Andrew Barrett is the Executive Director and co-founder of OLICO Maths Education which he helped establish in 2008. Since then, Andrew has helped grow OLICO into an organisation working with over 3 000 learners in Gauteng, Western Cape and Limpopo. OLICO also indirectly supports a further 8 000 learners through partner schools and NGOs. In addition, OLICO’s online maths resources are used by approximately 13 000 learners across all grades every year.

Andrew is passionate about finding innovative solutions to the challenges facing maths education in South Africa. He is intrigued by the power of maths, as a gateway subject, to create effective and sustainable pathways out of poverty. He is passionate about open-access, fairness and creating conditions for all young people to reach their full potential. He is committed to doing all he can to fight inequality and promote access to opportunities that change lives.

During his time at OLICO, the organisation has won numerous awards including: the Mail & Guardian Investing in the Future Awards for STEM skills; the Premier Service Excellence awards (GP); EduWeek Best Supplier in Education award; EduWeek ICT Implementer of the Year award; the Ministerial Youth Excellence award (WC); and been named runner-up on the Nedbank Bank Private Wealth Foundation’s Innovation during COVID award. 

Prior to his involvement with OLICO, Andrew worked for two years for the Department of Social Services in the United Kingdom and for a variety of NGOs in South Africa. He has coordinated numerous programs for OLICO in education and helped establish the Gauteng branches of IkamvaYouth.