My research in regional history gradually matured towards four central foci.

Initially, I focused on (i) Gold mining as the region’s economic driver and (ii) Local economic developments and related environmental distortions. Once I had a more comprehensive multidisciplinary understanding of the FWR and regional histories as a field, I (iii) advanced the methodological paradigm for doing regional and micro histories, as well as the historiography of regional history in South Africa. As a last central focus to contribute to regional histories I continued to develop my methodology, always keeping place and space central, to be more theme and phenomenon specific. This resulted in diverse inquiries informing the historical status and potential for future sustainable economic activity of the region, specifically the (iv) ecohealth and wellbeing in mining communities.

In this regard, I successfully led a National Research Foundation (NRF) project (2013–2017), implementing an integrative multidisciplinary (IMD)model for mining-related community engagement.

Research Innovation and Regional Engagement

Through collaboration with historians at the University of Helsinki’s Ruralia Institute, I adapted an ethnographic research model incorporating affective history. Within this framework, I explored the eco-health and wellbeing of the Far West Rand (FWR) region through 'homeliness' research: a project that was the first of its kind in South Africa. While my primary spatial emphasis remains the FWR, currently supported by a multimillion-rand project to capture diverse legacies (historical; cultural and environmental) for future tourism, I have also led regional history projects across the Eastern Cape, Southern Cape, Free State, North West, KwaZulu-Natal, and Gauteng. Starting in 2026, the IMD model will be applied to explore the historical legacies and sustainable community potential of the rural mining region near the Rustenburg Platinum Mines.

Academic Leadership and Service

Since 1986, I have held leadership positions in scholarly societies, including the presidency of the American Studies Association of SA (1994–1998); the secretariat (1994–2008) and chairpersonship (2009–2017) of the SA Society for History Teaching; and membership on the Executive Board of the International Society for History Didactics (2014–2026). I am a founding member and current Chairperson of both the International Society for Regional History (2021–2026) and the Regional History Society for Southern Africa (2022–2026). Additionally, I serve as a board member of the South African Historical Association and hold memberships in the South African Historical Society and the South African Society for Cultural History.

Editorial contributions

Regarding editorial contributions, I was Editor-in-Chief of the Yesterday&Today journal (2005–2014), which achieved DHET accreditation under my leadership in 2012. My further experience includes serving on the editorial board of the accredited journal Historia (1997–2007) and editing the South African Journal of Cultural History (2015–2021). I currently serve as Editor-in-Chief of the DHET-approved journal New Contree (2008–2026), published by AOSIS. Both latter journals were originally founded to advance regional history research. Furthermore, I serve on the editorial boards of Jàmbá and Botswana Notes and Records. I have assisted as a reviewer for more than a dozen NRF fund-seeking applications and served for three years on the NRF History rating committee (2023–2025). Furthermore, I have acted as an examiner for undergraduate and postgraduate papers, theses, and dissertations: specifically for US, UJ, NMU, UKZN, UNISWA (Eswatini), and UFH – and as a reviewer of research papers for several academic journals.

Career milestones

Career milestones include awards for excellence in higher education teaching and learning (1995, 1998, 2019) and the Researcher of the Year award at the Vanderbijlpark Campus (2009), where I ranked among the top researchers at North-West University (NWU). Beyond serving as editor or co-editor of several books, I am annually recognised by my peers and academic management as a top performer. My leadership experience includes serving as Chairperson of History at the NWU Vanderbijlpark Campus (2012–2018), Deputy Director of the School of Social Sciences (2018–2024) and Acting Director (2024–2025). Furthermore, I have contributed to numerous school and faculty committees and maintained research and programme leadership roles within the NWU Social Transformation Focus Area, the History Research Committee (2013–2026) and the BaSSREC Ethics Committee (2017–2026). To date, I have supervised more than a dozen postgraduate students (PhDs and MAs) to completion. As an established researcher in South African regional history, I take pride in my ongoing academic citizenship. I remain committed to fostering a conducive environment for scholars within the broader discipline of history and my specific field, both nationally and globally.