Prof Yongxin Xu is an Emeritus Professor at the University of the Western Cape and formerly the UNESCO Chair in Geohydrology. After a brief academic experience in China and the UK, he joined the then Department of Water Affairs & Forestry in South Africa in 1989 and spent much of his career in field investigations until 2001 when he took up the position of the UNESCO Professor of Geohydrology based at UWC. His interest has focus on issues of sustainable groundwater utilization. He was involved in multi-disciplinary projects including artificial recharge, water pollution, wetland protection and river health programme which were conducted in partnership with institutions including UWC in South Africa, QUT in Australia, HUE and TYLI in China. He was instrumental of establishment of the Africa Groundwater Commission for AMCOW (Africa Minister’s Council on Water), and currently serves as the Secretary General of the China Africa Water Association.

As the Chairperson of the Scientific Committee of CAWA, Prof Xu coordinates consulting services on behalf of CAWA and Africa Groundwater Academy.

Cell:       +27827769612 / +8618849059089

Email:    yxu@uwc.ac.za / 2938826017@qq.com

Prof. Jacqueline Goldinis a professor associated with the UNESCO Chair in Groundwater at UWC. Her interest is about water and society, where she is highly skilled in facilitation and building multi-stakeholder trust. She has excellent networks and reach internationally. Prof. Goldin is the Director of Ecolink, South Africa.

Dr. Xiaochi Li worked at UCT in South Africa, Geological Survey in Hong Kong and UNESCO Geoparks in China.  He currently lives in Zealand and is responsible for the Centre of Popular Earth Science.