Board Members

Shireen Hassim is associate professor in political studies at the University of the Witwatersrand. She has written on gender, politics and development, exploring the politics of representation, social policy and citizenship. She holds a doctorate in political science from York University, and wrote her dissertation on the politics of the South African women's movement from 1980 to 1999.

Sharron Marco-Thyse is a gender specialist, change management facilitator, strategist and rural development practitioner. She started her career, working at World Vision as an adult educator in 1987. Sharon has more than 10 years of senior management experience based in the NGO sector, and has been instrumental in developing appropriate administrative systems that facilitate the implementation of organisational plans.

Professor Sheila Meintjes lectures in Political Studies at the University of the Witwatersrand. She is the Chairperson of the Board of Women’sNet, as well as Tshwaranang Legal Advocacy Centre Against Violence Against Women. Sheila has been involved in feminist and women’s politics in South Africa since the early 1970s as a member of the United Women’s Organisation in the Western Cape, the Natal Organisation of Women and was on the Research Supervisory Group of the Women’s National Coalition. She was a full-time Commissioner on Gender Equality between May 2001 and March 2004.

Jennifer Radloff is the Coordinator of the Association for Progressive Communications Women’s Networking Support Programme. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Education and a Higher Diploma in Library and Information Science. Jenny works in the ICT for Development sector, focusing on universal access, ICTs and women's human rights, ICT policy, networking and communication. Her skills include training and capacity development, tools development, data collection and analysis. Jenny has been involved with Women’sNet since its inception in 1998.

Gail Smith is the editor of City Press's magazine City Pulse. A self-confessed feminist, she is currently writing a book titled “Remembering History: A Feminist Excavation of the 5” which tells the stories of women who lived during that time. Gail was awarded the 2006/7 Nieman Fellowship at Harvard University.

Tina Thiart is the Executive Director of the International Network of Women’s Fund. The International Network of Women’s Funds (INWF) is a group of women’s funds from the global south and the global north that are committed to a world of equality and social justice. Tina is committed to mobilising resources for Women’s Initiatives and at present is trying to create an enabling environment for Women’s Funds to access the financials means to do their work.