South Africa Entrepreneur, Saul Kornik Is Yale World Fellow

South African entrepreneur and chief executive officer of healthcare firm Africa Health Placements, Saul Kornik, has been named a 2013 World Fellow by America's Yale University.

The World Fellows programme was instituted by the university in its tercentenary year in 2001 as an international leadership training initiative for exceptional professionals.

"Building deliberately upon the university's tradition, the World Fellows Programme provides training to emerging leaders from around the world that reflects a rigourous standard of excellence, a commitment to enquiry and an ongoing pursuit of innovation."

Kornik is one of 16 fellows selected from over 2 500 applicants to take part in the intensive four-month academic enrichment and leadership training course taking place from August to December.

The tally of World Fellows, including the 2013 class, is 238 people from 81 countries.

"The 2013 class joins the extraordinary global network of World Fellows that Yale has been cultivating for more than a decade," Yale president, Richard Levin, said in a statement when the fellows were announced at the beginning of April.

"From the start, our aim has been to encourage leaders to continue learning about important global issues throughout their lives and careers, and to develop a deeper understanding of the perspectives of others."

Kornik co-founded Africa Health Placements (AHP), a firm that provides healthcare to vulnerable communities in South Africa and other countries on the continent.

AHP has placed over 2 500 health workers since its inception in 2005 and provides human resources support to the South African government and healthcare sector which reaches over 10-million people every year.

"The Yale World Fellows Programme consistently attracts outstanding talent," said the programme's director, Michael Cappello.

"The 16 individuals selected this year are each poised to become even more effective change-makers in their societies and around the world."

Kornik joins a group of eight other World Fellows from South Africa. The eight previous World Fellows hailed from South Africa: 

Marianne Camerer, International Director, Global Integrity
Siobhan Cleary, Director of Strategy and Public Policy, Johannesburg Stock Exchange 
Vusi Gumede, Head, Thabo Mbeki African Leadership Institute
Sisonke Msimang, Senior Programmes Director, Sonke Gender Justice Network 
Nicky Newton-King, Chief Executive Officer, Johannesburg Stock Exchange
Mteto Nyati, Managing Director, Microsoft South Africa
Raenette Taljaard, Senior Lecturer, University of Cape Town
Thembi Xulu, Clinical Director, Right to Care .