Brigalia Bam

Brigalia Bam (Chairperson, Independent Electoral Commission)

"Educated in South Africa and abroad in teaching, social work, communications and management, Dr. Brigalia Bam has led an active public life. Her first formal employment was as a teacher and she has held a variety of posts throughout the world, which have included:

• Africa Regional Secretary and Co-ordinator of the Women Workers’ Programme for the International Food and Allied Workers’ Association;·
• National Executive Secretary of the World Affiliated YWCA of South Africa;
• Executive Programme Secretary for the Women’s Department of the World Council of Churches.

"At the time of her appointment as a commissioner in 1997, Dr Bam was General Secretary of the South African Council of Churches. She has served on several public bodies, inter alia as a member of the South African Human Rights Commission. In addition she is Founder and President of the Women's Development Foundation and has numerous other memberships and interests. She has extensive experience in lecturing and in radio and television broadcasting and has published widely."

Affiliations

• Former Board member, Open Society Foundation of South Africa
• Core Member, International Task Force on Preventive Diplomacy
• Director, International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance