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The Council of the University of the Free State (UFS) is pleased to announce that Prof Hester Klopper has been appointed as Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the UFS on a date to be announced.

Prof Klopper’s appointment was approved by the university Council during its meeting that took place on the Bloemfontein Campus on 22 November 2024.

“On behalf of the UFS Council, I congratulate Prof Klopper and warmly welcome her to the university and look forward to working with her. Prof Klopper’s academic excellence and global recognition, leadership and strategic vision, commitment to transformation and inclusivity, experience in financial stewardship and institutional advancement, focus on health and well-being, innovation, and research impact, uniquely position her to lead the UFS. The university is fortunate to be able to appoint such an outstanding candidate,” says Mr David Noko, Chairperson of the UFS Council.

"I am deeply honoured and humbled by the opportunity to serve as Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the University of the Free State. The UFS holds a pivotal role in shaping the future of South Africa and beyond through its commitment to academic excellence, social justice, and transformative leadership. I look forward to collaborating with the entire UFS community—Council, staff, students, alumni, and partners — to advance the university in reaching Vision130. Together, we will build on the strong foundation of this great institution, fostering inclusivity, innovation, and impact. My dedication lies in ensuring that the UFS continues to thrive as a beacon of knowledge, opportunity, and progress for all,” says Prof Klopper.

With a distinguished career spanning thirty years, Prof Klopper has dedicated herself to advancing higher education, serving as a global academic leader, competent executive, published author, proficient public speaker, and seasoned researcher. Over a quarter of a century, she has honed her competence and skills in leadership and management within academia and NGOs/NPOs, accumulating a wealth of experience.

Prof Klopper began her higher education journey with a General Nursing Science and Midwifery qualification in 1985, followed by eight additional qualifications between 1986 and 2016, including a PhD from the University of Johannesburg, an MBA from the University of Luton in the United Kingdom (UK), and an honorary doctorate from Oxford Brookes University in the UK.

She is currently employed as Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Strategy, Global and Corporate Affairs at Stellenbosch University (SU).  Overseeing Strategy and Internationalisation when she was appointed to SU in August 2016, her portfolio rapidly expanded to include Information Governance, Business Intelligence and Data Analytics, Corporate Communication and Marketing, and Student Recruitment, leading to its renaming as Strategy, Global and Corporate Affairs (SGCA). In this vital role, she spearheaded the current institutional strategy, Vision 2040 and Strategic Framework (2019-2024), the strategic growth, and substantially increased international engagement, elevating SU’s global prominence through partnerships with academic institutions and networks worldwide.

Her leadership and management extend beyond academia. She has served as Chairperson and CEO of the Forum of University Nursing Deans of South Africa (FUNDISA) and has gained extensive experience in NGO/NPO governance and management. In addition, she served on numerous boards and led one of the world’s largest international nursing organisations, with a membership of more than 135 000 across 95 countries. During her presidential tenure, significant global expansion was achieved through the Global Advisory Panel on the Future of Nursing and Midwifery (GAPFON). In executive roles within not-for-profit organisations, she has furthered her expertise in organisational governance, strategy execution, fundraising, and stakeholder engagement.

Prof Klopper will be the 15^th Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the UFS; she will take over from Prof Anthea Rhoda, who has been acting in this position since September 2024.