Refilwe is a seasoned educator with over 30 years of experience and a B.Ed. (Hons) in Education Management, as well as a Postgraduate Diploma in Public Management and specialised training in Senior Phase Mathematics. She has served as a Senior Phase Mathematics Cluster Leader, Deputy Principal, and Principal, guiding both learners and teachers to achieve excellence. Passionate about empowering educators and creating safe, effective learning environments, Refilwe has participated in professional programmes like Teachers 4 Excellence (T4E) at Uplands Outreach, shaping her leadership approach and commitment to quality education. Through mentoring, curriculum innovation, and community engagement, she continues to make a lasting impact on schools and learners. Refilwe is married to Charles Nwenya and has two daughters (Buhle and Pheto) and a son, Welile.