Head Office

Meet our team

Our National Operations Centre (NOC), relies on a small team of dedicated co-ordinators to provide client access, mission co-ordination services and the collection, recording & distribution of data to mention a few. The newest addition to the AMS team resides in this Department; today we get to know Dean Oliver, NOC Coordinator.

Who is Dean Olivier? “I can’t remember where I was born, I also didn’t really ask. I am sure it was in a hospital in Cape Town somewhere (lol). I lived in Atlantis initially but also grew up largely on the Cape Flats specifically Mitchells Plain and Delft where I still reside today. I matriculated from Roosendal High School in 2003 and studied & qualified from the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) in 2011.”

Were you in any other trade before? “Since matric I have been in the EMS environment. For three years I worked in the call centre industry, but this too required the use of my EMS knowledge.”

Why did you choose to join the AMS? “I think the question should be why AMS chose me. It is a field I have never experienced before so it offers me personal growth in an industry, I have no experience in (aviation). I also have a chance to be the coolest dad when I bring my son for a tour of the base.”

If you could master one skill you don’t have right now, what would it be? “Ummmm… tough question… be a pro at trading the foreign exchange, I guess.”

What do you do in your spare time? “Relax with family, going fishing and playing FIFA.”

What might someone be surprised to know about you? “I go fishing.”

What do you enjoy most about your job? “I enjoy the fact that every day poses new challenges. The challenges range from poor flying weather conditions to dealing with excel documents; but most importantly I enjoy the fact that AMS is a family. In my short tenure here, I have seen how pilots, medical crew, engineers and operations centre staff work together and all of this is in aid of flying our patients safely and rescuing the injured. Besides, who does not enjoy being part of a team who operates like a well fuelled and maintained AgustaWestland rescue helicopter?”

What is on your bedside table? “I don’t have one. But next time you ask the question I certainly will.”

If you could have dinner with five famous people from history, who would they be? “Winston Churchill - led Britain to victory in the Second World War; Madiba - widely regarded as an icon of democracy and social justice; Florence Nightingale – the woman who changed the face of nursing forever; Thomas Edison – Inventor The Phonograph, Light Bulb, The Motion Picture; Leonardo da Vinci - one of the world’s greatest thinkers, artists and philosophers.”

When your friends/family find out what you do, what do they say or ask? “When can we fly.”

What has been the happiest day of your life? “The day I married my wife Nicole.”

If you could do another job for just one day, what would it be? “To be part of the AMS flight medical crew.”

What is your greatest indulgence? “Playing video games.”

What is the one thing, you can’t live without? “My family.”

What is the one quality you feel best describes you? “Always willing to help.”

Best piece of advice anyone ever gave you? “Never underestimate the power of 1.”

Do you have a life philosophy? “To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.”

Meet our team ...

Today we introduce Simthembile Gadezweni, who has taken up the position of IT Support within our organisation. Sim as he is affectionately known is part of the AMS family for a whole week! Here’s a look into his world…

Tell us about yourself: “I was born in Cape Town however I am originally from the Eastern Cape in a Town called Tsolo. I completed my Primary School studies at Thembani PP School, later I went on to complete my higher grades at LEAP Science and Maths Schools. I furthered my education at Cape Peninsula University of Technology where I studied IT.”

Why did you choose AMS: “I chose AMS because I actually liked what the company does, for me this is more than a job it’s a learning curve.  This is one NPO that change people’s lives.”

What do you do in your spare time? “I spend most of my spare time with family and friends.”

What might someone be surprised to know about you? “You would be surprised that I am much younger than I look.”

What do you enjoy most about your job? “What I enjoy the most about my job is the fact that I get to interact with different personalities. I face unexpected challenges everyday so I learn new things every day.”

What has been the happiest day of your life? “The happiest day of my life was when I got my first job.”

If you could do another job for just one day, what would it be? “If there is any job I would want to do just for day is to sit in the President’s chair.”

What is the one quality you feel best describes you? “One quality that best describes me is compassionate.”

Best piece of advice anyone ever gave you? “The best advice I ever got was from my high school teacher he said never let anyone say you are lucky, because what they call luck, is your preparation meeting new opportunities.”

Meet our team ...

We welcome Nokhanyo Mntsokobha, Business Management intern to the AMS family. Nokhanyo has been with the organisation for two weeks and will be shadowing the various Departments at AMS to gain exposure and experience in order to complete her Diploma. We trust this career development will allow her to explore her interests and develop professional skills and competencies in her Business Administration career. Here’s a look into her world.

Tell us about yourself: “I was born in Johannesburg in a place called Natalspruit Hospital in 1995. I lived there until 2004 and moved to the Eastern Cape (ELLIOT DALE, XHORHA) to complete my Primary School education. In 2008 I came to Cape Town, I studied at ID Mkhize BCM High School in Gugulethu. I was doing Commerce studies until I completed my matric in 2013. After matric I got married. I now have two beautiful daughters, a three-year-old and a 7 month old. In 2016 I enrolled to the College of Cape Town to pursue my studies in Business Management.”

Were you in any other trade before? “I was once a retail student at Shoprite.”

Why did you choose to join the AMS? “I choose to join AMS because I want to observe and learn new things in the business world. I want to gain experience in order to complete my Diploma.”

If you could master one skill you don’t have right now, what would it be? “To drive.”

What do you do in your spare time? “I spend time with my family. I am also a hair dresser.”

What might someone be surprised to know about you? “I am not a talkative person. There is nothing surprising about me, what you see is what you get.”

What do you enjoy most about your job? “To have my own space, working with figures and computers and to assist where I can.”

If you could have dinner with five famous people from history, who would they be? “My High school friends. To memorise our high school moments.”

When your friends/family find out what you do, what do they say or ask?

“My friends ask how did I get it and my family would ask about my salary, is it permanent. My husband asks ‘can you book a ticket for me with less price?’”

What has been the happiest day of your life? “It will have to be my birthday, the 24^th of December because everyone is there my family and my friends.”

If you could do another job for just one day, what would it be? “I would love to be a Nurse.”

What is your greatest indulgence? “Red meat, energy drinks and eating dried food.”

What is the one thing, you can’t live without? “My family. My life.”

What is the one quality you feel best describes you? “My personality.”

Best piece of advice anyone ever gave you? “I must fight for what I want. My mother said I must learn to be independent and supportive.”

Do you have a life philosophy? “Do what you want, don’t mind what people will say because they will always have something to say.”

Team focus

After 13 and a half years at AMS, Gadija closed her working chapter yesterday and is off to enjoy all the beautiful things life has in store for her. Here’s a look into the life of a true Red Crosser …

Tell us about yourself: “I was born, bred and schooled in Cape Town.  I have a son

and daughter; my daughter is married and I have three grandsons, they are my world.”

Tell us about your journey with The South African Red Cross Society (SARCS): “I started with the SA Red Cross Society as a receptionist, went through different Departments; worked in the training department - received my silver medal, then taught basic first aid to primary school learners thereafter I moved to Public Relations & Fundraising and successfully raised much needed funds for the Society. I became the confidential secretary at Wynberg office then moved to the National Office as Administrative Manager and PA to the Secretary General. I was with SARCS for 20 years, when the National Office moved to Gauteng, I joined AMS in August 2005.” 

Were you in any other trade before? “Having attended secretarial college, I was always involved in secretarial work. My first job was an admin clerk at an insurance company in Cape Town, then as secretary to a Bank Manager & stand-in teller at a small branch bank in Athlone.”

Why did you choose to join the AMS?  “It was an easy choice, a bit like a continuation of what I was already doing.  Besides, once a Red Crosser, always a Red Crosser.”

If you could master one skill you don’t have right now, what would it be? “I wish I had studied to be a psychologist, or school teacher.  I feel I have the underlying ability to bring out the best in children.”

What do you do in your spare time? “I design and make my own clothes and sometimes for others. I love creative challenges, whether its cooking, baking, making jewellery.”

What might someone be surprised to know about you? “After divorce and kids all grown up, I enjoyed “me-time” I took some guitar lessons and surprised my family one night after dinner with some Spanish classics – I received a standing ovation.... hahaha!!  I don’t think I was so good they were just overwhelmingly surprised!  I also joined a sports club running half marathons.  I ran a race in Istanbul, which was my best run. Oh and I met Prince Charles, quite a ‘prince charming.”

What is on your bedside table? “Bedside lamp, Bubbly chocolate, a novel A Thousand Splendid Suns by author Khaled Hosseini which I am reading again after four years, he is brilliant, his other book The Kite Runner is also a great read.”

If you could have dinner with five famous people from history, who would they be? “Queen Victoria and her Indian lover, Jackie Kennedy, Coco Chanel and

Khalil Gibran.”

When your friends/family find out what you do, what do they say or ask? “I bet

you get good rates on international flights.”

What has been the happiest day of your life? “I get an adrenaline rush every time I depart to fly to a distant holiday destination.”

If you could do another job for just one day, what would it be? “Be a stylist to the stars – fashion is my passion!”

What is your greatest indulgence? “Spoiling those I love.”

What is the one thing, you can’t live without?  “Lipstick!”

What is the one quality you feel best describes you? “Loyal.”

Best piece of advice anyone ever gave you?  "Running teaches you, perhaps more than anything else, that there's no reason to fear starting lines...or other new beginnings” -  Amby Burfoot.

Do you have a life philosophy?  “The best thing about the future, is that you can take it one day at a time.”

Any parting words of wisdom? “Don’t take yourself so seriously, no one else does.”