Sidney van Heerden is the acting executive director of the Development and Alumni Department (DAD). DAD is a key role player in advancing the objectives of the university by aligning institutional advancement (fundraising and alumni strategies) with the university’s strategic plan (Vision 2030). DAD ensures that both fundraising and alumni relations strategies yield adequate resources to support the university’s mission at a time when higher education funding streams face significant challenges. The department continuously explores new areas of funding and donor support, particularly also internationally.

Van Heerden joined UCT in December 2014 following a career of 21 years in the South African Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) spending 13 years at various diplomatic missions abroad. In 2002 he joined the Stellenbosch Foundation at Stellenbosch University and thereafter UCT as the deputy director in DAD. He is an alumnus of Stellenbosch University.