--- title: "Meet Our Course Facilitators" description: "Get to know the engineers and consultants behind Pragma Academy's training, bringing real asset management and financial expertise to the classroom." image: https://www.pragmaworld.net/wp-content/uploads/pragma-social-placeholder-blue.jpg canonical: https://www.pragmaworld.net/academy/meet-our-course-facilitators/ url: https://pragma-world.getmd.ai/academy/meet-our-course-facilitators/.md last_converted: 2026-10-07T17:28:03.362Z --- # Working with the Pragma Academy means that you’re in good hands At it’s core, Pragma is a team of engineers. This sets us apart from many other organisations delivering services within the asset management space, who typically approach it from a purely financial, IT, consulting or process outsourcing perspective. We not only have the required aptitude in those elements, but we also understand physical assets. ### Success team ##### Arnold Botha Innovation and training are part of Arnold’s DNA and, as Partner Consultant at the Pragma Academy and one of its frontline trainers, he is directly involved in the Academy’s current transformation to become a leading asset management training organisation. Read Arnold’s bio #### Arnold Botha Arnold was one of the original founding members of Pragma and also developed its first training maintenance management courses in the early 90s. He then moved to CCI to live out his passion for TPM and lean manufacturing, whilst developing CCI’s TRACC toolkit and associated suite of training courses. During this time he gained widespread global experience in the successful implementation of TPM in manufacturing operations. In 2008 he returned to Pragma to take responsibility for the development and packaging of The Pragma Way, in the form of an asset management maturity assessment, a set of asset management business processes and supporting training. Since 2013, he has lectured on a part-time basis at the University of Pretoria as part of a Masters degree in Engineering Management. The rapidly changing world of training and the growing need for effective asset management training, inspired Arnold to propose the formation of a global academy within Pragma with a mandate to transform the way we train our internal consultants and our clients. Arnold is actively involved in all aspects of the business – training, sales, development and delivery. He holds an Industrial Engineering degree from the University of Pretoria, as well as an MBA from the same university. He has successfully completed certificated exams in asset management from the IAM and SAAMA. ##### Tim Beavon Tim’s experience in various facets of asset management has opened his eyes to the opportunities and importance in industry for adults to continuously learn and absorb lessons from the fast-changing world around us. Read Tim’s bio #### Tim Beavon Tim Beavon is the Academy Operations Manager within the Pragma Group of companies. With more than 25 years of experience in various facets of asset management from Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) manufacturing to the municipal environment Tim has consulted and worked widely within industry. Tim’s experience has opened his eyes to the opportunities and importance in industry for adults to continuously learn and absorb lessons from the fast-changing world around us. No longer is the education from universities or technikons sufficient for the life of work; we need to make learning painless and seamless for even the most operational employee. Tim is a registered professional electrical engineer, certified asset management practitioner with the IAM and certified physical asset management practitioner with SAAMA. ##### Darryl Aberdein Darryl Aberdein is an asset management consultant that specialises in helping responsible asset owners develop ISO55000 aligned asset management policies, strategies and plans that lead to tangible and sustainable long term value creation. Read Darryl’s bio #### Darryl Aberdein Darryl’s expertise covers the whole spectrum of asset management, with particularly deep insights in the maintenance work management process and the tools that support good practices. As a result, he is often used as a process expert when clients are implementing new enterprise asset management systems. Darryl works in all sectors but most enjoys working in the extreme capital intensive industries such as utilities, heavy industry and mining. Darryl enjoys sharing his knowledge and often presents asset management training and is involved in course development as a subject matter expert. He is registered as an assessor for asset management with the manufacturing SETA. Darryl is an external examiner at Wits and Stellenbosch universities. Darryl is a Professional Engineer and has passed the SAAMA SCPP, and CMRP exams. He holds an MSc (Engineering), a BCom and an MBA in Technology Management from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Darryl’s thesis was related to good capital asset acquisition decisions where there is large demand variability. ##### Pieter van Heerden Pieter’s years of involvement with HSSE compliance and training has given him a deep understanding of the importance of managing risk through quality training and ensuring competence in HSSE for the workforce. Read Pieter's bio #### Pieter van Heerden Pieter van Heerden is a Project Engineer who supports a variety of clients in implementing asset management projects. His vast experience, from EAMS systems to consulting and training interventions, allows him to assist clients to improve asset performance and impart knowledge and skills to resources. After starting his career as a Development Engineer in the automotive industry, and later as an FMC Engineer in the petrochemical industry, Pieter is very familiar with manufacture and design requirements in a high pace manufacturing environment, as well as having excellent insight into asset management best practices and the importance thereof in an exceedingly regulated corporate industry. Pieter’s years of involvement with HSSE compliance and training has given him a deep understanding of the importance of managing risk through quality training and ensuring competence in HSSE for the workforce. Pieter has travelled extensively, both locally and internationally, to support clients in their specific needs in physical asset management and HSSE Permit to Work and Authorised Gas Tester needs. Pieter is a trained and accredited facilitator. Pieter holds a B.Eng (Mechanical) degree from the University of Stellenbosch.