My research involves chemical synthesis, radioligand binding studies, animal behavioural studies and adenosine antagonist drug design for central nervous system diseases such as Parkinson’s Disease and Alzheimer’s disease.

I have been a lecturer and researcher in the field of Physical Education for over 15 years now, I have been an author of various publications (15+ articles and two book chapters) in the field and I have been a supervisor / promotor of five post-doctoral students so far. I have been the principle researcher in two national research projects from which several publications have come forth.

Dr Christi Niesing started her career at the NWU in 2008 with the appointment as project manager of the Holding Hands income-generating community project. In the time 2008-2016 she developed 4 new sub-projects with a sustainable development outcome in the larger North-West Province. Under her management the project received funding from various corporate funders to develop the projects. She received recognition for her contribution towards excellence in community engagement from various institutions.

Christelle Liversage obtained her Ph.D. in Health Sciences with Positive Psychology and is the program chair for the Master of Arts in Positive Psychology (MAPP) at the Africa Unit for Transdisciplinary Health Research (AUTHeR) in the Faculty of Health Sciences. She was a recipient of the 2022 Faculty Teaching and Learning Award.

I am a lecturer at the Centre for Child, Youth and Family Studies (Faculty of Health Sciences) at the North-west University.

I have obtained a BA degree in Social Work at the University of Stellenbosch in 1995.  In 1997 I have obtained a MA in Social Work (Play Therapy) at the University of Pretoria.  I have also completed my PhD in Social Work at the University of Stellenbosch in 2011.  The title of my PhD was:  Occupational stress and the handling thereof by social workers involved in intervention with sexually abused children.

I am a registered Counselling Psychologist and have a PhD in Sport Science. I have a special interest in Performance Psychology within the sport context and I have consulted the SA National Women’s Hockey Team, the 1st Netball Team of the NWU and various school teams.

Dr Andrew K L Robinson, Public Health Physician

Areas of Expertise Health systems & programs innovation, implementation monitoring and evaluation; communicable and non-communicable diseases; Health Information Systems, clinical research; and human resources for health.

CURRENTLY: Extraordinary professor (2018), African Unit for Transdisciplinary Health Research (AUTHeR), developing the NWU School for Health Professionals, and graduate courses in Health Promotion, and Public Health for non-health professionals.

Tiaan is currently the BPharm programme leader for undergraduate pharmacy students at he School of Pharmacy of the North-West University.

His research explores on neurobehavioural pharmacology, with specific application to the investigation of novel pharmacological targets for antidepressants. The majority of his research projects are performed in appropriate translational animal models of human psychiatric disease. He has also published in the field of animal research ethics and pharmacology education.

Petra Bester has extensive work experience in the public and private health sectors of South Africa, including managed healthcare from both the hospital and administrator’s perspective. After a clinical masters’ degree in Community Psychiatric Nursing and a PhD in Nursing, Petra Bester returned to the higher education context since 2010. Although a dedicated researcher and lecturer, Petra occupied managerial positions since 2013.

Richard K. Haynes B.Sc. Hons (1^st Class); PhD (organic chemistry) received his Ph.D. degree from the University of Western Australia, and conducted postdoctoral research at the University of Karlsruhe, Germany, and then at Imperial College, London. After academic appointments in the Chemistry Department at Monash University, Melbourne, and in the Department of Organic Chemistry at the  University of Sydney, Prof. Haynes moved to the Chemistry Department at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) in 1993.