Karen Newman appointed Facilities Manager – Africa for Inspired Education Group. Inspired Education Group has appointed Karen Newman as Facilities Manager – Africa. Based at Reddam House Durbanville, Karen will oversee facilities operations across the group’s schools in South Africa and Mauritius.

She joins Inspired from Tsebo Facilities Solutions, where she built a career spanning more than two decades in facilities and operations management, with extensive experience managing large, multi-site portfolios. In her new role, Karen is responsible for maintaining Inspired’s brand standards across its campuses, while ensuring that school environments remain safe, well-managed and conducive to learning.

“Parents need to feel comfortable leaving their children in our care, knowing the schools are clean, safe and well looked after,” she says. “At the same time, our environments must inspire learners and support the way education continues to evolve.” Her early focus has been on understanding the unique needs of each campus and building strong relationships with school leadership teams. “Each school has its own requirements,” she says. “It’s important to take an individual approach and understand where support is needed most.” Karen is also overseeing major capital developments across the portfolio, aimed at ensuring facilities remain relevant, modern and aligned with the demands of contemporary education.

Karen Newman

“These projects show parents that investment in their children’s education is meaningful,” she says. “They also ensure our schools remain current across academics, sport and culture, and don’t become dated in a fast-moving world.”Balancing construction with day-to-day school operations remains a key priority. “The biggest challenge is ensuring that learning is not disrupted. Construction timelines are tight, but a learner’s ability to concentrate must always come first.” Karen brings a strong service-led approach to the role, shaped by her early career in hospitality. “Facilities management is about relationships and service delivery. It’s about how you communicate and how you treat people at every level.”

Q&A with Karen Newman

What experience from your career has best prepared you for this role? Client relationships are central to facilities management. My background in hospitality and my time at Tsebo taught me the importance of service, communication and understanding both operational and technical aspects of the role.

How would you describe your leadership style? I take a coaching approach. It’s about understanding people’s strengths, developing their weaknesses, and building a team that works well together. I encourage people to think for themselves and learn from experience.

What makes facilities management in schools different from other sectors? It’s about the learner experience. The spaces must support teaching and learning, so the focus is very different from other environments.

What is your vision for Inspired’s campuses in Africa? To see well-maintained, attractive campuses that parents are proud of and that contribute to growing enrolment.

How do you define success? Seeing projects completed and being used as intended. When learners are thriving in those spaces and teachers enjoy coming to work, you know you’ve done your job.

What motivates you about working in education? Knowing that what we do shapes environments where future generations grow and learn. Schools are places people remember for life.

What is one misconception about facilities management? That it’s purely a maintenance function. Much of the work happens behind the scenes, but it has a significant impact when it’s not done well.