own stories". The M&G Online. Retrieved 10 October 2017.
11. "Mitchells Plain – 'maar net 'n plek soos ander plekke'". Die Burger (in Afrikaans). 13 February 2012. p. 9. Retrieved 11 October 2017– via pressreader.com.
12. Louw, Tessa (28 May 2013). "Die Wellington Klopse – 100 jaar se onvertelde stories | LitNet". LitNet (in Afrikaans). Retrieved 11 October 2017.
13. Hahn, Julia (5 December 2012). "German-Africa Prize: art as a weapon for change | Africa | DW | 05.12.2012". Deutsche Welle . Retrieved 10 October 2017.
14. "Trailblazer Le Roux receives honorary doctorate | Cape Times". Cape Times. Independent Online. 30 March 2017. Retrieved 11 October 2017.
15. "Royal recognition: Queen Elizabeth bestows a prestigious award on a worthy South African | Rolling Inspiration". Rolling Inspiration. 13 February 2018. Retrieved 30 October 2018.