DUCT was founded in 2005 by Ian Bailey, Tim Cockbain, Graham Evans, Colin Everson, Allen Goddard, Trevor Gorven, Barry James and Dave Still.

Directors for 2016:

Chairman: Dave Still – Public Health Engineer

David Still, a public health engineer, is the director of the Pietermaritzburg based civil engineering company, Partners in Development, or PID. His work is primarily concerned with water supply and sanitation. Prior to founding PID in 1993, David worked for one year on wastewater treatment research at UCT, five years in water resources management and river hydraulics at the Department of Water Affairs in Pretoria, and three years with the Division of Water Technology at the CSIR, also in Pretoria. He is a past chairman of the Water Institute of Southern Africa’s Community Water Supply and Sanitation Division, and regularly consults to the Water Research Commission in Pretoria. David is married with three children. For recreation he enjoys canoeing and hiking.

Vice-chairman: Colin Everson – Landcare specialist; Hydrologist

Dr Colin Everson is a Landcare specialist and Hydrologist. His primary field of expertise is in catchment management in relation to burning, community dynamics, veld condition assessment, development and application of fire danger models and the use of micrometeorological techniques for catchment water balance studies. Colin is a seasoned Comrades marathon runner and Dusi paddler, and a keen mountain biker. He is an honorary professor at the University of KwaZulu Natal, and Extraordinary Professor at University of Pretoria.

Treasurer: Trevor Gorven – High Court Judge

Trevor Gorven is a Judge in the KwaZulu Natal High Court. His interest in conservation grew from his Christian convictions and enjoyment of various forms of endurance sports, including 4 Comrades Marathons, 2 Argus Cycle Tours, 1 Scottburgh-Brighton surfski race, 9 Dusi Canoe Marathons and numerous other lesser events as well as numerous hikes along the Wild Coast and up the Drakensberg escarpment.

Mark Graham - Aquatic Scientist

Dr Mark Graham is an aquatic scientist who has over 20 years’ experience in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystem functioning and management. Mark has been involved in the National River Health Programme, the standardisation of the SASS5 technique and the development of community based tools for water quality assessment. After spending the first 10 years of his career with Umgeni Water he founded the Pietermaritzburg environmental consultancy GroundTruth, which specialises in river health related work. Mark is also a seasoned Dusi Canoe Marathon paddler.

Liz Taylor - Environmental Activist and Teacher (Howick Chairperson)

Liz Taylor, environmental activist and educator, has lived in the KwaZulu-Natal midlands her whole life and has a very close affinity to the environment of the area. She attended Howick High School and completed her BSc degree at Natal University (PMB), with honours in Botany (Ecology) under Charles Breen, a DUCT patron. She has taught Geography at various high schools in and around PMB and supports environmental clubs in schools. In 2009 she attended a Climate Change course in Sweden and has produced various resources for schools on Eco-system Services and Climate Change. In 2011 she was invited to present on 'carbon footprints' at the International Training Programme in Education for Sustainable Development in Stockholm, Sweden. Liz is passionate about rivers and completed a number of Duzi Marathon’s with her husband Jim.

Kirsten Oliver -· GIS Specialist and Environmental Activist

Kirsten Oliver has a Masters in Environmental Management and Development (MEnDev), Specialisation in catchment management which she studied at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, as well as an Honours degree is Geography from the University of KwaZulu-Natal. She is presently working with the Wildlands Conservation Trust, having previously worked for three years with the Endangered Wildlife Trust as the GIS and Database Coordinator for the South African Crane Conservation Group. Kirsten is an experienced and talented paddler, getting her first Dusi Canoe Marathon under the belt at the age of 14. She is also a passionate and talented photographer.

Sandile Ndawonde

Sandile Ndawonde heads up the Pietermaritzburg-based NGO called GREEN (the Greater Edendale Environmenal Network).The work that Sandile has done in the impoverished Edendale Valley has been recognised by several awards and invitations. Sandile has represented civil society at the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development, presenting South Africa's experience with environmental legislation and public participation. Sandile has served on the National and Provincial Steering Committee of former SA civil society network the Environmental Justice Networking Forum. He has been instrumental in facilitating access to the electronic communication systems of e-mail and the internet to the marginalized civil society in the Greater Pietermaritzburg area. He has worked closely with foreign donors including the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Global Environmental Facility (GEF) and with the Institute of Natural resources at the University of KwaZulu Natal, Pietermaritzburg. Sandile Ndawonde is a co-founder of the environmental justice organisation Groundwork. He recently initiated a Gender and Renewable Energy Partnership housed by the Green Network and serves on the Dryland Fund Steering Committee as well the Adaptation Network of South Africa. He has a Diploma in Social Empowerment and Community Development and holds a Post Graduate Diploma in Social Science (Community Development). Sandile is passionate about the environment and conservation, as well as aiding impoverished communities.

Dr Jean Francois Talbot 

Francois is a registered professional natural scientist with a BSc Chemistry, Zoology, MSc Zoology and PhD in Chemistry. He has undertaken research into estuarine and coastal ecology and aquatic pollution and managed research projects in coastal ecosystems as well as coastal pollution surveys. In 1989 with his brother Bernard he co-founded Talbot and Talbot (Pty) Ltd which has since grown to become a significant service provider in the water and waste water treatment sector. He is the author of 8 scientific publications and among other things represented the business sector during the formulation of South Africa’s environmental policy.