A native of South Africa, Cheryl Hendricks is the Executive Director of the Institute for Justice and Reconciliation (IJR). Prior to this she served as the Executive Director of the Africa Institute of South Africa (AISA). She was formerly a Professor of Politics and International Relations at the University of Johannesburg and beforehand she dedicated eight years of service to the Institute for Security Studies, where she was a Senior Research Fellow in the Conflict Management and Peacebuilding Programme, and head of the Southern African Human Security Programme. She has also worked at the Institute for Justice and Reconciliation, Centre for Conflict Resolution and spent many years teaching in the Political Studies Department, University of the Western Cape. Professor Hendricks has worked with intergovernmental organisations (e.g. the AU, SADC, UN Women), research institutes (e.g. ISS, CODESRIA, Africa Leadership Centre – Nairobi) and civil society organisations (e.g. Club of Madrid and Africa Forum (former heads of state), SADC Gender Protocol Alliance, Isis Wicce). Prof. Hendricks has gathered substantive insights into conflict management, security, gender, governance and peacebuilding, consistently delivering extensive contributions to society by way of her institutional and academic citizenship and professional associations. Her widely published works and presentations include constructive views on Peace and Security in Africa, Women Peace and Security, Security Sector Reform and Governance, Regional Security Architectures, South African Engagement in Post-conflict Development, and on Decolonisation of Knowledge. Among other publications, she guest edited a special issue of Africa Development 42(3), 2017 with the late Naffet Keita.
