From being an only child, who attended boarding school to leading the University of the Western Cape (UWC) one of the country's most prestigious and meritorious universities, Professor Robert Balfour has built a career rooted in curiosity, art, learning, and a commitment to serving others.
The 51-year-old, who sported a funky hat, with a matching tie and happy socks, joined the Weekend Argus in a one-on-one interview documenting his journey to becoming rector and vice-chancellor of UWC.
With an impressive experience in academic and administrative leadership spanning almost 20 years in public and private higher education institutions, Balfour reflects on his younger days, and how roles would align to shape his awaiting destiny.
"Probably going back to my childhood days, I recognized that the one way to form relationships with people, bearing in mind that I was an only child, was to reach out and establish relationships."
For Balfour, leadership means "understanding, making an effort to understand people around me, understand what motivated people, and then using that understanding to meet their needs and expectations“.
He sees leadership as a way to "serve people" and ultimately help them succeed.
The people around him, particularly students, alumni, and staff, are what motivate him the most in his role.
“What’s enormously motivating and inspiring are the people that I work with." he said.
His enthusiasm comes from the energy and diversity of UWC’s community.
"Each new day brings a new possibility... I love that. Each new day brings new energy."
When reflecting on the changes he envisions for UWC, Balfour emphasizes the importance of balancing the university's proud history with innovation:
"I see UWC as a leading research institution... a university that is widely known for its activism, for its role in the community... for the quality of its leaders."
While he honours UWC's legacy of impactful research, he also envisioned "new futures" that respond to modern social and intellectual challenges.
As a proud member of the LGBTQIA+ community Balfour explained: “It’s the vision of not having silos anymore, where everyone on the campus is like a whole.”
One of Balfour’s favourite places on campus is the library.
He describes it as having a design that "reminds me very much of the Guggenheim Museum.
He appreciates its openness and the valuable art collection: "The library... says everything about learning that it should be about openness." For him, the library represents both the intellectual and artistic spirit of the institution.
Speaking of art, Balfour confesses a lesser-known passion: "I paint." He adds, "If I had to have a chance to have two lives, one of those would be as an artist."
He values art for its ability to express ideas coherently, much like academic work.
He compares the integration of ideas in both art and academia, noting that "art is very much to me the dynamo of intellectual life."
Balfour’s artistic side was nurtured later in life.
Although he initially followed a more academic path, he reflects, "If I had to give advice to myself years ago, I would have said, you know, pursue the discipline of artistic training earlier in your life Robert."
His advice to others is clear: "Find out whether it’s true to you or not as quickly as possible,"
Outside of work, Balfour enjoys a social life full of variety, including attending theatre, movies, and even drag shows. He shares with a smile:
"I like social life. I enjoy going out... drag shows are among my highlights."
He admires drag not just for its entertainment value but for its transformative qualities.
"What is amazing about that art form is that it is so much about the transformation of a person... It’s so very creatively driven and challenging."
He appreciates how drag "deliberately flouts convention" while being both inclusive and entertaining.
Adding a personal touch, Balfour humorously reveals that his partner is a chef, saying, "Excuse the pun, but [he] puts food on the table... in a very different way." This, he admits, is another creative outlet in his life, albeit in a different form.
When asked about his childhood aspirations, Balfour reveals he didn’t dream of specific positions.
He explained: "I had, since my earliest years, very clear ideas about roles.
“Becoming an academic was a natural path because I loved learning and leading.
“So the combination of the two meant I could lead through learning to those who also loved to learn.
"The wonderful thing about an academic's role is this commitment to learning."
“To lead where people learn, is not just a career path but a lifelong journey.”