Education
Qualification in Social Work from Huguenot College (University of South Africa).
Master of Arts (MA) in Child and Family Studies from the University of the Western Cape.
Postgraduate studies in Social Policy and Social Interventions at Utrecht University, Netherlands.
Currently pursuing a PhD in Child and Family Studies, focusing on strengthening the inclusion of fathers in policy and programmes in South Africa.
Professional Career
Over 20 years of experience in community development, social policy, and public participation across government, civil society, and community-based structures.
Programme Manager for Children's Rights and Positive Parenting in South Africa; managed social development programmes in Uganda.
Extensive experience in policy development, programme design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation, stakeholder coordination, and community mobilisation.
Key focus areas: community development, HIV/AIDS programmes, family preservation, victim empowerment services, social policy and children's rights.
Involved in public participation in municipal decision-making processes to strengthen community voices and accountability.
Led provincial programmes, policies and intersectoral partnerships.
Experienced in conflict mediation, stakeholder dialogue, and building collaborative solutions across sectors and communities.
Chess Playing and Administrative Career
President of Chess South Africa.
Former President of the Western Cape Chess Association.
Former Deputy President of the West Coast Chess Union.
Captain of Gerrit Du Plessis Secondary School, Chess Team.
Former member of the South Western District Regional Schools Chess Team.
Promotes grassroots and school-level chess development, good governance, and youth participation.
Views chess as a tool for education, discipline, and social development.
Developed Provincial Referral Protocols for Victims of Crime and Violence, including victims of human trafficking, during the FIFA 2010 World Cup in the Western Cape.
Developed a Provincial Service Delivery Programme for victims of human trafficking, in collaboration with the International Office on Migration (IOM) and the South African Police Service (SAPS).
Managed the Provincial Operational Centre for the Department of Social Development during the FIFA 2010 World Cup, as one of many managers.
Facilitated an Intersectoral Victim Empowerment Strategy.
Research and Academic Contribution
Early Career Researcher within the African Research Universities Alliance (ARUA) Centre of Excellence in Notions of Identity, based at Makerere University.
Research focus: fatherhood and family systems, the role of men in child and family wellbeing, and strengthening the inclusion of fathers in policy and programmes.
Current PhD research explores the development of a practical and contextually relevant framework to include fathers in policy and programmes in South Africa.
Research interests include fatherhood, child wellbeing, family strengthening, violence prevention, social development interventions, and gender-responsive policy.
Contributes to research, programme development, and policy work through academic writing, literature reviews, qualitative research, and evidence-based analysis.
Bridges research, policy and practice to ensure that knowledge informs real-world community impact and supports more inclusive, effective and sustainable interventions.
Passionate about building knowledge systems that elevate the role of fathers and strengthen families for thriving communities.