Prof Juanitta Calitz, Associate Professor: Department of Mercantile Law at the University of Johannesburg (UJ), has been elected as chair of the INSOL academic’s steering committee (ASC). This is a four-year term commencing from April 2019.

“This positions UJ centrally within law education, which I hope will contribute to the growth of the work that we do and increased recognition of UJ as a leader in academia,” says Prof Calitz on her new appointment.

In the interim Prof Calitz would act as ASC vice-chair, for the period of transition from one chair to another.

Prof Calitz takes the new office with a strategic vision to take the leadership role in international turnaround, insolvency and related credit issues; facilitate the exchange of information and ideas, encourage greater international co-operation and communication amongst the insolvency profession, credit community and related constituencies.

She says: “I am looking forward to provide a leadership role in international educational matters relating to turnaround and insolvency topics and also assist in developing cross-border insolvency policies, international codes and best practice guidelines. The INSOL academic’s group is not only an international community of experts and leading scholars in their field but also create a community of support for early-career academics.”

INSOL International is a world-wide federation of national associations of accountants and lawyers who specialise in turnaround and insolvency.

There are currently over 44 Member Associations with over 10,500 professionals participating as members of INSOL International. INSOL also has ancillary groups that represent the judiciary, regulators, lenders and academics and annually host the Africa Round Table (ART) on insolvency reform together with the World Bank Group. It is indeed a great honour and privilege for the University of Johannesburg’s (UJ) Faculty of Law as this is a first for UJ and for Africa.