The USF is excited to welcome three new Trustees over the coming months. Dr Zarina Patel, Associate Professor of Human Geography at the University of Cape Town, will be the first appointment from October 2022. Zarina brings a wealth of knowledge in African cities and urban studies to the USF Board of Trustees, as well as a research background in sustainable urban transitions and editorial experience with several international journals. Her commitments to social justice and the support of early-career scholars in the field of urban studies will both complement the USF’s present funding strategies and help drive future new initiatives.
Zarina will also be joined by Professor Alison Brown and Dr Wangui Kimari, each from January 2023. Among other roles, Alison Brown is Professor of Urban Planning and International Development in the School of Geography and Planning at Cardiff University. She is an urban planner and development policy expert with international experience in academia, professional practice, and consultancy in over 30 different countries—ranging across Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East. Alison also brings a great deal of relevant organisational experience to the USF Board, including experience as a Trustee in the UK charity context.
Dr Wangui Kimari is an urban anthropologist based in Nairobi, Kenya. Wangui is a Junior Research Fellow at the Institute for Humanities in Africa (HUMA), University of Cape Town, and participatory action research coordinator for the Mathare Social Justice Centre (MSJC), a community-based organization in Mathare, Kenya. Wangui brings crucial representation to the USF Board for early-career scholars, and her past experience as an International Fellow (2018) will bring added perspectives and enthusiasm to the team.
The USF is looking forward to benefiting from the unique skills and experience of all three appointments over the coming years, and is enormously grateful to the wider urban studies community for disseminating recent recruitment calls. USF Trustees play a crucial role in developing the strategies, polices, and financial planning of the USF. Their collective guidance and oversight of the USF’s activities is key to the delivery of its charitable aims and objectives—and the commitment of all Trustees to date is visible in the successes and impacts of the USF’s recent grant schemes.
Appointments to the USF Board are made for up to six years each (in two terms), with Trustees being involved across the various USF awarding panels and subcommittees. The role of Trustee is voluntary, and calls are normally tailored with clear specifications for particular skills and experience (based on current Board membership and planning). Recruitment to the USF Board usually takes place every 12-18 months, and interested parties should join the USF mailing list below and/or follow USF social media for further announcements.