Professor Brian Figajiis a retired Professor and former Vice-Chancellor of the Cape Peninsula University of Technology. He practiced as a professional engineer for 10 years in both contracting and design and then joined Peninsula Technikon which subsequent to the merger of 2004 became known as the Cape Peninsula University of Technology. Prof Figaji served the institution for 25 years, with 10 of these years as Vice-Chancellor (President). He left the institution in 2004 in opposition to the pending merger. Among the many positions he held the most relevant positions were as; Member, and later Vice-President of the Engineering Council of South Africa; Member of the South African Council on Higher Education; Representative of SA on the UNESCO Executive Board from 2005 to 2009; Chair of the SA National Commission for UNESCO from 2009 to 2013; and Member of the Council advising the President on National Orders (National Presidential Awards) until 2014.
Prof Figaji is also a Fellow of the Society for Professional Engineers, Fellow of the Institute for Civil Engineers, Fellow of the Academy of Engineering, and a member of the Academy of Science of SA.
In the context of civil society, he serves on education trusts as well as various boards including performing arts, Blood Transfusion Services, Scout Association as well as a body serving the needs of war-blinded individuals. He is also the non-executive Chair of one of the large fishing companies in the country and is also the Chairman of Wesgro.
