Dr Volmink was born and raised in Athlone, Cape Town in South Africa. He started his academic career at the University of Western Cape, where he completed the BSc degree in Mathematics, Applied Mathematics and Physics and then completed the BSc(Hons) degree in Physics in 1975. He later went to Cornell University, Ithaca NY, where he completed the MSc (1983) and PhD (1988) in mathematics education.

He started his career as a high school teacher and later became the Head of Mathematics at the then Peninsula Technikon. He also held various other teaching positions including the University of Western Cape, University of Cape Town and Cornell University. He returned to Southern Africa in 1990 after almost a decade in the USA.

After a brief stay at the University of Botswana in Gaborone he returned to South Africa in 1991 and immediately got involved in development initiatives as the Director of the Centre for Advancement of Science and Mathematics Education at UKZN in Durban as well as other partnership programmes in KwaZulu-Natal and elsewhere in South Africa.

Dr Volmink later served as Campus Vice-Principal at the then University of Natal, Durban and later became Pro-Vice Chancellor: Partnerships at the University of KwaZulu-Natal until 2004. He was the Principal and Chief Executive Officer of Cornerstone Christian College for five years. He very recently served as Interim Vice-Chancellor at Durban University of Technology. He holds the position of Extraordinary Professor at North West University, Mafikeng Campus.

He has also been centrally involved in curriculum reform in post-apartheid South Africa and has been asked by all four Ministers of Education to play a leading role in the transformation of education in the new South Africa. He has also served on several Ministerial Task Teams involving education.

He has served for four years as the Chairperson of Umalusi Council (re-appointed for the period 2014 to 2018), the statutory body that monitors and improves the quality of general and further education and training in South Africa and more recently the CEO of the National Education Evaluation and Development Unit (NEEDU).

Dr Volmink continues to provide leadership on the Boards of several South African non-governmental development organisations and Foundations involved in education, health and community upliftment and has also been involved in a Leadership Development Programme for Members of Parliament.

He has served three university councils, viz, University of Kwazulu Natal, Durban University of Technology and Cape Peninsula University of Technology.

Dr. Max Price is a distinguished academic and administrator who has made significant contributions to higher education and institutional leadership, particularly in the field of medicine and university management.

He earned his Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBCh) from the University of the Witwatersrand (WITS) in the late 1970s. His interest in medicine and healthcare would later intersect with his passion for education and leadership. Following his graduation, Max Price worked as a medical doctor for several years, gaining valuable experience in the healthcare sector. This early experience provided him with a deep understanding of the healthcare system in South Africa, which would prove invaluable in his future roles. Max also earned a BA (Hons) PPE from Oxford University, an M.Sc in Community Health from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and a Diploma in Occupational Health from Wits University.

Dr. Price’s leadership abilities were recognised early in his career, and he assumed various roles within the academic community. Notably, he served as the Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences at WITS University from 1996 to 2006, where he played a crucial role in expanding the faculty’s research and teaching capabilities. His tenure also saw a focus on promoting diversity and inclusivity within the university.

In 2008, Max Price was appointed as the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cape Town, one of the leading universities in Africa. Under his leadership, UCT continued to thrive academically and became renowned for its commitment to social justice, sustainability, and excellence in research and teaching.

During his tenure as Vice-Chancellor, Max Price faced various challenges, including student protests and financial pressures, but he remained committed to creating an inclusive and socially responsible institution. His vision for UCT emphasised access to quality education for all, regardless of socio-economic background.

Dr. Max Price’s leadership at the University of Cape Town left a lasting legacy. He strengthened UCT’s global reputation and positioned it as a leading institution in Africa. His dedication to advancing healthcare, education, and social justice in South Africa has had a significant and positive impact on both the university and the country as a whole.

He also consults in public health, higher education, strategic leadership and advises foundations on research grant making. 

Charles Villa-Vicencio is a prominent South African theologian, academic, and human rights advocate who has played a significant role in the country’s struggle against apartheid and its subsequent transition to democracy. Born in New York City, his life and career have been marked by a commitment to social justice, reconciliation, and the promotion of human rights.

Villa-Vicencio’s early life was shaped by his deep concern for issues of racial injustice and inequality. He earned a Bachelor of Divinity degree from the Theological School of Drew University in New Jersey and a Master of Theology degree from Princeton Theological Seminary. These academic pursuits laid the foundation for his lifelong dedication to theology and human rights.

His journey to South Africa in the 1960s was a pivotal moment in his life. During this period, apartheid was in full force, and the country was deeply divided along racial lines. Villa-Vicencio quickly became involved in the anti-apartheid movement, working alongside prominent figures like Desmond Tutu and Allan Boesak. His efforts were concentrated on advocating for justice, equality, and reconciliation in a country torn apart by racial discrimination.

In the 1980s, Charles Villa-Vicencio’s commitment to human rights and reconciliation took on a new dimension when he co-founded the Institute for Contextual Theology, an organisation dedicated to exploring the intersections of theology, social justice, and the South African context. This institute played a crucial role in challenging apartheid theologically and intellectually, contributing to the dismantling of apartheid policies.

Villa-Vicencio’s work continued to evolve in the post-apartheid era. He was a member of South Africa’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), a groundbreaking initiative established to address the atrocities and human rights abuses committed during apartheid. As the Director of Research for the TRC, he played a central role in documenting the stories of victims and perpetrators, seeking truth, and promoting reconciliation. His work on the TRC exemplified his dedication to healing the wounds of a deeply divided nation.

Throughout his career, Villa-Vicencio has published numerous books and articles on theology, reconciliation, and human rights. His writings have made significant contributions to the fields of political theology and conflict resolution.

Charles Villa-Vicencio’s life and work embody the values of justice, reconciliation, and human dignity. His tireless efforts in the struggle against apartheid and his subsequent work in reconciliation have left an indelible mark on South Africa and the global human rights community. He continues to inspire individuals and organisations dedicated to fostering peace, justice, and reconciliation in societies grappling with legacies of conflict and oppression.

He is Emeritus Professor of Religion and Society at the University of Cape Town, and a visiting professor in the conflict resolution programme at Georgetown University in Washington DC. 

Advocate Alan Nelson SC qualified as a lawyer in 1975, attaining his BA LLB Law degree, Cum Laude, at Stellenbosch University, after which he qualified as an Attorney before becoming an Advocate in 1978. Silk status was conferred upon him in and he served as an acting judge of the Cape High Court. In 2021 Alan’s passion for mediation led to him being selected as one of five candidates for the position of Chief Justice by a select committee of imminent persons appointed by President Cyril Ramaphosa.

After extensive training in mediation both locally and abroad and mediating hundreds of cases Alan has become one of South Africa’s leading mediators.  He and his son Daniel are the founders of Mediation in Motion Training (Pty) Limited that for the past nine years has been training mediators under the auspices of the University of Cape Town’s UCT@Law program.