Back row left to right: Mike Wingfield (FABI), Rob Drennan (NRF), Robin Crewe (UP), Eddie Mwenje (National University of Science and Technology, Bulawayo), Coert Geldenhuys (Forestwood cc.). Front row left to right: Anton Ströh (UP), Brenda Wingfield (FABI), Mike Edwards (Forestry SA), Joseph Tshikomba (DST), Diana Six (University of Montana), Urmilla Bob (UKZN).

The fourth Board meeting of the CTHB took place on Monday, 8 May 2006 at FABI, University of Pretoria. Dr Diana Six, University of Montana, the newly co-opted member to the Board, was given a warm welcome. Mr Joseph Tshikomba, DST, who attended in Ms Canca’s place, was paying his second visit to FABI within a short space of time, having visited with the Deputy Minister of Science and Technology, the Honorable Minister Derek Hanekom, on 25 April 2006.

The Board congratulated the Centre on the progress made over the previous year and stressed the importance of showcasing the successes of the Centre by updating the CTHB website. The CTHB has successfully met the special and standard output targets required to pass through to Stage 2, the Storming Stage of Development, and will work towards the Pending Gate Review (Gate 3) which will take place during February/March 2009.

The long-term output challenge to the CTHB is to develop at least three PhD academics from designated groups. At the moment, the Centre is supporting three PhD students from this group, one of whom is in her first year, one in his second year and a third who is hoping to graduate early in 2007.