Farewell to Martin Hall

Vice-Chancellor Dr Max Price: "Martin Hall leaves a formidable legacy. Although my term of office began almost as Martin's was being completed, I'm aware of the very strong base he's created for the university's development in key areas. Martin juggled several taxing portfolios very adeptly."

Former Vice-Chancellor Professor Njabulo S Ndebele: "My abiding memory of Professor Hall was cast in firm stone not long after I assumed office as Vice-Chancellor in 2000. He was working on the governance aspects of the AIMS review and came to my office to interview me. A day or so later I received the full text of a revised document with my comments faithfully reflected. It reflected the kind of efficiency and integrity in putting together a public document I was to see in him countless times in the coming years."

Prof Cheryl de la Rey, former DVC and Chair of the Council for Higher Education: "When I think of Martin Hall as a colleague, two features stand out: his sharp intellect and exceptional capacity for work. Martin's understanding of higher education is remarkable."

Prof Ian Scott, Academic Development Programme: "Martin Hall was appointed the first Dean of Higher Education Development (as the head of CHED is properly titled) in 1999, and played the central role in forming a united CHED out of a rather disparate grouping of units, establishing it organisationally and geographically and putting it on a developmental path that has served us well ever since."

Judy Favish, director, Institutional Planning Department: "Martin's capacity for work is extraordinary. He has been able to get on top of extremely varied and complex portfolios. We were often struck by his extraordinary ability to think on his feet and provide solutions to complex challenges facing the university."

Associate Professor Laura Czerniewicz, Director, Centre for Educational Technology (CET): "Together with Stuart Saunders and Nan Yeld, Martin Hall was one of the very first people at UCT to recognise the opportunities afforded by emergent technologies to the higher education mission."

Gary Gabriels, principal technical officer, clinical pharmacology: "Martin Hall often, in my observation, reflected a commitment as a disciplined team player in execution of function, with the requisite responsibility and accountability. He showed impeccable leadership qualities, and sometimes bravery, with decisive actions, even if this may not have been popular with everyone sometimes."

Cal Volks, director, HIV/AIDS Co-ordination - UCT: "Staff who have reported to Professor Martin Hall have appreciated working with him, not only because he is an inspiring and effective leader, role model and mentor, but also because his practice of collective leadership is inclusive and respectful. From the outset of taking on the HIV/AIDS portfolio, it was clear to me he understood that HIV and AIDS represented one of the most critical challenges for humanity, South Africa and UCT."

Anne Short, director, Career Development Programme: "From the inception of CHED, Martin had grasped the then unfashionable view that careers education had to embrace a developmental mission that was about far more than graduate destinations."

Professor Nan Yeld, dean of the Centre for Higher Education Development: "Several attributes spring to mind when thinking of Martin Hall: for me, speed, memory, lateral thinking and humour would top the list. Some of my best recollections of working with Martin involve him thinking through and developing novel approaches to addressing seemingly intractable problems. Some of my worst recollections are of receiving emails (sent by Martin in the small hours) enquiring about the progress of some truly daunting task."