District Governor Elect Grace Van Zyl

Grace Van Zyl is a Financial Life Strategist by profession and a serial entrepreneur by nature with the equivalent of a Masters Degree in Financial Planning,  She recently merged her financial planning practice with Apio Wealth, an independent fee-based financial services company. She is the founder and owner of multiple brands, including:
  • A Woman’s Financial Toolkit, providing financial education to women through their various stages of life
  • Your Legacy, Drafting Wills and winding up of estates
  • Financial Savvy Network, which provides consumer education on financial matters, wills, trusts, and estates
  • Cottage of Grace, her latest venture—an exclusive guest house
In 2010, Grace authored Financial Savvy, a program that has been, and still is successfully rolled out in previously disadvantaged communities. Over the years, she has contributed to various publications, with her most recent works being featured in:
  • Voices of Peace, authored by Rotary Peace Fellow Dr. Susan Hartley (April 2025)
  • Peace Workbook, authored by Vasanthi Ranganathan (March 2025)
 
Rotary and Peacebuilding
A dedicated Rotarian since 2010, Grace began her journey at Rotary Club of Benoni Aurora, serving as President in 2015/16. In 2019, she joined Rotary Club of Johannesburg, leading them to their centennial and serving as President for two consecutive years.
Her current Rotary leadership roles include:
  • Director – Africa Portfolio for Rotary International Action Group for Peace 2021-2026
  • CEO of the Foundation for Southern Africa Rotary Clubs 2023-2026
  • Rotary District 9400 Assistant Governor 2023-2026
  • Rotary District 9400 Membership Chair 2025-2026
  • Incoming Rotary District Governor for 2026-2027
Grace is an avid peacebuilder who founded Southern Africa’s first Peace Builder Club in 2020 and was appointed Peace Builder Club Chair for District 9400. In 2021, she played a key role in launching the Africa Peace Hour and is a regional leader representing Southern Africa. She is also a Peace Ambassador for the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP) and the Immediate Past Chair of the Rotary Action Group for Peace (RAGFP).
Recognitions and Accolades
In her professional capacity Grace was recognised as one of the top ten (8th) financial advisors in South Africa in 2005 from more than 15 000 advisors at the time by the Financial Planning Institute of South Africa.           
Grace is a multiple Paul Harris Fellow (6), Benefactor, Bequest Society Member, Paul Harris Society Member, and Polio Plus Society Member. She also received a Citation for Meritorious Service from the Trustees of The Rotary Foundation (2022).
Beyond Rotary
Grace is married to John Bintcliffe and has three children: Charl, Chris, and Danae. She is also a devoted granny-mom to Zane, who recently turned 13.
In her spare time, she enjoys entertaining, spending time with friends, camping, and mastering the saxophone through London’s Trinity College of Music.