Biography

Chris is based in Stellenbosch, South Africa, where he works as an independent conflict transformation and dialogue practitioner in his own practice, Dynamic Stability (Pty) Ltd. His extensive experience in peacebuilding stretches from 1982 until now in in various international and UN settings. Nomfundo and Chris are the founding directors of the Unyoke Foundation (UF) — a registered Non Profit Company — that focuses on growing, supporting and accompanying the next generation peacebuilders across the world and in Africa in particular, by offering reflective practice retreats. He is the co-recipient with Nomfundo Walaza of the “Waging Peace” award, first given to George Clooney by President Jimmy Carter. Chris is a Senior Research Fellow at the Institute for Justice and Reconciliation and facilitator of the Folke Bernadotte Academy courses in dialogue and mediation since their inception in 2006. He holds a Master’s Degree in Theology His Dialogue Ideas Facebook page has 1700 members from across the world and can be found at https://www.facebook.com/groups/447750585269309/ In the 1980s he worked as pastor, community development worker and anti-apartheid activist in depressed rural communities in South Africa. Chris was deeply involved in peacebuilding in South Africa in the 1990s, (first as the Regional Organizer of the Western Cape Regional Peace Committee and later as a Senior Trainer and Researcher at the Cape Town-based Centre for Conflict Resolution). In South Africa Chris is as of today an activist for justice with peace and a facilitator of intergenerational dialogues. He served as the Peace and Development Advisor for the UNDP Social Cohesion Programme in Guyana, South America, from 2003-2006. Chris is driven by the belief that people have the wisdom and can grow capacities to influence processes that affect their lives. These capacities grow in mutual learning spaces that are safe and respectful. It is possible to build those spaces with people rather than for them in relationships of trust, respect and support.