Panel Discussions

Feathered Cocaine

CT: Sunday 12 June, 5:30pm, NuM V&A

Dirs: Örn Marino Arnarson & Thorkell Hardarson | Iceland 80min 2010

Mining for Change. A story of South African mining

Jozi: Monday 13 June, 8pm, NuM Hyde Park

Dirs: Navan Chetty & Eric Miyeni | SA 72min 2010

Feathered Cocaine

Jozi: Tuesday 14 June, 8:30pm, NuM Hyde Park

Dirs: Örn Marino Arnarson & Thorkell Hardarson | Iceland 80min 2010

G-Spotting: A Story of Pleasure and Promise

CT: Friday 17 June, 6:30pm, NuM V&A

Dirs: Ségolène Hanotaux & Gilles Boyon | Canada/France 52min 2011

Our Daily Poison

CT: Thursday 23 June, 8:15pm, NuM V&A

Dir: Marie-Monique Robin | France 112min 2010

G-Spotting: A Story of Pleasure and Promise

CT: Saturday 25 June, 6pm, NuM V&A

Dirs: Ségolène Hanotaux & Gilles Boyon | Canada/France 52min 2011

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Panelist Biographies

Glenn Ashton

Glenn Ashton is a researcher, author and journalist. One of his primary fields of interest is food security. He has been actively involved in the debate around genetically engineered crops and on biosafety generally. He is one of the founding members of SAFeAGE, the SA Freeze Alliance on Genetic Engineering and consequently takes a precautionary view on the technology. He has been widely published locally and internationally.

Markus Bürgener

Markus Bürgener is a Senior Programme Officer with TRAFFIC – a wildlife trade monitoring organisation, which focuses on the trade in wild plants and animals. TRAFFIC is a joint programme of WWF and IUCN. He has been based with the East/Southern African regional programme of TRAFFIC for the past twelve years and has worked on national, regional and international policy and legislation related to biodiversity conservation. For the past seven years he has driven TRAFFIC’s marine fisheries work in East and Southern Africa where he has conducted research into and carried out advocacy and raining initiatives focussing on illegal and unsustainable fisheries and related trade. Markus is a qualified attorney and has a Master’s Degree in International Environmental Law.

Nic Dawes

Nic Dawes is the editor of the Mail & Guardian Newspaper. He was born in Cape Town and finished his schooling in Canada. He studied Science and later English literature at the University of Cape Town before attending graduate school in the United States on a Fulbright Scholarship. On his return to South Africa he wrote as a freelance for a wide range of local publications, and for television, before becoming News and Finance editor at one of the country’s early web portals, World Online. He left World Online to become Managing Director at Maverick Interface Design, a digital communications agency that helped companies to develop their internet and mobile strategies, but ultimate decided to return to journalism. After a stint as Cape Business Editor, and political columnist at the now-defunct broadsheet ThisDay, he joined the M&G in 2004 as associate editor, focusing principally on public policy and economics. He was also heavily involved in the M&G’s investigations, and has won several awards for that work. Nic is 38. He is married to Aurelia Driver, and has two young children, Hannah and Alexander. He lives in Parkview, Johannesburg.

Melanie Judge

Melanie Judge is a feminist and an LGBT activist. She holds a Master’s degree in Development Studies, an Honours degree in Psychology and a Business Management diploma. Melanie’s work has focused on strategy development, training, and advocacy in the fields of HIV/AIDS, and gender and sexual rights in South Africa and Africa. She has been extensively involved in lobbying and advocating for the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) people. Her journal articles and opinion pieces have been published both nationally and internationally. Melanie is an independent contractor. She is an Associate of Inyathelo – the South African Institute for Advancement and serves on the Executive Committee of the Coalition of African Lesbians.

Peter Leon

Peter Leon is a partner with Webber Wentzel, where he co-chairs the firm’s mining, energy and natural resources practice group. His principal areas of practice are public law, particularly natural resources law, black economic empowerment law (“BEE”), regulatory aspects of financial services law and international investment law. Appointments include: chairman of the mining law committee of the International Bar Association (2009 — 2011); independent regulatory expert appointed by the Director General, Department of Mineral Resources to the Mining, Industry Growth, Development and Employment Task Team (“MIGDETT”); chair of the ministerial advisory committee on local government transformation in South Africa (2000-2002). Peter Leon was also named, for the last three years, as one of the world’s leading mining lawyers in two international publications, as well as one of the hundred most influential people in the South African mining industry. He holds a BA LLB (cum laude) (Cape Town); LLM (Hons) (Cambridge), where he was elected Senior Scholar of Christ’s College. During South Africa’s democratic transition, Peter Leon was chairman of Lawyers for Human Rights in Johannesburg, provincial leader of the Democratic Party (1995-2000), and subsequently minority leader in the Gauteng legislature (1999-2000).

Leslie London

Professor Leslie London is a Director of the School of Public Health and Family Medicine in the University of Cape Town, South Africa. He is Associate Director for Environmental Health of the Occupational and Environmental Health Research Unit. He has published widely in the field of pesticide hazards and serves on two Scientific Committees of the International Commission on Occupational Health, both dealing with pesticides. He coordinated the Action on Pesticide project of the Work and Health in Southern Africa (WAHSA) programme in Southern Africa. He is a recipient of an award for his work on pesticides from the Society of Occupational and Environmental Health and is a fellow of the Collegium Ramazzini.

Kgomotso Matsunyane

Kgomotso Matsunyane is a dynamic and fiery TV and radio personality with a unique and irreverent point of view. Her witty and acerbic commentary has endeared her to millions of South Africans, while her self-deprecating style gives her license to have opinions on just about everything and everyone. She has had a rewarding and varied history working in international and South African media. An International Relations graduate from Carleton College in Minnesota (USA), Kgomotso is an accomplished producer, writer and director. She worked as a commissioning editor for local drama at SABC 1, and subsequently completed a successful stint as the editor of O, The Oprah Magazine in South Africa. Kgomotso runs her own film & TV company, T.O.M. Pictures (nominated for an International Emmy Award in 2007), commercials, feature films and documentaries. She wrote popular columns for True Love Magazine and News24.com. Her provocative talk show, “Late night with Kgomotso” has become a favourite appointment on SABC 2 on Saturday nights. Kgomotso is also a media activist and an avowed feminist.

David Newton

David Newton is the acting regional (East and Southern Africa) director of TRAFFIC a wildlife trade monitoring agency. He has been with the organisation for almost twenty years and during that time has built up a wide knowledge on a range of wildlife trade issues, but predominantly on plant and timber trade.

Jacinto Rocha

Jacinto Rocha is South Africa’s former deputy director-general in the Department of Mineral Resources. He is now a mining law consultant. Jacinta’s involvement with the South Africa minerals and mining sector dates back to 1994 when he was a Policy Researcher on mineral rights and later as Manager for the Mineral Rights Research Programme at the Minerals and Energy Policy Centre (MEPC). In 1997 he joined the then Department of Minerals and Energy (now Minerals Resources) as Director: Mining Rights where he later became Chief Director responsible for Mineral Resources Management until 2005 when he assumed the position of Deputy Director General: Mineral Regulation until recently when he resigned from the department to become an Independent Mineral Law and Management Consultant. Jacinto was a senior manager in the South African public service for 13 years.

There is very little that Jacinto does not know about the South African mining law and industry. Besides being the principal drafter of the current Minerals and Petroleum Resources Development Act, Jacinto has lectured on mining policy and law, to post-graduate students (Masters level), at the Wits University’s Mining Engineering Department and the University of Pretoria’s Department of Engineering and Geology. He is currently lecturing (part-time) at the Mandela Institute, Wits University Law School, on a Prospecting and Mining Law Course.

Achievements: Jacinto is the proud recipient of the First Decade Award for outstanding record of early achievement, male graduates, from the Gustavus Adolphus College, the first student of African origin to receive such recognition from this university. In 1998, a year after joining the then Department of Minerals and Energy, he was selected to chair the DME’s technical committee that drafted the post-Apartheid Minerals and Mining Policy for South Africa. In 1999, he was chosen to chair the committee that drafted the new mining legislation, the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act, 2002.

Jacinto Rocha, has been admitted as an Advocate of the High Court of South Africa. As such he is authorized and entitled to practice as an advocate in South Africa. Jacinto Rocha, is a member of the International Bar Association and of the UNECE Expert Group on Resources Classification.

Directorships: Jacinto is the chairperson of the Petroleum Agency South Africa, the state owned agency responsible for the promotion and regulation of the downstream oil and gas industry in South Africa.

Jonti Searll

Jonti Searll is a Tantra Teacher & Sensualist. He offers workshops, talks, private and group lessons in the field of sexuality & sensuality. He assists singles, couples and groups in healing, creating a deeper connection, intimacy, pleasure and the magic between sex and spirituality. His tailor made programmes incorporate Tantra, coaching, bodywork, meditation, and practical exercises. He has extensive media coverage with the latest being the Sunday Times; Shape Magazine and You Pulse. He appears on Kaya FM on the first Wednesday of every month at 21.00.

Marlene Wasserman / Dr. Eve

Academic Qualifications: Dr. Marlene Wasserman attained a BA (Social Work) Hons (University of the Witwatersrand), MA. (Soc. Science) Clinical Social Work specializing in Family Therapy, cum laude, (University of the Orange Free State, South Africa) winning the Dean’s Medal for the Best Social Science Student in the faculty of Humanities; and a Doctorate in Human Sexuality from the Institute in Advanced Studies in Human Sexuality, San Francisco. She is AASECT (American Association of Sex Educators, Counsellors and Therapists) certified. More recently she has become internationally trained as a Sexual Medicine Therapist and Consultant through ISSWSH, ESSM, ISSM.

Marlene is primarily a Clinician in Private Practice. She has been a Clinician for the last 30 years. This remains her area of expertise and dedication. She is registered with SAASWIPP and local Social Practitioners Council.

International Presence: In 2009 Marlene was elected as a Director of the Board of ISSWSH (International Society for the Study of Women’s Sexual Health) She was invited onto the ISSWSH Scientific Program Committee for 2010 and 2011 as well as on to the Certification Committee, Bylaws and Education Committees for 2010/2011. Marlene is an International Consultant on SRT (Sexual and Relationship Therapy) academic UK based journal. She is a member of Africa Regional Sexuality Resource Centre (ARSRC).

She is also a member of WPATH(World Professional Association for Transgender Health) Marlene was an elected co-chairperson for ICSM (International Consultation of Sexual Medicine), in Paris 2009, a body that sets world standards of Sexual Medicine practice for Health Care Providers.

In April 2010 Marlene was invited onto the Sexual Rights Committee of the World Association for Sexual Health (WAS), the umbrella organization for all sexual health and sexual medicine organizations worldwide.

Activist Work: Marlene is the Treasurer of GENDERDYNAMIX, an NGO that works for Transgender people throughout Africa. She is a member of SASHA (South African Sexual Health Association). She is deeply committed in her association with a number of NGO’s in South Africa and calls herself a “sexual activist.” Her focus is on training in Gender Based Violence and HIV/AIDS/STI’s. In 2011 she begins training Government officials in Gender Based Violence and HIV/AIDS.

Academic Work: Marlene holds a part time lecture post at the department of O&G at the University of Cape Town Medical School, teaching Sexual Medicine. In 2011 Marlene initiates the first ever developed SEXUAL MEDICINE certification program for Health Care Providers through the Foundation of Professional Development. She is a Key Opinion leader for pharmaceutical companies and lectures Health Care Professionals in Sexual Medicine both nationally and internationally. Her recent area of work extends into ONCO SEXOLOGY. Marlene has been published in academic journals. In February 2011 she was invited to guest lecture at Fairleigh Dickenson University, Madison, New Jersey, USA.

Public Education: Marlene travels both nationally and internationally lecturing the public and professionals. She is frequently invited to be a guest speaker at events. In her commitment to educating the public Marlene creates her own events as outreach to the public and offers forums for education. She was the invited anchor person for the Artscape Women’s Festival 2010. In December 2010 Marlene joined Young Africa Live, a mobile live chat site, as the contributor for HIV/AIDS, sexuality and gender based violence.

Author: As an author Marlene has published 3 books: “Pillowbook” (Oshun, 2007) and “Dr. Eve’Sex Book – A Guide For Young People” (Human and Rousseau 2008). Her third book, “Ageing & Sexuality – A 21st century guide to long lasting sensuality” (Oshun) was published in July 2009. In 2009 she was invited to write a chapter for a book on trends “Flux” (Pan Macmillan 2009). She has won a Pica Award for Excellence in Journalism and has her own columns in many national magazines as well as web sites. More recently she was invited to write a monthly column for noted web based international health journal, www.health-enews.org and is a columnist in the newly launched Playboy South Africa.

Web Site: Marlene hosts her own web site: www.dreve.co.za, a forum offering the public education, interaction and an opportunity to learn about and purchase sexual health products.

Media: Marlene has created a strong media brand in South Africa, namely DR. EVE. She is a regular contributor to BBC WORLD RADIO and almost daily contributes to public interest magazines and newspapers. She has her own 2 weekly ‘phone in radio shows on 4 different radio stations and appears regularly on television. She has received many honors and much recognition from the media in South Africa.

Public Recognition: In 2006 Marlene was named one of the 3,500 Southern Africa people in WHO’S WHO publication and a year later named for the INTERNATIONAL WHO’S WHO. She has twice been nominated for WOMEN OF THE YEAR in the Health category. IN 2003 she was named one of the top 140 women in South Africa in a book WOMEN TODAY for her work in Sexual Health.

In Summary… Marlene’s commitment remains to education and provoking people to thinking more critically about their intimate loving relationships, using the concepts of Rights, Responsibilities and Rewards as her key themes within a framework of sexual and reproductive health rights.

Martin Welz

Martin Welz has for the past 12 years been the editor (and majority shareholder) of Noseweek, an investigative news magazine published in Cape Town. He graduated in law and qualified as an attorney, but has spent most of his working life in journalism, inter alia as political correspondent for the (now defunct) Sunday Express, head of the Pretoria Bureau of the Sunday Times, and head of investigations for Rapport. He also did short stints on the London Sunday Times Insight team (in 1978) and the Los Angeles Times (in 1984/5). He has specialised in writing in an irreverent style about the (often corrupt) interface between business and politics, receiving numerous awards for his investigative journalism, including the SA Union of Journalists prestigious Pringle Award for Press Freedom. Noseweek, which he founded, has the subtitle “News you’re not supposed to know”. Uniquely, it does not rely on advertising for its income. He and his employers have been threatened with legal action many times, sometimes for vast amounts, but he has, in fact, very rarely been sued –and never successfully.