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CURRICULUM VITAE – BJ WILLEMSE
Name Johan (BJ) Willemse
Date of Birth 14 December 1954 Profession Agricultural Economist
Position Associate Professor, Department of Agricultural Economics Specialisation Macro economics, agricultural policy, market and price analysis and forecasting for agri business decision making
Nationality South African
Family Married to Marlene with two daughters Years of Experience 26
DESCRIPTION OF FIELD OF EXPERIENCE
Johan Willemse has extensive industry experience in commercial agriculture in Southern Africa, in various senior positions, as well as in private consulting on strategic market and price analysis for agri business. Extensive experience on the deregulation of agricultural markets (policy and farm level). He is a well-known speaker on these topics to commercial agricultural entrepreneurs and his opinion is also well respected through the publishing of various columns in SA Agricultural and business publications, for which he received several awards.
MAIN QUALIFICATIONS
1972 Standard 10, Aliwal North High School, Aliwal North
1976 B.Com (Economics and agricultural economics), University of the Free State 1977 B.Com (Hons) Economics, University of the Free State
1978 M.Com (Economics), University of the Free State 1994 PhD (Agricultural Economics), University of Pretoria
PROFESSIONAL CAREER
Period Position Employer
1977 Tutor: Agricultural economics University of the Free State 1978 Clerk (Department of Finance) Free State Provincial Admin.
1978/79 Assistant-economist SA Agricultural Union
1979 Agricultural - economist Buro for Economic Research and Co-operation
1980-85 Economist/Chief Economist SA Agricultural Union
1985/86 Lecturer School of Management, Pretoria
Technikon 1992-2002 Private consulting business Pretoria
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1992-1994 Lecturer (part time) Pretoria Management College
1995-1999 Lecturer (part time), Agric economics/strategic management
University of Pretoria
1997-1998 Council Member National Agricultural Marketing Council
2001-2004 Research Fellow (Department of Agricultural Economics)
University of Pretoria
2002- Private consulting business Bloemfontein
2003 -2006 Trustee Oil - and Protein Seeds
Development Trust Jan 2005 Associate Professor (Agricultural Economics) University of the Free State
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIP
· Agricultural Economic Association of South Africa (AEASA)
· The Economic Society of South Africa (ESSA)
· Agricultural Writers Association of Southern Africa
AWARDS/BURSARIES
Date Item Description
1989 & 1994 Award Finalist, John Deere Agricultural writer of the year 1990 &1996 Award Winner, John Deere Agricultural writer of the year 1994
1996
Award Bursary
Best doctoral thesis, Protein Research Trust
Study tour of Netherlands agriculture, Government of the Netherlands
2000 Award Koster shield, Grain SA, best article published in SA Grain magazine
2003 Bursary Cochrane Fellowship, US Government, Short course at the University of Illinois, USA.
2004 Award Economist of the year, ABSA/Sake (based on forecasting competition amongst 30 economists)
2004 Award Agriculturalist of the year, Agricultural Writers Association (Central region)
2004 Award Personality of the year, Animal Feed Manufacturers Association (AFMA)
MISCELLANEOUS ACADEMIC AFFAIRS
• Member of panel of referees in 1988/89 for Agrecon publication
• Peer review of research applications at the Protein Research Foundation and the Oilseeds and Protein Research Trust
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• External examiner for masters and doctoral studies at universities in South Africa
• Numerous papers have been presented at professional conferences, workshops and congresses in Southern Africa
INTERNATIONAL VISITS
Several research and work related visits to Europe, North America and Southern African countries.
RESEARCH OUTPUT SUMMARY
• Numerous contributions to published and unpublished research reports and technical papers
• Numerous research and project reports for agri business clients in Southern Africa
• Co Author: ”Southern African Agribusiness - gaining through regional collaboration,”
World Bank 1999, as well as various other World Bank reports/technical papers on agriculture in the Southern African region
• Publication of summary of the financial data and ratios for agricultural co-operatives
• Research and proposals on a suitable tax system for Namibian agriculture on behalf of Namibian Agricultural Union (1997)
• Member of Ministerial task group to evaluate the 1992 drought aid to farmers in South Africa
• Secretary of the Ministerial “Committee of enquiry into the marketing of maize in South Africa” (1987/88)
COMMUNITY AND PROFESSIONAL SERVICE Description of some activities
• Executive and founding member of the Southern African Soyfood Association and regional representative of the American Soybean Association (1999 -)
• A weekly column in “Landbouweekblad” (largest agricultural magazine in South Africa) on agricultural policy, markets and topical economic issues (since 1987)
• A monthly contribution to South African Co-op (largest Agricultural Co-operative magazine) on agricultural market trends (since 1985)
• Column on marketing/policy in “Dairy Mail” mouthpiece of the dairy industry in South Africa
• Oilseeds market trends on monthly basis, SA Grain magazine (since 1999)
· Monthly column on the economy in Sake Beeld/Burger/Volksblad (2004-)
· Various other contributions on agricultural policy, marketing and price trends to magazines on a regular basis (Food and Beverage Reporter, Fruit and Vegetable)
· Regular public speaker at congresses, conferences, farmers' meetings etc. on agricultural policy matters and outlook for grain/oilseeds and livestock sectors (approximately 30 presentations per annum)
· Participant in country wide seminars on economic planning/scenarios by Old Mutual (2003 & 2004)
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· Compiled and presented management advice series on TV show “Wenakker”
(Mnet/Kyknet 2001 & 2002)
· Radio and newspaper/magazine interviews on economic and agricultural issues
· Experience as company director in public company, as well as management and practical experience in running own businesses with wife Marlene as partner
· Completed training as a professional coach with the international company “Results Coaching Systems” in 2004
