Organising Committee - RUCE 2026

Diana (Di) Hornby holds a Master’s degree in Community Development, a BEd Honours, a Postgraduate Diploma in Early Childhood Development (ECD), and a Bachelor’s degree in Education.

She is currently the Director of Community Engagement at Rhodes University, bringing 30 years of experience across the ECD and community development fields.

Previously, as Director of the Centre for Social Development at Rhodes University, she led the development of a best-practice ECD model that received national recognition. Her earlier work in rural development at the Angus Gillis Foundation (Ubunye) earned her South Africa’s Most Influential Women in Business and Government Award (2007), in recognition of her strong commitment to pro-poor development approaches.

In 2021, her team received first place in the MacJannet Prize for Global Citizenship for the Nine Tenths Matric Mentoring Programme. Diana is currently reading for her PhD at Rhodes University and has published in the fields of community engagement and community development

Qualifications:
PhD (Subject: Community Development Education); Masters in Women and Gender Studies;
Bachelors degree in Social Work.

Dr Maistry has held numerous positions at a number of institutions across the globe, including director of Community Engagement at Rhodes University, South Africa; lecturer and head of department (Social Work and Social Development) at University of Fort Hare; lecturer in the Centre for Continuing Education, University of Waikato, New Zealand and served as the Africa Region Programme Manager of Volunteer Services Abroad, Wellington, New Zealand. She has extensive experience in social work and community development practice, management, education and research.

She is a member of the national task team established by the Department of Social Development, Community Development Directorate for the professionalization of community development.

Dr Maistry has researched and published in the areas of social work, community development, higher education, community engagement, integral education, community based participatory research and women’s studies. She supervises postdoctoral students in Community Engagement.

Prior to joining RUCE, she was a Research Associate with the Durban University of Technology and co-lead two national research projects, the first in Community Engagement and the second in Articulation within the South Africa Post School Education and Training sector. In addition, she supervised masters and doctoral students both these projects. Dr Maistry is the chief editor of the African Journal of Higher Education Community Engagement (AJHECE).

Qualifications:
(BSc, University of Zimbabwe; BSc Hons, MSc & PhD, Rhodes University) is a Senior Lecturer and Coordinator of Engaged Research in the Rhodes University Community Engagement (RUCE) Division.

Her work focuses on food and nutrition security, particularly the impacts of food insecurity on women of reproductive age and young children, and she has extensive experience working with communities across KwaZulu-Natal, the Free State and the Eastern Cape. She is also interested in integrating food and nutrition security into education through social learning and sustainable development.

Claire McCann is a Rhodes Scholar currently pursuing a DPhil in Education at the University of Oxford. She holds a MSt in Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies and MPhil in Economics.

She currently contributes to the education-focused NGO, Omprakash, which connects change makers with social impact organisations around the world, and is Deputy Editor of the African Journal of Higher Education Community Engagement.

Her research interests include community/public engagement, African higher education, feminist and engaged research methods, and community histories.

Lorranda holds an SDP qualification from Rhodes Business School and previously trained as a Pharmacist Assistant through the S. Buys Academy, demonstrating her versatility and passion for the healthcare environment. Loranda Faltain is a dedicated financial administration professional known for her friendly approach, strong work ethic, and commitment to accuracy.

With experience working in a bank and serving as a creditors clerk for a leading healthcare company, Loranda has developed a solid foundation in financial processes, customer support, and organisational efficiency. Her background across both finance and healthcare enables her to bring a unique, holistic perspective to her work, ensuring seamless operations and exceptional service.

Driven, reliable, and people-focused.
Loranda strives to make a meaningful impact in every role she undertakes.

Charmaine Avery is a manager at Rhodes University in Grahamstown, where she serves as the Manager of Conferences and Events and the Acting Head of Food Services. With more than three decades of experience in higher education and the corporate sector, she has developed extensive expertise in strategic events management, institutional hospitality services, stakeholder engagement, and operational leadership.

In her role, Charmaine oversees the planning and delivery of major university events, conferences, and ceremonial occasions, including graduation ceremonies and high-level institutional functions. She also leads food services operations within the university’s residential system, ensuring efficient service delivery, financial sustainability, and compliance with health and safety standards.

Charmaine has played a key role in strengthening Rhodes University’s conferencing and events portfolio by building strategic partnerships, securing funding for institutional events, and managing engagements with senior government officials, donors, and international guests. Her leadership combines operational excellence with strong relationship management and a commitment to enhancing the student and stakeholder experience.

She holds an NQF Level 8 qualification in Enterprise Management from Rhodes Business School and has completed several leadership and professional development programmes at Rhodes University.

Beyond her professional responsibilities, Charmaine actively contributes to community and institutional governance. She serves as Chairperson of Child Welfare Grahamstown and participates in a number of university committees and task teams focused on operational improvement and institutional well-being.