Management Team
Barry Kaganson
Founder,
Chief Executive Officer
Barry Kaganson - Founder, Chief Executive Officer
Barry Kaganson founded Auria Senior Living in 2017, in response to limited senior living options available for older adults in South Africa. Since inception, Auria has grown into the country’s leading owner and operator of CCRC’s and sets the benchmark for this now growing local industry.
Barry is a Chartered Accountant by profession, with a deep understanding of raising and efficiently deploying capital to maximise returns out of operational real estate, an area he believes enables providers of capital, and developers to add significant value to people's lives.
Prior to founding Auria, Barry founded South Africa’s now largest and leading owner/operator of purpose-built off campus student housing.
In addition to his finance and property experience, Barry also spent time running a large division of a FTSE-100 global mining / commodity house, and subsequently many years in corporate restructuring and turnaround, as well as asset-backed and property finance.
Barry is passionate about enhancing the quality of life of older adults, both within the Auria communities in South Africa and beyond. He considers himself fortunate to have built a team of like-minded individuals, and feels it a privilege to be able to share his experience, challenges and successes in the hope that it benefits older adults around the world, and those that serve them.
Rafael Eliasov
Non-Executive
Director
Rafael Eliasov - Non-Executive Director
Rafael is an admitted Attorney of the High Court of South Africa, with a BCom Finance and Law from the University of the Witwatersrand as well as an HDip Tax from the University of Johannesburg.
Rafael practiced as an attorney with ENS Africa, where after he joined Investec Equity Partners for several years, before being appointed a director of Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyer. Rafael joined Stockdale Street, the advisor to the Private Equity interests of the Mary Oppenheimer family, in 2018, and currently represents the interests of Stockdale Street on the board of the Auria Group.
Nicole Cohen
Head of Sales and
Legal
Nicole Cohen - Head of Sales and Legal
After completing university with a BA LLB degree, Nicole qualified as an attorney and practised law for twenty years before choosing to take a break from work/mother life to focus on her two children through their later school years.
With both her children having left home to pursue their university studies, Nicole decided it was time to re-enter the working world and explore her more recently discovered interest in senior living, understanding that a job in this arena would challenge her to utilise her varied strengths and skills gained over time. Nicole holds the position as Legal Manager of the Auria Group, and heads up the Sales Team.
“Whilst assisting my ageing parents in planning for their later years, I recognised the importance for elderly people to belong to a community that acknowledges and respects them as individuals who still occupy a valuable place in society, not in spite of, but rather because of, the many years they have “under their belt”. This spurred a determination to help facilitate as many seniors as possible to achieve a place in an Auria community, which does that, and more”.
Nicole’s favourite pastimes include travelling to interesting places, walking for both pleasure and exercise, and spending time with her husband, two adult children, family and friends, preferably sharing an excellent meal, a few glasses of wine, and plenty of laughter.
Rui Antunes
Group Operations
Officer
Rui Antunes - Group Operations Officer
In 2018 Rui joined Auria as General Manager of San Sereno, leading the team that transformed this retirement village into an award-winning internationally-recognised senior living community. In 2021 he was given the opportunity to oversee all hospitality services at Auria as Group Operations Manager.
Rui holds a degree in Hospitality Management from the University of Johannesburg. Before Auria, he spent over ten years managing 5-star corporate hotels and luxury apartment properties in the hospitality industry. Rui’s areas of responsibility spanned the full spectrum of hospitality services in highly demanding and challenging environments.
"Being a 'people's person' is critical to what we do. Ultimately, everyone just wants to enjoy their life as much as possible. We enjoy the work we do – and I like to think that this enjoyment is ‘contagious’ – it permeates the community – that's what we aim to do."
In his personal time, Rui is most often found with his 7-year-old son at the race track, coaching and working with him on his kart.
Louise Sole
Head of Care and
Wellbeing
Louise Sole - Head of Care and Wellbeing
Louise joined the Auria team in May 2022, as Head of Care and Wellbeing and oversees the entire Care and Wellbeing function nationally. A Registered Nurse in Intensive Care, Midwifery and Psychiatrist nursing laid a strong foundation after doing a Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) to be a hospital general manager of a leading multidisciplinary private hospital for 13 years in Johannesburg.
The extensive organisational management experience coupled with the clinical knowledge has allowed Louise to be an advocate and carer of older people. The understanding that physical activity, social connectedness and quality of life are essential to maintaining well-being in older adults underpins her role to ensure that Auria standards are met and improved across the group.
Mario Maree
General Manager
San Sereno
Mario Maree - General Manager
Mario, our General Manager at San Sereno, was born and raised in Cape Town, and studied Hotel Management after school, before gaining two years of work experience in the UK.
He has been in hospitality for nearly 20 years, working for high-end establishments such as One and Only (as the Banquet Manager), Madame Zingara (as the General Manager), The Mount Nelson, The Rockwell, and a 5-star hotel in Lagos, Nigeria. Mario moved to Johannesburg a few months ago.
Mario and his wife see themselves as “foodies” and enjoy experiencing different restaurants and cuisines. He is a big motorsport fan with a family history in amateur motor racing. His favourite pastime is watching live motorsport racing, or the televised Formula 1 on a Sunday afternoon.
Johann Nienaber
General Manager
Melrose Manor
Johann Nienaber - General Manager of Melrose Manor
Johann has extensive hospitality experience and has been a part of our Auria team since 2020 where he joined as the executive chef and was promoted to GM in 2022.
Having graduated from the HTA Hotel school in 2003 Johann comes with 23 years of knowledge in well-known establishments such as the Leonardo Hotel, Protea Hotel, Compass Group SA to name a few.
As GM, Johann oversees all hospitality and day-to-day operations at Melrose Manor to make every day as special as he can for our residents.
In his spare time, you can find Johann outdoors camping and hiking or at his dojo practicing mixed martial arts.
In Johann’s own words,” Discipline leads to habits, Habits leads to consistency, Consistency leads to Growth”
Melissa Gabriel
General Manager
Woodside
Melissa Gabriel - Woodside General Manager
A hospitality veteran with 20 years of experience in the field of hotels where she gained vast knowledge in all spheres of the industry and finally closed her hotel chapter as General Manager.
Melissa began her Hospitality Career with the Protea Group and worked in numerous departments at well-known properties such as Fire & Ice (Cape Town), Crystal Towers, 15 on Orange and Protea Tygervalley for over 10 years.
In 2017 she left Protea to join the Raddison group working at the Raddison Red in Cape Town before relocating to the United Arab Emirates to form part of the opening team that opened the first Raddison Red in Dubai.
After graduating from Pinelands High School in 2002, moved on to achieving her certificate in Hospitality Management at The Cape Town Hotel School and recently completed her certificate in Entrepreneurship Essentials from Harvard Business School.
Mel is an avid animal lover with a passion for people and of course, tea!
Melissa is extremely excited to join Auria and Woodside and in her own words, “I am so excited to listen to your life stories and create meaningful experiences together!"
Lisa Strydom
General Manager
Royal View
Lisa Strydom - General Manager Royal View
Lisa has extensive local and international hospitality experience and has been a part of our Auria Team for many years. As GM, Lisa oversees all hospitality and day-to-day operations at Royal View, in her friendly and engaging manner.
In her words “I have been fortunate to have made a career by living my passion for people and together with Auria, ensuring that our residents live their best quality of life every single day. After so much hard work and planning, I am excited to bring Royal View to life. I look forward to meeting our residents and their families – Introducing them to the best that Auria offers in this sublime and unique location.”
Emma Hooyberg
Group Infrastructure and Development Director
Emma Hooyberg - Group Infrastructure and Development Director
Emma joined Auria Senior Living in May this 2024, bringing a wealth of experience and a fresh perspective to our team. Born and bred in Cape Town, she graduated from UCT with a BSc (Hons) in Property Studies. Emma’s career began in private equity property funds, where she excelled as an analyst and portfolio manager. Her strong foundation led her to Akeso Clinics (a subsidiary of Netcare), where she managed hospital developments and infrastructure projects. Emma's dedication and expertise earned her a promotion to Group Commercial Manager, a role that broadened her exposure to various business areas, fostering growth and strategic development.
“I am thrilled to have joined Auria as the Development and Infrastructure Director, with the anticipation that I will bring my development and operational experience to the portfolio,” says Emma. Her vision for Auria is one of continued growth and success, leveraging her extensive background to enhance our developments and operations.
Beyond her professional achievements, Emma is a dynamic individual with a love for life. She is partial to a good game of Padel and knows a thing or two about the Joburg Dine Out scene! However, it's being a hands-on mom to her 8-year-old daughter that truly has her heart.
Known for her bright and warm nature, Emma is a valued addition to our Auria Team and we look forward to her contributions in the continued growth and success of Auria Senior Living.
AWARDS
International Award Winning Senior Living Communities
Local and international recognition for designing, building and operating South Africa’s leading senior living communities.
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Is it possible to be over 70 and experience true peace of mind? We’d like to think so. Every Auria Senior Living community provides a fulfilling way of life in a serene and secure environment… a way of life that is focused on your interests and wellbeing. We take care of everything. All that’s left is for you to enjoy your best quality of life. Every single day.