Meet Our Team
Robin Vela
Chairman and Founder
Robin is the Founder and Chairman of Firstmile Properties (Pty) Ltd which is a subsidiary of Lonsa Group Limited (“Lonsa”), a Mauritius-incorporated principal impact investment holding entity in industrials (building solutions), energy, logistics, and affordable housing sectors in the SADC region. Robin is also the Chairman of the Catapult Group, an industrial manufacturing and distribution of construction material group with an 80-year+ history.
He is also the former Chairman of the National Social Security Authority of Zimbabwe (“NSSA”) and former Chairman of First Mutual Wealth (Private) Limited, institutions with over US$2.75 billion and US$375 million of assets under management respectively under his watch. He is a professionally qualified and experienced Investment Banker; and Fellow of both the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (“ICAEW”) and the UK Chartered Securities Institute. In 2016, He was appointed to the ICAEW Member’s Advisory Board for Africa. In 2017, Robin was named the Megafeast Business Leader of the Year in Zimbabwe.
Robin is also a member of the Institute of Directors in Southern Africa and the past Patron of the African Institute of Petroleum. He is also a former appointed consultant to the World Bank and IFC.
He has held numerous public listed and private company directorships including Create Ventures Limited, Create Partners Limited, NSSA, SacOil Holdings Limited, First Mutual Holdings Limited, First Mutual Wealth Limited, First Banking Corporation Holdings Limited, FBC Reinsurance Limited, Firstmile Properties Private Limited, and Lonsa Group Limited. Robin graduated with an honours degree in Economics and Accounting from Bristol University.
Ronell Van Deventer
Head of Property Management
Ronell plays a key role in driving operational excellence and sustainable asset performance.
She is a senior property and financial management professional with over 20 years of experience spanning municipal finance, sectional title schemes, and large-scale rental property portfolios.
She began her career at the Ekurhuleni Municipality, progressing from Billing Clerk to Accountant, and was responsible for the billing and financial oversight of more than 35,000 accounts. This foundation provided her with deep expertise in financial governance, compliance, and large-scale systems management.
Ronell brings extensive experience in property operations, financial controls, and the implementation of robust procedures that enhance efficiency, transparency, and long-term value creation. She is particularly passionate about the rental property and inner-city housing market, and believes strongly in unlocking asset value through disciplined management, strong controls, and skilled execution.