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Positively Alive, Employee Wellness Consultant, Specialist, Accredited, Employee Wellness Training Provider and Employee Health and Wellness Expert.

B-BBEE Exempt - Micro Enterprise Level 4 EME Entity

Accreditation No: 13392

 

About

Alan Brand – Lives openly with his HIV status and is dedicated to making a difference by breaking the silence and changing the mindset of those he comes into contact with.

After completing his studies, Alan worked for a period of 23 years in a various positions throughout the hospitality, tourism and catering sector of South Africa. In January 1997, while working as a District Manager, at Fedics Food Services, he was diagnosed with HIV. He joined The Fedics Group HIV/ AIDS Committee in 1997 and was elected chairperson in 1998. He received the Group Managing Directors Special Recommendation Award for his work as chairperson of The Fedics Group HIV/ AIDS Committee in 2000.

Appointed 2001 - Group National HIV/AIDS Manager for the Fedics Group (Now called Tsebo Outsourcing Group). In 2006, this title changed to Group Wellness Manager (HIV/AIDS), strategically positioning him to effectively and holistically develop and implement employee wellness initiatives for an employee workforce of 15 000.

Appointed in July 2003 - Hospitality and Tourism Sector Representative on the South African National AIDS Council (SANAC). Alan is the founding member of the HIV/AIDS Forum of the hospitality industry. During his term of office he co-author a resource guide entitled “Managing HIV/AIDS for South African Tourism and Hospitality Companies” This handbook has greatly enhanced the sectors ability to mitigate and manage the incidence of HIV/AIDS.

He has project managed the ground breaking approach to the treatment of HIV/AIDS through the introduction of a focus on nutritionally enhanced food products in the workplace. The initiative engages the hospitality sectors core competency to enhance immune wellness and thereby providing a positive impact on general wellness of all employees.  

Alan says, “Most organisations in South Africa have some form of in-house HIV management programme however few have considered the benefit of directly addressing the nutritional intake of employees infected with HIV.   We want to place the focus on living with HIV, not dying of AIDS. While good nutrition will not cure HIV/AIDS, it most certainly can help maintain and improve health. It will also assist in generally boosting the immune levels of all employees thus having a direct and measurable impact on bottom line productivity and the reduction of the costs associated with HIV and AIDS in the working environment.”

 HIV initiatives receive international recognition and awards. During 2005 Fedics, the diverse contract catering division of the Tsebo Outsourcing Group was a finalist in the Global Business Coalition on HIV/AIDS Awards for Business Excellence in the category “Utilising Core Competency”. Receiving International exposure, when this initiative featured in the awards publication, distributed at the international awards gala in Washington DC.

Establishment of Employee Wellness Consultancy Services

Since establishing his own employee wellness consultancy business in 2011, Alan continues to provide the services of employee wellness consultant and specialist wellness trainer, HIV/AIDS programme co-ordinator and employee assistance practitioner (EAP) to an impressive customer base. By developing innovative and customised wellness initiatives for SMME’s, large corporate organisations, businesses and government department, Alan has been able to reach a broad spectrum of employers, employees, associations and organisation in Southern Africa.

 

 

    

Author and motivational speaker:    

Alan’s writes monthly articles for the award winning wellness publication “The Ripple Effect” and is the guest editor of The Ripple Effect World AIDS Day special edition distributed throughout South Africa. These articles have been an inspiration to many people.

During 2004, Metropolitan commissioned Alan to publish his journals/diaries on the Metropolitan Red Ribbon as part of their Living with HIV diary project.

During 2005, he completed a book detailing his experiences in living and thriving with HIV. This book entitled “Positively Alive”, published and distributed through Jacana Media. Copies of this book are currently out of print and as soon as the new edition is published details on where to obtain a copy will be added.

Alan second book, "Positively Alive Recipe Book" was published by Micromega Publication 2014.  The second edition of the Positively Alive Recipe Book was launched in August 2022 at the Durban International Book Fair 

More about the "Positively Alive Recipe Book": -  Good nutrition is vital for people living with HIV. HIV attacks the body’s immune system, making the body less resistant to fighting infections. While nutrients do not destroy the HIV-virus, healthier eating can help you to live a healthier life. The provision of ARVs is vital to this process, and they should be an option and therefore freely available to every South African. However, many medicines and drugs (including ARVs) result in the body losing essential nutrients. Good nutrition will therefore complement and reinforce the effect of any medication taken. This book by Alan Brand provides immune boosting recipes as well as information on nutrition and diet for people living with HIV.

 Other Publications:

 Alan features in many publications and newspapers among others:

You, Huisgenoot and the Drum Magazines

Business Day

South African AIDS Journal

The Sowetan

The Star

Beeld

AIDS Management Report


Clients and Customers
Alan’s activities as a motivational speaker, conference facilitation and training provider are too many to mention but have included:
  • South African – Netherlands Chamber of Commerce 
  • INFO Chef
  • Daimler Chrysler Management  
  • The Postal Regulator 
  • Ministry of Basic Education – Namibia. 
  • Swaziland Business Coalition on HIV/AIDS 
  • American Embassy 
  • Premiers Office Gauteng
  • Department of Foreign Affairs
  • Tourism, Hospitality Education and Training Authority (THETA) 
  • Department of Local Government and Traditional Affairs 
  • SAPS 
  • Namzinc at the Skorpion mine at Rosh Pinah, Namibia 
  • SANPARKS - HO
  • IQPC, INTEGRATED EMPLOYEE WELLNESS PROGRAMMES CONFERENCE, 
  • EXXARO 
  • LANXESS 
  • AECI 
  • Netcare HO    
  • Johannesburg Water Services    
  • Denel PMP Pretoria 
  • Denel HO Irene Campus, Centurion Pretoria  
  • Voorspoed Mine – De Beers    
  • Right to Care 
  • Tsebo Outsourcing Group 
  • Ripple Effect (MicroMega Publications) 
  • Pannar Seeds – Greytown 
  • Harmony Mines – Secunda 
  • Swaziland – Royal Swazi Sugar Corporation 
  • Concepts Africa Professional Training And Conference Events
  • Department of Co-Operative Development and Traditional Affairs 
  • Richards Bay Coal Terminal 
  • South African Blood Services  (SANBS)   
  • Ministry of Education Namibia 
  • Working for Water, Skukuza - Kruger National Park 
  • Barrick, Lumwana Zambia, 
  • SA Reserve Bank 
  • SA Diamond and Precious Metal Regulator 
  • Munich Re Insurance  
  • Mulotec 
  • HealthinSite
  • Babcock
  • Bophelong Construction 
  • Lake International - Botswana Ash
  • Kumba Tabazimbi Iron Ore - Anglo American
  • Black Mountain Mine - Agenneys (Vendanta Company)
  • The De Beers Group of Companies 
  • Department of Arts and Culture - Pretoria
  • MSD - Midrand
  • Invincible Valves
  • Consolidated Power Projects (Pty) Ltd
  • Careways 

 These and many more are the current satisfied clients of Positively Alive.