Farrell William Hunter, born and raised in Cape Town, has dedicated more than three decades to the field of adult education, combining grassroots practice with leadership at national and international levels. His career reflects both the history of South Africa’s democratic transition and a deep engagement with global debates on education.
Farrell began his professional life in the printing industry, where he became active as a labour representative, championing apprenticeships, training, and workers’ education. This experience laid the foundation for his enduring commitment to education as both a personal right and a tool for collective empowerment.
From the mid-1990s onward, he has worked in key positions in adult education: as Provincial Coordinator for the Continuing Education Programme (CEP), in adult training within the clothing industry, and later as National Manager of the Adult Learning Network. Since 2002, Farrell has been closely connected with DVV International, where he has held senior roles for over two decades, including Project coordinator in the Southern Africa Regional office and, since 2013, Country Director in South Africa.
Beyond programme leadership, Farrell has also contributed to policy and governance. He represented the education sector in the South African NGO Coalition (SANGOCO), served on the board of the Education and Training Development Practices Sector Education and Training Authority (ETDP SETA), and was appointed to a ministerial committee on post-school education and training policy. His voice has been equally present on the international stage, where he has participated in conferences from Bamako and São Paulo to Beijing and Leipzig.
His own academic journey at the University of Cape Town deepened his expertise, with a Certificate in Adult Education (2010) and a Postgraduate Diploma (2013). His approach is rooted in critical pedagogy, which emphasizes education’s transformative purpose and its capacity to foster social change.
Farrell has also been active in sport as part of the anti-apartheid movement, serving in leadership roles in athletics and weightlifting federations, and representing the South African Council on Sport (SACOS) nationally. Today, he continues this link between sport and community through Athletics for Community Transformation (ACT).
Alongside his professional and activist commitments, Farrell is a dedicated reader with a focus on the history of labour in South Africa and educational literature that explores education as an instrument of justice and transition.
We are very pleased to welcome Farrell Hunter into the position of Interim Secretary General. With his wealth of experience, his long-standing commitment to adult education, and his deep belief in education as a force for social change, he will bring valuable leadership and vision to our shared work.
