Prof Sheryl Hendriks has had an exciting career in food security, filled with some wonderful experiences and achievements, including her latest involvement in the Food Systems Summit alongside World Food Prize laureate, Lawrence Haddad, which saw her participate in Action Track 1 and the Scientific Group. Some of her other excellent career achievements includes her work with Osman Badiane which gave her the opportunity to work with the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Plans (CAADP) framework and plan of action team. As the founder of the African Centre for Food Security, she made her mark in Africa’s food security research and understanding. She is also a fellow of the Academy of Science, a prestigious organisation that aims to accelerate excellence in science. In 2015, she published the food security continuum, which has changed the way in which we understand food security and livelihoods. She has had many more publications over the course of her career including her book, Food Security Policy, Evaluation and Impact Assessment. Furthermoore, she served on the founding and second United Nations Committee for World Security (CFS) High Level Panel of Experts on Food Security and Nutrition (HLPE) and has led numerous research projects worldwide.

While Prof Hendriks has been a mentor and role-model for many, she has also shared her research and work on global platforms that reach much further than her classroom. She has inspired many to take up the challenge of food insecurity, rethink the way in which we frame and tackle these challenges. While many of her former and current students congratulated her and expressed their gratitude to her for her leadership and commitment in the plight to end hunger, the university also sought to recognise her efforts and contributions to both the University of Pretoria, and the global food security discussion. Prof Tuwane Kupe, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Pretoria, took the opportunity during his welcoming speech for the inaugural address to thank Prof Hendriks for her services to the field, and to congratulate her for her outstanding achievements throughout her career. He states that, “Prof Hendriks has made the single most substantial contribution to capacity building for food security and nutrition in Africa.”

As a former student of Prof Hendriks, I can attest to her passion for the field, and her remarkable understanding of food security and nutrition that she so easily shares with her students. She is a testament to what commitment, dedication and hard work can achieve and we as the Department of Agricultural Economics, Extension and Rural Development could not be prouder of this honour that she deserves.

From all of your former students, colleagues and all food security and nutrition researchers, we would like to wish Prof Hendriks a huge congratulations on this prestigious honour.

The recording of the Inaugural Address by Prof Sheryl Hendriks is available here.