I am a climate activist focusing on research related to housing, informal settlement upgrading, culture, socio-ecological development, regenerative design and art. My skills are highly transdisciplinary, and I have academic qualifications in fine arts, philosophy and sociology, gender, and development studies. I furthermore received training in appropriate building technologies during an internship hosted by the Earthship Biotecture Academy in Guatemala. I am in the process to co-create a unique built environment research field, Post-Natural, with a group of climate conscience scientists, researchers and artists in Africa, Australia, Belgium, Pakistan and the USA. My post-natural research primarily focuses on designing survival shelter models for the future. I aspire to address the gap between academic theories, research and policy through change-engaged practices applied in Post-Natural projects that respond to a climate crisis world.

ACCREDITED PUBLICATIONS / CREATIVE OUTPUTS

Bosman, G., Venter, A. . and Mabe, P. 2023. Litema artivism: Community engaged scholarship with international online learning. Acta Structilia, 30(1), pp. 185-211.

Gbadegesin J., Marais, L., Von Maltitz, M., Cloete, L., Lenka, M., Rani, K., Campbell, M., Denoon-Stevens, S.,  Venter, A., Koetaan, Q and Pretorius, W. 2022. Student Housing Satisfaction at a South African University. Journal of Student Affairs Research and Practice, DOI: 10.1080/19496591.2022.2032111.

Perold, R., Delport, H. and Venter, A. 2021. Conversations with a practitioner: Reflections on built projects in South Africa from a community engagement perspective. In Verbeeck G., Knapen E., Winkels P., Coeckelberghs N., Janssens B. (ed.) Proceedings of 1st Fall Symposium Building Beyond Borders. Reflecting on the dynamisms of intercultural collaboration in build projects, pp 22-33. November 9-10.  UHasselt: Hasselt.

Gbadegesin J., Marais, L., Denoon-Stevens, S., Cloete, L., Venter, A., Rani, K., Lenka, M., Campbell, M and Koetaan, Q. 2021. Studentification and governance in South Africa: Dependencies and conflicts. Land Use Policy,109: 105639.

Apotsos, M., and Venter, A. 2020. Post-Natural building and eco-vernacular architecture in contemporary South Africa. In de Jager (ed)The Sustainability Handbook, Chapter 9, pp. 138-151. Alive2Green: Cape Town.

Armstrong, K., Venter, A., Maphalane, M., Maphalane, E. 2020. Folio comprising Caleb Motshabi replacement house and Seven Stage Futures 2015-2017. Creative Design/ Architectural publication by the University of the Free State: South Africa.

Venter, A., Marais, L., and Morgan, H. 2019. Informal Settlement Upgrading in South Africa: A Regenerative Perspective. Sustainability, 11(9), 2685.

Armstrong, K., Mofama, M.S. and Venter, A. 2018. Staging change. Creative Design/ Architectural publication by the Queensland University of Technology: Brisbane.

Armstrong, K., and Venter, A. 2018. Change Agent. Creative Design/ Architectural publication by the Queensland University of Technology: Brisbane.

Armstrong, K., Venter, A., Maphalane, M. and Maphalane, E. 2017. Caleb Motshabi replacement house. Creative Design/Architectural publication by the Queensland University of Technology: Brisbane.

Ntema, J., and Venter, A. 2016. Polokwane. In Marais, L, Nel, E., and Donaldson, R (eds.). Secondary Cities and Development. Routledge: New York.

Venter, A., Marais, L., Hoekstra, J. and Cloete, J. 2015. Reinterpreting South African Housing Policy through State Welfare Theory. Housing, Theory and Society, 32(3):346-366.

Marais, L., Ntema, J., Cloete, J. and Venter, A. 2014. From informality to formality to informality: Extra-legal land transfers in an upgraded informal settlement of South Africa. Urbani Izziv; Supplementum:148-161.

Marais, L., Sefika, S., Cloete, J., Ntema, J. and Venter, A., 2013. Towards an understanding of the outcomes of housing privatisation in South Africa. Urban Forum Urban Forum, 25, 57-68.

Marais, L., Venter, A., De Gouveia, A., Campbell, M and Myburgh, W. 2011. Tourism risks associated with small town development: The case of Clarens. In Marais, L., and Donaldson, R (eds.). Small Town Geographies in Africa: Experiences from South Africa and Elsewhere. Nova Science Publishers, Inc: New York.

Venter, A. 2010. Housing policy discourse in South Africa: Theoretical and methodological considerations for future analysis. In Heinecken, L and Prozesky, H (ed) Society in focus: Change, Challenges and Resistance. Reflections from South Africa and beyond. pp. 120-135. Cambridge Scholars Publishing: United Kingdom.

Cloete, J., Venter, A., and Marais, L. 2009. ‘Breaking New Ground’, social housing and mineworker housing: the missing link. Special Edition: Reflections on the unfolding of South Africa’s 2004 Housing Programme “Breaking New Ground”. Town and Regional Planning, 54:27-37.

Hoogendoorn, G., Visser, G., Lenka, M., Marais, L., Van Rooyen, D., and Venter, A. 2008. Revitalising the Bloemfontein Central Business District (CBD): prospects, obstacles and lost opportunities. In Marais, L., and Visser, G (eds.). Spatialities of urban change. Selected themes from Bloemfontein at the beginning of the 21st century. Sun Press: Stellenbosch.

Venter, A., and Marais, L. 2006. Gender and housing policy in South Africa: Policy and practice in Bloemfontein. Journal of Family Ecology and Consumer Sciences, 34: 69-79.

Marais, L., and Venter A. 2006. Hating the compound, but … Mineworker housing needs in post-apartheid South Africa. Africa Insight, 36(1): 53-62.

Marais, L., Botes, L., Pelser, A., and Venter, A. 2005. Reasons for non-payment of mortgage bonds in South Africa: The voice of defaulters. Acta Structilia, 12(2): 1-24.

CONFERENCES PRESENTED

Venter, A., and Armstrong, A. 2022. Re-future: Post-Natural theory creation in a climate crisis world. Sustainable Built Environments Conference: Focus on the Future - The Future is Now! 28-30 March. SBE22: Grabouw.

Venter, A., and Morgan, H. 2022. Post-Natural futures. Sustainable Built Environments Conference: Focus on the Future - The Future is Now! 28-30 March. SBE22: Grabouw.

Venter, A. 2020.  Courage and urgency: Procurement challenges in a rapid climate changing world.  Key note address for The 2nd Annual Smart Procurement World Free State Regional Conference. 25- 26 February. University of the Free State: Bloemfontein.

Venter, A., and Armstrong, A. 2019. Post-natural shelters in a climate change world. Research day: Housing and Human Settlements. 30 May. University of the Free State: Bloemfontein.

Venter, A. 2019. Start Living Green and post-natural building: From sustainability to regeneration. International guest lectures and internships for the VLIR-UOS programme global minds, “Globalisation & Sustainable Development”. UHasselt: Belgium.

Venter, A. 2017. Self-help housing and informal settlements: regenerative futures in the Free State Province. Free State Research Colloquium. 18 to 20 October. Free State Province Treasury: Bloemfontein.

Venter, A. 2017. Start Living Green’ REGENERATIVE development. Learning Festival- Roots for change indaba. 7 September. University of the Free State: Bloemfontein.

Venter, A. 2017. Regenerative development and voices from the grassroots. Mangaung Business Chamber Annual Conference. 24 May. Ilanga Estate: Bloemfontein

Venter, A., and Fourie, F.D. 2017. Regenerative development strategies for water use to mitigate the impact of climate change on small towns in South Africa. International Symposium on climate resilience and water. 22 February. Disaster Management Training and Education Centre for Africa: Bloemfontein

Venter, A. 2016. Appropriate green building technologies catalyst for social change in creating climate change resilient communities through regenerative design. Lessons learned and way forward. Technical and Management Support– Knowledge Sharing Colloquium. Laying the Groundwork for Future Project Design and Implementation. 8 November. Government of Flanders: Johannesburg.

Venter, A. 2016. The green CIRCULAR economy, re-GENErative development and voices from the grassroots. Free State Global Investors Trade Bridge. 3-5 October. Free State Department of Economic, Small Business Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs: Bloemfontein.

Venter, A. 2015. Food and water security from domestic rainwater harvesting. Iphakade Conference. Institute for Groundwater Studies. 2-6 November. University of the Free State: Bloemfontein.

Venter, A. 2015. Start Living Green- design and implementation. Creating new heritages and communities, one tyre, one bottle and eco brick at a time. Making Mangaung the green capital of South Africa. Mangaung Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI). 20-22 October, MCCI: Bloemfontein.

Venter, A. 2015. Free State ‘change agents’ on the move! creating living heritages one community at a time. Social Entrepreneurial Indaba- Uplifting our future together. 31 August – 2 September. Bloem Shelter: Bloemfontein.

Venter, A., and van der Walt, T. 2013. Appropriate building technologies applied in the upgrading of informal settlements: a catalyst for social change. Towards dynamic small towns: a research symposium. Research Cluster on Sustainable Development and Poverty Alleviation. University of the Free State In partnership with the Central University of Technology (CUT). 31 October. University of the Free State: Bloemfontein.

Fourie, F.D., and Venter, A. 2013. Water use strategies to mitigate the impacts of climate change on small towns in South Africa. Towards dynamic small towns: a research symposium. Reseach Cluster on Sustainable Development and Poverty Alleviation. University of the Free State In partnership with the Central University of Technology (CUT). 31 October. University of the Free State: Bloemfontein.

Venter, A., and van der Walt, T. 2013. Theory versus practice. Creating sustainable communities through informal settlement upgrading. Workshop on new communities in the Free State and Gauteng. Public Affairs Research Institute (PARI) and Department of Political Studies and Governance, University of the Free State (UFS). 30 October . University of the Free State: Bloemfontein.

Fourie, F.D., and Venter, A. 2013. Domestic rainwater harvesting, use and re-use: Examples from South Africa and Guatemala. 1st African Water Symposium on Water Conflict. Strategic Academic Cluster: Water Management in Water-Scarce Areas. 19-21 June. University of the Free State: Bloemfontein.

Venter, A. 2012. Small, Medium, Micro Enterprises, the Business Development Support environment and sustainability considerations for the future Free State. Goldfields Chamber of Business SMME seminar. 17 September. Goldfields Chamber of Business: Welkom

Venter, A. 2012. Envisioning: REAL sustainable human settlements. SMME Development in Action. Eskom & Mangaung Chamber of Commerce and Industry conference. 26 & 27 July. Pacofs / Sand du Plessis Theatre: Bloemfontein.

Venter, A., and Marais, L. 2010. The neo-liberal facade: Re-interpreting the South African housing policy from a welfare state perspective. Housing and Urban Issues in Developing Countries. European Network for Housing Research (ENHR), 22nd International Housing Research Conference. Istanbul, 4-7 July.

Venter, A. 2010. Exporting Western housing theories and its relevance in the context of a developing country: the case study of South Africa. New Housing Researchers’ (NHR) Colloquium. Istanbul, July 2-3.

Venter, A. 2009. Breaking New Ground – a comprehensive plan for the development of sustainable human settlement. Building so houses can build bridges -Inclusionary Housing Conference. 13 & 14 February. Lejweng Communications: Johannesburg.

Venter, A. 2008. “Breaking New Ground” Housing Plan: platform for critical discourse in South Africa. Developing Communities, the Southern African Housing Foundation, International Conference. Cape Town, 12-15 October.

Marais, L., Ntema, J., and Venter, A. 2008. State control in self-help housing: evidence from South Africa. European Housing Network Research Conference (ENHR), 20th International Housing Research Conference. Dublin, 6-9 July.

Venter, A. 2008. Housing policy discourse in South Africa: Theoretical and methodological considerations for future analysis. South African Sociological Association (SASA) Conference. Conference working group: Urban Sociology. 7-10 July. University of Stellenbosch: Stellenbosch.

Venter, A. 2007. Inclusionary research? Housing research and policy processes: Perceptions of researchers and housing professionals. Inclusionary Housing Dialogue. 26 & 27 September. Trade Conferences International: Johannesburg.

Venter, A., and Marais, L . 2007. Housing policy and housing-policy research: “Breaking New Ground” and discourse in contemporary South Africa. XXXVIAHS. World Congress on Housing Science. Planning Design, Construction, Performance. Melbourne, 4-7 September.

Venter, A. 2005. Gender and low-income housing. Case study- Turflaagte, Mangaung Local Municipality. Housing Research Dissemination Day, Centre for Development Support. 13 October. University of the Free State. Bloemfontein.

Venter, A., and Marais, L. 2005. Gender and gender sensitivity in the South African Housing policy: Preliminary evidence from Mangaung (Bloemfontein). XXXIII IAHS. World Congress on Housing Science. Transforming Housing Environments through Design. Pretoria, 27-30 September

Marais, L., and Venter, A. 2004. Hating the compound but … Mineworker housing needs in a post-apartheid South Africa. National Housing Research Seminar. 23 & 24 March. Pretoria.

Bosman, G., Venter, A. . and Mabe, P. 2023. Litema artivism: Community engaged scholarship with international online learning. Acta Structilia, 30(1), pp. 185-211.

Perold, R., Delport, H. and Venter, A. 2021. Conversations with a practitioner: Reflections on built projects in South Africa from a community engagement perspective. In Verbeeck G., Knapen E., Winkels P., Coeckelberghs N., Janssens B. (ed.) Proceedings of 1st Fall Symposium Building Beyond Borders. Reflecting on the dynamisms of intercultural collaboration in build projects, pp 22-33. November 9-10.  UHasselt: Hasselt.

Apotsos, M., and Venter, A. 2020. Post-Natural building and eco-vernacular architecture in contemporary South Africa. In de Jager (ed)The Sustainability Handbook, Chapter 9, pp. 138-151. Alive2Green: Cape Town.

Armstrong, K., Venter, A., Maphalane, M., Maphalane, E. 2020. Folio comprising Caleb Motshabi replacement house and Seven Stage Futures 2015-2017. Creative Design/ Architectural publication by the University of the Free State: South Africa.

Venter, A., Marais, L., and Morgan, H. 2019. Informal Settlement Upgrading in South Africa: A Regenerative Perspective. Sustainability, 11(9), 2685.

Venter, A., Marais, L., Hoekstra, J. and Cloete, J. 2015. Reinterpreting South African Housing Policy through State Welfare Theory. Housing, Theory and Society, 32(3):346-366.

Venter, A. 2010. Housing policy discourse in South Africa: Theoretical and methodological considerations for future analysis. In Heinecken, L and Prozesky, H (ed) Society in focus: Change, Challenges and Resistance. Reflections from South Africa and beyond. pp. 120-135. Cambridge Scholars Publishing: United Kingdom.

Venter, A., and Marais, L. 2006. Gender and housing policy in South Africa: Policy and practice in Bloemfontein. Journal of Family Ecology and Consumer Sciences, 34: 69-79.

PROJECT MANAGEMENT

• Human settlements
• Regenerative design and implementation
• Climate crisis
• Social and community development
• Culture
• Evolving Indigenous Knowledge Technologies (IKS)
• Earth building
• Fine arts

Masters in Development Studies 

EDSD 7905 (Research methods and proposal writing)

EDSG 7905 (Gender studies- the LGBTQIA section)

EDSC 7905 (Development and Natural Environment – social context of climate change section)

Urban and Regional Planning

URHT 6804 (Human Settlements Theory)

• 2020 – current	Friends in Disaster Risk Reduction (FiDRR). Indigenous technologies in Human Settlements task team. Pretoria.
  2019 – current	Creative output evaluation committee. The University of the Free State. Bloemfontein
  2018 – current	Cannabis Industry Development Association of Southern Africa (CIDASA). Professional member and part of the built environment task team. Pretoria.
  2018 – current:	Enactus- UFS. Project mentor. Bloemfontein.
  2017 – current:	Community Engagement and Service Learning committee. The University of the Free State.
  2018 – 2022:	Research committee. Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences. The University of the Free State.
  2019 – 2021:	Integrated Transformation Plan: Engaged Scholarship Task Team. The University of the Free State. Bloemfontein.
  2012 – 2019:	Founder of the Qala Phelang Tala (Start Living Green) socio-ecological initiative. Bloemfontein.
  2013 – 2016:	Climate Solver Platform reviewing panel. World Wildlife Fund. Cape Town.
  2012 – 2015:	Clean and Green Free State Campaign and convener of the ‘Green Social Housing’ working group. Bloemfontein.
  2009 – 2016:	Free State Social Housing Company. Non-executive director. Bloemfontein.