Martin Oosthuizen

Martin served as Deputy Vice Chancellor for Teaching and Learning at North-West University from June 2011 to June 2017, and as Chief Executive Officer of the Cape Higher Education Consortium (CHEC) from 2017-2022. Before that he served as the Senior Director of the Centre for Planning and Institutional Development at the Nelson Mandela (Metropolitan) University from 2005 to 2011, and as Director of Quality Management at the former university of Port Elizabeth from 1999 to 2004. He held various appointments in the field of Theology and Biblical Studies between 1982 and 1998 at the Universities of Fort Hare, South Africa and Port Elizabeth. His final appointment was as Professor in the Department of Biblical and Religion Studies at the University of Port Elizabeth from November 1996 to December 1998.

Martin has been extensively involved in national and institutional projects relating to standards setting, quality assurance and qualifications design in the South African higher education sector. He was the convener of the CHE task team for the development of the first CHE Framework for Institutional Audits, was contracted by the CHE to develop the revised HEQF in 2011, and in 2019 and 2020 served as CHE external expert in the development of the CHE Integrated Quality Assurance Framework. He was a member of the CHE’s Higher Education Quality Committee from 2012 to 2018. He has served as an international reviewer: for the Scottish Quality Assurance Agency and the Oman Academic Accreditation Authority.

Prof René Pellissier

‘If you try to predict the future, know that you will be wrong.  The trick is to be as least wrong as possible and be ready.’

René Pellissier is an international consultant, strategic and research specialist.

She heads SARUA’s Climate Change and Sustainable Development programme including the development of the transdisciplinary curriculum for the master’s programme in Climate Change and Sustainable Development for the SADC. She also heads the German Industrialisation Organisation’s Industrial Pharmacy Fellowship across the SADC. She has been involved in the design and deveoopment of several EU grants. In her other work, she heads the Cape Higher Education Leadership Academy, where she designs and facilitates leadership development programmes in Higher Education and presents the following workshops: Operational Excellence in Higher Education, Human-centric Leadership in Higher Education, Knowledge co-production and mode 3 thinking and Systems Thinking in Higher Education. Rene supervises doctoral students in Digital Transformation and Complexity and regularly offers research design and research methods workshops.

She works as strategist, researcher, and systems engineer in the international arena based on her extensive international experience across the globe at universities in the United States, the United Kingdom, France and across Africa and sees herself as an international traveller and transdisciplinary innovator.  Her specialisations are technology and innovation and complex adaptive systems.

She is a futurist and consultant specializing in the world of future work based on the evolution of technology and the resultant societal changes and needs.  She is Professor of Research and Innovation (SA) and Professor of Information Management (UK).  René holds an MSc in Mathematical Statistics, an MBA and a PhD in Systems Engineering.

Bella Sattar

Bella has been affiliated with the Southern African Regional Universities Association (SARUA) since 2020 and is SARUAs project leader for the strategic focus area on Institutional Quality Management.  She retired from the Durban University of Technology at the end of 2018 after being at the institution for a total of 40 years.  At the time of her retirement, she had been the Director of the Centre for Quality Promotion and Assurance (CQPA) for 16 years.  She was an academic for 24 years having progressed through the ranks from lecturer to Head of Department of Medical Sciences prior to accepting her appointment as Director of the CQPA.

She was awarded a BSc degree by the University of Durban-Westville in 1976; a Diploma in Tertiary Education (cum laude).by the University of South Africa (UNISA); a National Higher Diploma in Medical Technology by the ML Sultan Technikon, and a MMedSc degree by the University of Natal in 1996.

Bella was appointed to the first Board of the Higher Education Quality Committee of the Council on Higher Education (CHE) and has been an active member on several committees, working groups, and reference groups of the CHE.  She has represented SARUA on the HAQAA2 project and was a member of the Technical Working Group for the establishment of the Pan African Quality Assurance and Accreditation Agency.  She is also one of the trainers in the TrainIQA programme for 2023/2024 which is offered through the University of Potsdam and supported by the DAAD.

Walter Claassen

Following an academic career in Ancient Near Eastern Studies at Stellen­bosch University, Walter moved into senior management as Director of Research and subsequently as Deputy Vice-Chancellor (1993-2007), responsible for a wide range of support divisions and new initiatives. During this period, he also initiated and guided the development of the Stellenbosch Institute for Advanced Studies (STIAS), until its opening in 2007.

Since 2009, he was involved in the Department of Information Systems of the University of the Western Cape and in the Western Cape CoLab for eInclusion and Social Innovation. During the period 2013-2026 he was also involved in the Research Network for e-Skills in the national e-Skills Institute. From 2016 to 2019, he was Chairperson of the Board of NEMISA, a state-owned entity for national digital skills development. Since 2020, he is Strategic Focus Area Lead: Digital Transformation of Higher Education, in SARUA.

Evance Kalula

Evance Kalula is Chairperson of the ILO Committee on Freedom of Association (CFA). He is the first African to serve in the position in the ILO’s history. He is Emeritus Professor of Law at the University of Cape Town and Honorary Professor at the University of Rwanda. He holds several degrees in law, including a PhD. He was educated at the University of Zambia School of Law; King’s College, London; Balliol College, Oxford (where he was a Rhodes scholar); and the University of Warwick School of Law. He is a fellow of the African Academy of Sciences (AAS), member of Council of the Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf), fellow of the Stellenbosch Institute for Advanced Study (STIAS). He is also a visiting lecturer in law at the University of Mulungushi, serves as ad hoc executive policy advisor at the University of Lusaka (UNILUS), as well as an associate of the Southern African Regional Universities Association, (SARUA). He previously served as Chair of the University of Lusaka Council (UNILUS); Chair of the then South African Employment Conditions Commission (EEC); member of the ILO Commission of Inquiry on Freedom of Association in Zimbabwe; member of the Ministerial Advisory Panel of the former South African Department of Economic Development (EDD). He is a past President of the International Labour and Employment Relations Association (ILERA).

Abri Hoffman

Gabriel Hoffman, MBA, CIA, is a seasoned technocrat specialising in the revitalisation of challenging projects through inventive problem-solving and robust risk management protocols. His career is marked by a track record of steering teams toward innovative solutions that transform stumbling blocks into stepping stones.

A voracious reader with a fervour for pedagogy, Gabriel extends his expertise beyond the corporate sphere by serving as a part-time lecturer. His academic contributions span a wide array of disciplines, including Risk Management, Project Management, Information Systems and Strategic Planning.

Driven by a dual passion for technology and education, Gabriel is actively engaged in research. His current focus explores the potential of artificial intelligence in tailoring educational experiences to individual student needs, thereby optimising learning outcomes. This research initiative aims to bridge the gap between technology and pedagogy, promising a future where education is as adaptive as it is inclusive.

Tracy Bailey

Tracy Bailey has over 25 years’ experience working as a qualitative researcher (especially case study research and policy analysis) and as a consultant in project/programme conceptualisation, design, management and evaluation, and the curation and process facilitation of co-creation and engagement meetings that require innovative approaches.

Tracy has specialised knowledge of higher education, science and research policy, systems and practices in Africa, as well as the science-policy interface, and research utilisation and impact. She obtained her PhD in Science and Technology Studies from the DSI-NRF Centre of Excellence on Scientometrics and Science, Technology and Innovation Policy at Stellenbosch University.

Tracy also works in voluntary and activist capacities relating to broader social, economic, political and ecological justice issues. She is passionate about the environment; sustainable, regenerative, restorative and simple living; and the dignity, human rights and socioeconomic wellbeing of all.

Sarah-Jane Coetzee

Proficient in all aspects of marketing and communication, Sarah has spent the past 20 years providing creative and effective solutions mainly in the financial services industry. She is practised in strategy and tactics and specialises in corporate communication. Energetic and meticulous, Sarah has managed change projects for some large organisations and led marketing teams with a dedicated focus on delivery and results.

With a master’s degree in intercultural communication, Sarah brings a depth of knowledge and skill that address SARUA’s marketing and communication needs. Sarah is also a professional editor and is a full member of the Professional Editors’ Guild.

Phiwokuhle Kgatla

Phiwo serves as the primary administrative contact for SARUA, playing a crucial role in facilitating communication between SARUA and its stakeholders. In her capacity, she offers essential administrative support to the leaders of the four strategic focus areas and the Executive Director. Phiwo is responsible for managing SARUA events, overseeing the SARUA stakeholder database, and coordinating membership activities and project management.

With over a decade of experience in communication, event planning, and project management, Phiwo brings a wealth of expertise to her role. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Information Science from the University of Zululand, an Event Management Certificate from City Varsity School of Business & Technology, as well as a Postgraduate Diploma and BPhil Honours in Marketing from the IMM Graduate School of Marketing.