Alex Benkenstein is the Programme Manager of the Governance of Africa’s Resources Programme of the South African Institute of International Affairs, which he joined in November 2010. His work in SAIIA has focused on a number of resource governance-related issues, particularly in the fields of fisheries, ocean governance and mining. Through his work with SAIIA he has collaborated with a number of partners in the public and private sector, for example, the World Gold Council (Standards for Conflict-Free Gold), the Southern African Development Community (SADC Think Tank Forum on Climate Change), the New Partnership For Africa’s Development (NEPAD) Agency, and the Benguela Current Commission. Alex graduated from the University of Stellenbosch with a Masters Degree in International Studies (cum laude). As a researcher for the South African consultancy Managing for Excellence he completed projects for various clients, including the Parliament of South Africa. He was subsequently appointed as Head of Research for the NGO Regency Foundation Networx, where his work focused on climate change, particularly private sector corporate social responsibility (CSR) responses to emerging issues surrounding climate change.
