Mr. Donald Nghonyama is a professional Child and Youth Care Worker. He possesses a B-Tech degree in Child and Youth Development from the University of South Africa, a Diploma in Education from Johannesburg College of Education, and a Master's Degree in International Development from Eastern University in the USA. He has previously held the position of National Chairperson of the National Association of Child and Youth Care Workers (NACCW) in South Africa and is currently the Executive Director. Additionally, he serves as the Deputy Chairperson of the South African National Child Rights Coalition (SANCRC), has been the Vice President of the South African Council for Social Services Professions, and is presently the Chairperson of the Professional Board of Child and Youth Care Work. Mr. Nghonyama is also involved with the Coordinating Body of the International Federation of Educative Communities, known as FICE International, where he acts as the Secretariat for FICE Africa. Furthermore, he is the founder and a board member of the Tlangelani Community Empowerment Centre, a non-profit organization located in the Vhembe District of Limpopo province, which focuses on community child and youth care work, early childhood development, and youth skills development programs. Mr. Nghonyama remains actively engaged in various national and international committees and forums aimed at enhancing the delivery of services to children, youth, and families, with a particular emphasis on psychosocial support.

Dr Zeni Thumbadoo holds a PhD in Health Sciences and Masters Degree in Child and Youth Care Work. Dr Thumbadoo has been the Deputy Director of the National Association of Child Care Workers since 1997. She has experience in direct service provision, contributing to children’s policy and legislation, advocacy, and model development. She played a lead role in the development of the Isibindi model, an indigenous approach to address challenges for children. In this role, she was the senior manager in the model’s roll-out in partnership with the Departments of Social Development, PEPFAR and implementing partners. Dr Thumbadoo was also instrumental in Isibindi’s ‘sister’ model, Isibindi Ezikoleni, currently implemented with child and youth care workers in schools. Dr Thumbadoo has served on the Professional Board for Child and Youth Care Workers (PBCYCW) and represented the South African child and youth care sector in various national and international forums.

Dr. Merle Allsopp holds a doctorate degree in child and youth care and has more than 40 years’ experience in the child and youth care field. This is in direct child and youth care work, residential child and youth care programmes and as director of the National Association of Child Care Workers. Dr. Allsopp is currently the Technical Adviser for NACCW and was director of NACCW for 28 years. As director, she oversaw its financial systems, staff, projects, training, consultancy in child and youth care and input into legislative and policy issues. She also has experience in conceptualising, designing and implementing new child and youth care programmes and writing articles and disseminating information on child and youth care work. Additionally, during Dr. Allsopp's tenure at NACCW, the child and youth care field was recognised as a profession in South Africa, and this development was widely recognised as being driven by NACCW.