Plenary Speakers

Urbanist Theologian and Director — Centre for Faith and Community, University of Pretoria

Stephen is professor of Practical Theology, and his research interests include theology in the African city; liberative urban pedagogies; and homelessness, housing and spatial justice. Fusing research, teaching, activism and action, his work seeks to contribute to urban transformation from below, with a special concern for the city's most excluded or marginalized populations. Apart from his academic work, he is involved in social housing and housing advocacy in the inner city of Pretoria.

Francesca Lionetti works on housing policy and urban governance, with over 12 years of international experience, including with the United Nations and the Council of Europe. She has worked on homelessness for several years, including the preparation of two United Nations Secretary-General’s reports on the issue, through research, stakeholder consultations and policy recommendations. Her work focuses on preventing homelessness and supporting housing-led, rights-based responses, alongside broader work on adequate housing and social inclusion.

Assistant Professor — McGill University, Tio'tiá:ke/Montreal, Canada

 Jayne Malenfant is from Kapuskasing and is currently an Assistant Professor at McGill University, in Tio'tiá:ke/Montreal, Canada.  Their work focuses on the intersection of housing and educational rights, the engagement of people with lived and living experience of housing precarity in advocacy and research, and the experiences of Two-Spirit, trans, and non-binary communities navigating housing precarity and institutional harm. Their current work engages public and community-led education to explore spaces of housing solidarity.

Coordinator and Researcher — Unit for Street Homelessness, Centre for Faith and Community, University of Pretoria

Remembrance is Faculty member of Theology and Religion at the University of Pretoria. She is a professional social worker and holds a Master’s degree in Social Development and Policy from the University of Pretoria. Her Honours degree specialised in Probation and Correctional Practice, and she obtained her undergraduate degree, a Bachelor of Social Sciences in Social Work, from the University of Cape Town. She also holds an Advanced Certificate in Urban Ministry (IUM/UNISA) and an International Diploma in Humanitarian Assistance from Fordham University.

“Nothing about us, without us” this is my belief, more importantly so in the homelessness sector. Homelessness does not mean hopeless, therefore we still have dreams and a sense of will, for us to be able to think and act for ourselves.

Retail Manager, Southern Suburbs — U-turn

Bianca is Retail Area Manager for 10 of U-turn’s Cape Town thrift stores, leading the work-site supervisors who integrate therapeutic support with on-the-job training for people exiting homelessness. Bianca’s leadership is grounded in many years of lived experience of sleeping rough and addiction and shaped by her own completion of the U-Turn programme. She draws on this experience to mentor and guide clients with an authentic understanding of the journey. Bianca is now very happily married and has two wonderful daughters and a grandson. This year she is celebrating a significant milestone – 10 years living in recovery.

Partner and Executive Director — Global Pro Bono, Baker McKenzie 

Ms. Vigil's human rights and public international law work for global pro bono clients of the Firm includes international advocacy on behalf of street-connected children, challenging the deprivation of liberty of children in systems worldwide and training lawyers and advocates to advocate for the rights of youth in conflict with the law, in need of protection, and involved in human trafficking, sexual violence and denied access to justice in many fora.  A trial lawyer and faculty member for the National Institute for Trial Advocacy, Angela represents foster youth, refugee and immigrant children, trafficking victims, and those deprived of liberty.

Western University

Chief Country Officer and Head of Banking — South Africa, Citi