Viv Vermaak

award winning journalist, writer, director and public speaker

...but ranks play8ing the tall germ, ‘Terie’ in the children’s series “Mina Moo’ as a career highlight. She does Jiu Jitsu and has a ’69 Chev Impala.

Fearless Authenticity

She is perhaps best known for being the most loved and hated presenter on SA’s iconic travel show, ‘Going Nowhere Slowly’ where she gained popularity for her authenticity, bare feet and sharp wit. Her adventurous spirit and curious intellect gathered loyal fans who tuned in on Sundays to share journeys through Africa; up Kilimanjaro, across Lake Malawi and the small towns of South Africa. GNS was one of first shows to attract a cross-cultural audience. In an era before Instagram and reality Tv, she was the first presenter on a top TV show to appear without make-up, without prejudice (and once without a front tooth. Audiences experienced her as so tribeless she was described as being virtually ‘raceless and genderless.” audiences delighted in how she could see the whole world in a chocolate in Swakopmund or solve xxxx in a pub in Germiston, where she is known as ‘The First Lady.” Her even-handed boldness with thoughts and words garnered her a PG rating on one of SA’s top TV shows.

Purposeful Creativity

When she puts on her shoes and combs her hair she is a Creative Director in the marketing and advertising industry, shaping and guiding brands with her trademark results-based guidance and ‘purposeful creativity,’ combining grass-roots insights with big-picture thinking.

As a director, she has delivered work for xxxxx :

As a candidate in our first national democratic elections and via her involvement with the IRR (Institute for Race Relations) she has a unique and hands-on insight into how the South African consumer thinks and responds to messaging.

As a researcher, xxxx

Radical Curiosity

As a writer and journalist she has contributed to investigative productions including Carte Blacnhe, E-Files, Noseweek where she earned the reputation for being the ‘bullshit detector’ and the creative in the team. She has also delievered a variety of documentary, magazine, lifestyle and political items to BiZnews, Business Brief, Vrye Weekblad, De Kat, Getaway, Go, New African, SABC, M-Net, ETv and SAPA amongst others. She is currently a columnist for the Daily Friend and an associate of the Free Market Foundation, where she is known for her incisive social commentary and distinctive style of connecting the dots in an impactful and entertaining way.

Fresh thinker, transformative strategist, springs from authentic connection of the dots. Insights sharp and true.