Janet Heard is a writer, editor, and media leader whose career was forged during South Africa’s transition to democracy. Having held leadership roles in influential and innovative newsrooms, she has spent a few decades giving shape to the national news agenda and guiding diverse teams through periods of profound digital and socio-political change. Her career includes serving as Daily Maverick Managing Editor and Media 24 Group Parliamentary Editor. Janet also held senior positions at the Cape Times and Cape Argus after cutting her teeth as a reporter at The Star (where she held the specialist Education Reporter beat) and Sunday Times. An independent contractor since 2025, Janet is also a coach,  trainer and a specialist guest lecturer in the Honours programme at Stellenbosch University. Janet participates in initiatives to strengthen journalism and information ecosystems via the Centre for Information Integrity in Africa (CINIA), the global M20 initiative and Sanef’s Access to Information & Media Policy committee. She is a Rhodes University journ graduate and a 2010 Nieman Fellow at Harvard.

Velani Ludidi is a journalist with more than a decade of experience covering some of the country’s most pressing issues. His work focuses on stories that affect ordinary people, with a particular interest in social justice, accountability and public-interest journalism. He first gained recognition while still a journalism student, covering the #FeesMustFall protests in Cape Town. Since then, he has reported extensively on crime, politics, education, transport, local government and human rights, producing news and in-depth stories that have informed public debate and held those in power to account. Ludidi has worked for several leading South African news outlets, including Daily Sun, GroundUp, Daily Voice, Weekend Argus, Daily Maverick and News24. His reporting and analysis have featured on numerous television and radio platforms, where he has provided insight into news events and current affairs. His work has also received international exposure, including appearances on the BBC World Service. Committed to impactful journalism, Ludidi pursues investigations and deep-dive reporting that amplify under-represented voices and contribute to meaningful public discourse.

Mandisa Makgakga is a writer and journalist with seven years’ experience. She has previously worked for City Press, Engineering News, Mining Weekly, Mail & Guardian and Sunday World. Her reporting has focused on national politics, business, parliamentary affairs, national and local government elections, energy and environment, education, and general news, with a particular interest in Gauteng and the forces shaping South Africa’s democracy. She has developed strong skills in multimedia journalism and editing, producing content for digital audiences. Her work has also appeared in multiple publications including The Namibian, The Witness, Eyewitness News  (EWN) and Rapport, reflecting the reach of her reporting across Africa.

Anton Harber is the executive director of the Henry Nxumalo Foundation, which supports journalism projects such as Our City News. He was the co-founder and editor of the Weekly Mail (now the Mail & Guardian) and editor-in-chief of eNCA. He is a board member of the Campaign for Free Expression, the Global Investigative Journalism Network and the Centre for Collaborative Investigative Journalism. He is the author/editor of five books, including So, for the Record, Diepsloot and Southern African Muckraking: 300 years of investigative journalism that shaped the region.

Ndapewoshali Ndahafa Ilunga oversees daily operations, streamlines organisational processes and fosters effective collaboration across editorial, financial and strategic teams. Her work is anchored in efficiency, compliance, and resource alignment, ensuring that projects achieve their goals while reinforcing institutional resilience. With over a decade of experience in the non-profit and project-based organisations in Southern Africa, she has mobilised resources, strengthened donor partnerships and guided organisations through periods of growth and transition. She contributes her expertise as a board member across academic, non-profit, and state-owned entities. She holds a Master of Arts in History, an Honours Degree in Finance Management, and a Diploma in Labour and Employment Studies, complemented by specialised qualifications in advanced project management, accounting, auditing, and compliance.

Pretica Singh holds an ACCA Accounting Diploma from Rand Afrikaans University and has extensive experience in financial management across both the corporate and NGO sectors. She started her career at Ernst & Young, where she worked for eight years, before moving into the non-profit space as a Finance Officer and later providing consultancy services to several NGOs. Her work includes managing full financial functions, preparing monthly management accounts, donor and funder reports, budgeting and working closely with auditors. She currently also serves as the part-time Financial Manager at ProBono.Org and has worked with organizations such as The Atlantic Philanthropies, The Constitutional Court Trust, Gay and Lesbian Memory in Action (GALA), Social Justice Initiative and Campaign for Free Expression.

Connie Malatji’s duties include contract administration, monitoring payments and budgets, planning meeting and training logistics, technical writing and filing. She oversees the calendar and communication for the core team, while maintaining the highest levels of professionalism and integrity. With over six years of experience in executive and administrative support roles across education and corporate environments, she brings strong expertise in diary and travel management, event coordination, and confidential document handling. She holds a National Diploma in Office Management, a National Certificate in Marketing and a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Science, as well as certifications in Foundations of Project Management and Introduction to Social Media Marketing. Passionate about organisation and continuous improvement, she takes pride in creating efficient systems that empower teams and contribute to the Foundation’s mission of supporting impactful, ethical journalism.