Mr. Nigel Branken 

Nigel Branken is a Christian pastor, social worker, and committed advocate for social and racial justice in South Africa. Despite coming from a family history deeply connected to slave trading, Dutch colonisation, and the establishment of the National Party that enforced Apartheid, Nigel has dedicated his life to dismantling these harmful legacies and working toward healing and justice. With more than 28 years of experience in the development sector, he has made significant contributions in areas such as human rights, capacity building, policy development, leadership training, and grassroots engagement with marginalised communities. His passion for walking alongside those on the margins is evident in his work in Hillbrow, Johannesburg, where he has been actively involved in fostering community transformation. In 2012, he founded Neighbours, a nonprofit organisation grounded in the vision of building genuine friendships and supportive communities. Nigel holds a Bachelor of Social Science in Social Work from the University of Natal (1994), and continues to combine faith, compassion, and practical action in pursuit of justice and reconciliation.