School of Management, IT and Governance

Research Interests

• Zimano, F R and Ruffin, F (2018) Palpable linkage of supply chain management to hard and soft infrastructure marriage: The case of SADC road entry point management Systems. International Journal of Logistics Systems and Management. 30(30), pp. 349-365.
• Mutereko, S & Ruffin, F (2018) Public Administration dilemmas: An analysis of teachers’ perceptions of the effects of performance evaluation in post-colonial South Africa. International Journal of Public Administration, 41(1), 34-45
• The Constitutional Mandate as an Instrument for Public Participation in Service Delivery: The case of ILembe District Municipality (Co-authored with Prof PS Reddy), IASIA Conference. Port Elizabeth, South Africa, June –July 2014.
• Zimano, FR & Ruffin, F 2017 Simultaneous development of border points as trade facilitation: Advocacy to aid supply chain of goods through the case of SADC road entry points. International Journal of Logistics Systems and Management 31(3) 402 – 419.
• Fagbadebo, O & Ruffin, F 2017 Between the old and the new: Comparing the effectiveness of the pre and post-colonial administrations in the promotion of governance and accountability in Nigeria. Indilinga: African Journal of Indigenous Knowledge Systems 16(1) 148-159.
• Mutereko, S & Ruffin, F 2017 Political accountability in education service delivery: Post-apartheid South African government’s responsiveness. Journal of Social Sciences 51(1-3) 166 – 181
• Ruffin, F 2016 Sacred space of African indigenous forces of nature: Environmental ethics for the African Diaspora. Journal of Human Ecology 53(2): 124 – 134.
• Ruffin, F, Teffo, LJ, & Kaya, H 2016 African indigenous languages and environmental communication. Journal of Human Ecology 53(2): 185 – 193.
• Makoba, N & Ruffin, F 2016 Democratic governance and the outcomes approach to performance management through African epistemologies. Loyola Journal of Social Sciences XXX(2) Jul-Dec pp 143-167.
• Mutereko, S & Ruffin, F 2016 Using performance standards as criteria to measure teacher effectiveness in post-apartheid South Africa. International Journal of Education Sciences 14(1, 2) 79-92.
• Ruffin, F 2013 South African municipal international relations: The case of Metropolitan eThekwini. Loyola Journal of Social Sciences XXVII(1) Jan-June, 58-70
• Ruffin F & Mubangizi JC 2013 The morality and politics of humanitarian intervention with specific reference to the 2011 Libyan experience. Politeia: South African Journal for Political Science and Public Administration 32(2) 60-82
• Qwabe, BR & Ruffin, R 2013 Human capital for quality infrastructure development in South Africa: A project-based pedagogical analysis. Journal of Social Development Sciences 4(6) 278-285
• Ruffin, F 2010 Roxborough on the rise: A case of generating sustainable buy-in. Drexel Law Review 3(1) 309-323
• Ruffin, F 2010 Collaborative network management for urban revitalisation: The business improvement district model. Public Performance and Management Review 33(3) 459-487.
• Ruffin, F 2008 Professionalising the field of business district management, Journal of Place Management and Development 1(1) 29-45

Books and Book Chapters

• Fagbadebo, O & Ruffin, F (eds) (2018) Perspectives on the legislature and the prospects of accountability in Nigeria and South Africa. New York: Springer
• Ruffin, F 2018 Land governance in the context of legal pluralism: Cases of Ghana and Kenya. In Akinola, AO and Wissink, H (eds) Trajectory of Land Reform in Post-Colonial African States: The Quest for Sustainable Development and Utilization. Cham, Switzerland: Springer.
• Fagbadebo, O & Ruffin, F 2017 From hate to love: South Africans and the xenophobia question. In Akinola, AO (ed) The Political Economy of Xenophobia in Africa. Puducherry, India: SPI Global.
• Ruffin, F & Martins, W 2016 Legal empowerment as social entrepreneurship: The KwaZulu-Natal cases of Bulwer and New Hanover. In Fields, Z (ed) Incorporating Business Models and Strategies into Social Entrepreneurship. Hershey, PA: IGI Global. pp 267 – 291
• Ruffin, F & Reddy, M 2015 Towards solid intergovernmental relations for disaster risk reduction. In Reddy, P.S. and De Vries, M. (eds) Quo Vadis? Local Governance and Development in South Africa since 1994. Brussels: Bruylandt pp. 219 – 234

Conference Presentations and Speaking Engagements

Conference Presentations

• Exploring case management strategies for the community advice office sector in South Africa (with Dr W Martins). Organisation of Economic Development and Cooperation (OECD) conference. Latvia, September 2018.
• Making community based justice systems sustainable: A case of South African community advice offices (with Dr W Martins). United Nations General Assembly side event: Tenth anniversary of the Commission on Legal Empowerment of the Poor. New York City, USA, September 2018
• Interrogating the constitutional requisites for legislative oversight in the promotion of accountability and good governance in South Africa and Nigeria (with Dr O Fagbadebo), Conference theme: Global trends in Management, IT and Governance in an e-World at Open University of Mauritius, Reduit, Mauritius, November 8 – 10 2017
• The “wicked problem” of fire risk reduction in informal settlements: A case of Clare Estates, eThekwini municipality, South Africa (with Bongiwe Dludla). Conference theme: Global trends in Management, IT and Governance in an e-World at Open University of Mauritius, Reduit, Mauritius, November 8 – 10 2017
• Actualising collaborative roles for indigenising academic programmes at the UKZN though African indigenous knowledge systems [with Dr T Moodley (Director, Quality Promotion Assurance) and Prof H Kaya (Director, DST-NRF Centre in Indigenous Knowledge Systems)]. (Award conferred). Conference theme: Fostering quality teaching – enhancing students’ experience. Host: UKZN, College of Law and Management Studies, Annual Teaching and Learning Day, UKZN Westville Campus, 26 October 2017
• Interrogating African epistemologies to redesign law school curriculum: Towards justice for all. Conference theme: Decolonizing knowledge production and dissemination in the Humanities and Social Sciences. Host: 8th annual Zululand Humanities and Social Sciences Conference 18 to 20 October 2017 at the University of Zululand Science Centre, Richards Bay, South Africa.
• Manifest colonial legacies perpetuating illegal movements’ phenomenon: The case of SADC border management systems (with Dr FR Zimano). Conference theme: Decolonizing knowledge production and dissemination in the Humanities and Social Sciences. Host: 8th annual Zululand Humanities and Social Sciences Conference 18 to 20 October 2017 at the University of Zululand Science Centre, Richards Bay, South Africa.
• Rethinking the role of African epistemologies and project management pedagogy in a decolonisation era: Reflections from South Africa (with Dr B Qwabe). Conference theme: Decolonizing knowledge production and dissemination in the Humanities and Social Sciences. Host: 8th annual Zululand Humanities and Social Sciences Conference 18 to 20 October 2017 at the University of Zululand Science Centre, Richards Bay, South Africa.
• African epistemologies of Afristate Intrafunctionalism: Comparative analysis of Botswana, Malawi and South Africa (with M Nkhalamba, PhD candidate). Conference theme: Decolonizing knowledge production and dissemination in the Humanities and Social Sciences. Host: 8th annual Zululand Humanities and Social Sciences Conference 18 to 20 October 2017 at the University of Zululand Science Centre, Richards Bay, South Africa.
• The shift to private-based justice for domestic violence cases: Indigenous voices from rural KwaZulu-Natal (with Dr Winnie Martins). Conference theme: Decolonizing knowledge production and dissemination in the Humanities and Social Sciences. Host: 8th annual Zululand Humanities and Social Sciences Conference 18 to 20 October 2017 at the University of Zululand Science Centre, Richards Bay, South Africa.
• Session Rapporteur: Indigenous knowledge and food security. BRICS Countries International Conference on Indigenous Knowledge Systems for Sustainable Food Security and Environmental Governance for Climate Change Adaptation. Host: DST-NRF Centre for Indigenous Knowledge Systems Moses Mabhida Stadium, Durban, South Africa, 13 – 14 September 2016.
• The global/local nexus of social entrepreneurship: A case for legal empowerment. 10th Annual African American European Summer School. Theme: Innovation and creative solutions for responsible and sustainable entrepreneurship for new economic growth strategies, transforming societies and/or emerging economies. International two week-long summer school programme for college students. Host: UKZN at Sica’s Guest House, Durban, South Africa, 15 – 26 August 2016.
• The manifestations of historical legacies on road entry point management systems: Southern Africa’s regional integration case (with then doctoral candidate F Zimano). 4th Business Management Conference. Theme: Innovation and creative solutions for economic growth strategies and sustainable futures. Host: UKZN, College of Law and Management Studies at Riverside Hotel, Durban, South Africa, 24 – 26 August 2016.
• 21st century project management education: Evidence from selected South African Universities (with then doctoral candidate B Qwabe). 4th Business Management Conference, Theme: Innovation and creative solutions for economic growth strategies and sustainable futures. Host: UKZN, College of Law and Management Studies at Riverside Hotel, Durban, South Africa, 24 – 26 August 2016.
• Advancing good governance through the nexus of disaster risk reduction, indigenous knowledge systems and community participation (with master’s candidate Nkanyiso Nxumalo). 4th Business Management Conference, Theme: Innovation and creative solutions for economic growth strategies and sustainable futures. Host: UKZN, College of Law and Management Studies at Riverside Hotel, Durban, South Africa, 24 – 26 August 2016.
• Epistemologies and methodologies for uncovering African indigenous values for inclusion in contemporary governance (with then doctoral candidate PN Makoba). Also, Session Chair for Indigenous Knowledge Systems and Governance Issues. International Conference on Post-graduate Students’ Research on Indigenous Knowledge Systems in Southern and Eastern Africa. Host: DST-NRF Centre for Indigenous Knowledge Systems, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville Campus, November 2015.
• Re-envisaging southern African road entry point management systems in the context of African epistemologies (with then doctoral candidate F Zimano). Session Chair for Indigenous Knowledge Systems and Governance Issues. International Conference on Post-graduate Students’ Research on Indigenous Knowledge Systems in Southern and Eastern Africa. Host: DST-NRF Centre for Indigenous Knowledge Systems, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville Campus, November 2015.
• Student engagement in curriculum delivery: A view from Public Governance curriculum design. Host: College of Law and Management Studies Teaching & Learning Day Programme, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville Campus, November 2015.
• Sacred space of African indigenous forces of nature: Environmental ethics for the African Diaspora. Also, Rapporteur: Rural Development, Sustainable Livelihood and Gender: Implications on IKS and Environmental Ethics. International Conference on Indigenous Knowledge Systems and Environmental Ethics: Implications for Peace-Building and Sustainable Development. Host: DST-NRF Centre for Indigenous Knowledge Systems, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville Campus, April 2015.
• Network governance of access to justice: The case of Madadeni community advice office (with then doctoral candidate W Martins). Conference theme: Half-a-century of Disciplinary Existence – Antecedents, Evolution, Scholarship, Trends and Issues. Host: South African Association of Public Administration and Management, in conjunction with the Tshwane University of Technology, 15th Annual Conference Theme, Ditsong Cultural History Museum, Pretoria, April 2015.
• Reconceptualising the role of tutor training in academic monitoring and support, Colloquium on Academic Monitoring and Support. Host: College of Law and Management and Studies and the University Teaching and Learning Office. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville Campus, November 2014.
• Local economic development: Informal economy, youth and infrastructure development / SMMEs and Co – operatives. Session Chair. Theme: Twenty Years of Local Democracy in South Africa: Quo Vadis? Towards Good Local Governance. Host: Democracy Development Program. Tsogo Sun Elangeni Hotel, Durban, RSA, 20 – 21 October 2014.
• Ethical skills and public procurement for infrastructure development in South Africa: A missing link (with then doctoral candidate B Qwabe). Host: Business Management Conference, College of Law and Management Studies of UKZN. Elangeni Southern Sun Hotel, Durban, 17 – 20 September 2014.
• Democratic governance and the outcomes approach to performance management through African epistemologies (with then doctoral candidate N Makoba). Session Chair and Co-presenter. Host: Business Management Conference, College of Law and Management Studies, Elangeni Southern Sun Hotel, Durban, 17 – 20 September 2014.
• Problem-based learning as an exemplar of innovative constructivist learning (with Professors Ted Sommers and Petra Brysiewicz). Host: 8th Annual UKZN Teaching and Learning Higher Education Conference. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Edgewood Campus 25 – 27 September 2014.
• South African municipal International Relations through a democracy and decentralisation lens. Theme: Good governance: The position of students, scholars and practitioners. Host: Annual Conference of the International Association of Schools and Institutes of Administration (IASIA) in collaboration with the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University. Port Elizabeth, Republic of South Africa 30 June to 4 July 2014
• Global governance: Bottom-up and horizontal strategies of local governance. Host: 7th Sino-US International Conference for Public Administration. Renmin University of China, 6 -7 June 2014
• African municipal International Relations: Administrative reforms at the crossroads. Host: International Institute of Administrative Sciences African Forum. Yaoundé, Cameroon, November 2013.
• Problem-based learning from a DuBoisian pragmatism lens (best paper award). Host: Annual College of Law and Management Studies Teaching and Learning Day, UKZN, Pietermaritzburg Campus, September 2013
• Human capital development and infrastructure development in South Africa: A project-based pedagogical analysis (with then doctoral candidate B Qwabe). Host: International Conference on Economics and Social Sciences (ICESS-2013) Bangkok, Thailand June 2013.
• Uncovering African indigenous knowledge systems of justice and governance: Comparative cases of Bulwer, Ixopo, Madadeni and New Hanover (with then masters candidate W Martins). Host: Southern African Regional Colloquium on African Indigenous Knowledge Systems: Methodologies and Epistemologies for Research, Teaching, Learning & Community Engagement in Higher Education. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville Campus, November 2012.
• nternational Relations of local government: The case of eThekwini. Host: Association of Southern African Schools and Departments of Public Administration and Management (ASSADPAM) 2012 Annual Conference. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville Campus, October 2012.
• Municipal Internationalism in metropolitan eThekwini, Host: Research Symposium of Metropolitan eThekwini and University Partners. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Howard College Campus September 2012.
• Problem-based learning: Tool for pragmatic innovation in Higher Education. Host: Sixth Annual Teaching and Learning Conference. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Howard College Campus, September 2012.
• The role of local paralegals in KwaZulu-Natal restorative justice (with then masters candidate W Martins). International Conference: Law and Criminal Justice and Multi-Inter-Trans-Disciplinary Research. Host: University of South Africa, Pretoria, South Africa, August 2012.
• Problem-based Learning: Pedagogy for 21st century governance and development challenges. Host: Annual Conference of the International Association of Schools and Institutes of Administration (IASIA). Bangkok, Thailand, July 2012.
• Central city BIDs in the globalising metropolis: Localised neoliberalism in Cape Town, eThekwini, and Johannesburg? Session Chair and Presenter. Host: Business Management Conference. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville Campus, September 2011.
• Role of the globalising business improvement district model in urban entrepreneurialism: Cape Town, Johannesburg, eThekwini. Moderator and Presenter. Host: Urban Affairs Association, 2010 Annual Conference – Sustaining Cities in a Time of Globalisation: Social, Economic and Political Realities. Honolulu, Hawaii, (USA) March 2010.
• Tension in International Relations scholarship and practice: Lessons from the past – change for the future. Host: International Studies Association, 2010 Annual Convention. New Orleans, LA (USA), February 2010.
• International Law – Grotius vs. Hobbes on constitutional arrangements: Who won? Who cares? Why does it matter? Lessons for International Relations scholars and practitioners. Host: International Studies Association, 2010 Annual Convention. New Orleans, LA (USA), February 2010.
• Mentoring diverse scholars in International Studies: From graduate school to tenured professor. Roundtable Participant. Host: International Studies Association, 2010 Annual Convention. New Orleans, LA (USA), February 2010.
• Roxborough on the rise: Case study about law and policy of a Philadelphia Business Improvement District. Conference on Business Improvement Districts and the Evolution of Urban Governance. Host: co-sponsored by the Drexel Center for Public Policy and the Earle Mack School of Law. Philadelphia, PA (USA), January 2010.
• Global politics: Urban rebellion, Pan-Africanism and the quest for Black citizenship. Host: Association for the Study of African American Life and History, 2009 Annual Convention. Cincinnati, Ohio (USA), October 2009.
• Globalisation, urbanisation, and social entrepreneurship: Citizenship across the African Diaspora. Host: Association for the Study of African American Life and History, 2009 Annual Convention. Cincinnati, Ohio (USA), October 2009.
• Race, reform, and critical examination of contemporary politics. Session Chair and Discussant. Host: Association for the Study of African American Life and History, 2009 Annual Convention. Cincinnati, Ohio (USA), October 2009.
• Public Administration and intersectionality: Bridging the challenge of power differentials and inequities into opportunities for better performance. Host: American Society for Public Administration, 2009 Annual Conference. Miami, FL (USA), March 2009
• International Law – continuity and change: Moral considerations of Grotius in law and global politics – historically, contemporarily & futuristically. Host: International Studies Association, 2009 Annual Convention. New York, NY (USA), February 2009.
• Collaborative Public Management for urban revitalisation: The Business Improvement District model. International Conference on Public Performance Measurement and Reporting. Host: Rutgers University – Campus at Newark, National Center for Public Performance. Newark, NJ (USA), January 2009.
• Business Improvement Districts in the context of globalisation, regionalisation and urbanisation: comparatively speaking in Cape Town and Newark. Host: International Downtown Association Annual Conference and World Congress. Calgary, Alberta, Canada, September 2008.
• Role of the European Union and United Nations in localised institutional arrangements for urban governance. Sixth Garnet Ph.D. School: “Global Governance and Regionalism: The Institutional Dimension”. Intense week long, eight hour day seminars collaboratively sponsored by the European Union, Institut d’Estudes Européennes, and Université Libre de Bruxelles. Brussels, Belgium, June 2008.
• Bridging perspectives on intervention for humanitarian purposes: Law, morality, politics and race. Host: International Studies Association, 2008 Annual Convention. San Francisco, CA (USA), March 2008.
• Business Improvement Districts: Mobilising and investing public and private capital for local revitalisation across the globe. Host: American Society for Public Administration 2008 Annual Conference. Dallas, Texas (USA), March 2008.
• Gender and International Relations. Host: British International Studies Association Conference. London School of Economics, England, UK, January 2008.
• Performance management for Business Improvement Districts. International Conference on Public Performance Measurement and Reporting. Host: Rutgers University – Campus at Newark, National Center for Public Performance. Newark, NJ (USA), November 2007.
• From urban rebellion to model metropolitan governance in the context of globalisation. Host: New Jersey Historical Society & Rutgers’ Institute on Ethnicity, Culture and the Modern Experience Conference on 40th Anniversary of Civil Disorders of 1967 Newark, NJ (USA), October 2007.
• Professionalising the field of Business District Management. Host: International Downtown Association 2007 Annual Conference/World Congress. New York, NY (USA), September 2007.

Invited Panelist, Plenary Speaker or Course Convener

• Plenary Speaker: Indigenisation and Africanisation of legal education: Advantaging legal pluralism in South Africa. Conference theme: Fostering quality teaching – enhancing students’ experience. Host: UKZN, College of Law and Management Studies, Annual Teaching and Learning Day, UKZN Westville Campus, 26 October 2017.
• Workshop Presenter: AIKS research outcomes as emancipatory curriculum development: From the field to the classroom to the field. Two hour workshop. 10th Annual UKZN International Teaching & Learning Conference in Higher Education. Theme: The Scholarship of Teaching & Learning: Advancing Teaching Innovation and Research Excellence in Higher Education. Southern Sun Elangeni & Maharani in Durban, South Africa. 20 – 22 September 2016.
• Plenary Speaker: Believing is seeing: Social entrepreneurship in rural KwaZulu-Natal. Women in Leadership Seminar, Women’s Day Programme, Durban City Hall, Council Chambers. Hosted by Rural Youth Development Foundation of South Africa, 08 August 2016.
• Plenary panelist of experts on IKS epistemologies and methodologies. Conference Theme: Positioning African Ways of Knowing and Knowledge Production in the Global Conjectures: The Perspectives of African Emerging Researchers on Indigenous Knowledge Systems. International Conference on Post-graduate Students’ Research on Indigenous Knowledge Systems in Southern and Eastern Africa. DST-NRF Centre of Indigenous Knowledge Systems, November 2015.
• Guest Speaker: Complementarity consciousness: Women in leadership, Respondent to Thought Leaders at eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality Breakfast Seminar on Inclusive Leadership and Management, Moses Mabhida Stadium Presidential Business Club, November 2015.
• Course Convener: Strategic Infrastructure Projects for Water in South Africa. Emerging Managers Development Programme (EMDP) for employees of Umgeni Water Amanzi. Host: UKZN University Extended Learning Programme. 2 day course, Ascot Inn, Pietermaritzburg, July 2014.
• Keynote Speaker: Leadership, freedom, and value: something inside so strong, so strong. Host: Rural Youth Development Foundation of South Africa, Umvithi Conference for Freedom Day in South Africa. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg Campus, April 2013.
• Invited Contributor: Curriculum development in Disaster Risk Management: South African context. National Disaster Management Capacity Building Coordinating Forum Workshop. Host: National Disaster Management Centre. Klein Kariba, Bella Bella, Limpopo Province, April 2013.
• Plenary Speaker: Human resources change management in a global era: Women on the rise. Women in Human Resources and Management Congress. Host: All Sectors Business Communications. Hilton Hotel Sandton – Johannesburg, South Africa, November 2012.
• Plenary Speaker: Responsible partnerships: Private consultants in the public sector in a global era. Public Sector Consulting Conference. Host: Milla South Africa. Cape Town, April 2012.
• Keynote Speaker: Gender equity and the new South Africa. Host: Women’s Month Conference. Mitchells Plain, Cape Town, South Africa, August 2009.
• Guest Lecturer: Comparative politics and International Law in a global era. Political Science Comparative Politics course. Host: Department of Political Science. Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey – Campus at Newark (USA), May 2008.
• Course Convenor: Globalisation and sustainable development for Academic Study Associates’ pre-college and cultural immersion program for students from around the world. Host: Princeton University, Princeton, NJ (USA), July – August 2008.
• Plenary Speaker: Local developments of global proportion: International perspectives on Business Improvement District stakeholder engagement across networks. Host: Institute of Place Management. 2008 Annual Conference, London, England, UK, February 2008.

United Nations Chronicle Articles

• Ruffin, F. (2004) “Turbulent Peace”, UN Chronicle Volume XLI Number 1 March-May 2004(Book review about conflict management theories and practices) http://www.un.org/Pubs/chronicle/2004/issue1/0104p65.asp
• Ruffin, F. (2004) “United Nations Commission on International Trade (UNCITRAL) Makes Strides toward Global Partnerships” UN Chronicle Vol. XLI Number 1 March-May http://www.un.org/Pubs/chronicle/2004/issue1/0104p30.asp
• Ruffin, F. (2004) “African Union”, UN Chronicle Vol. XLI Number 2 June-August, http://www.un.org/Pubs/chronicle/2 continuation of magazine articles004/issue2/0204p71.asp
• Ruffin, F. (2004) “The Global Peacekeeping Investment” UN Chronicle Vol. XLI Number 2 June-August. http://www.un.org/Pubs/chronicle/2004/issue2/0204cont.htm
• Ruffin, F. (2004) “Indigenous Peoples Living in Voluntary Isolation” UN Chronicle Vol. XLI Number 2 June-August http://www.un.org/Pubs/chronicle/2004/issue2/0204cont.htm
• Ruffin, F. (2004) “Women as Peacemakers” UN Chronicle Vol. XLI Number 2 June-August http://www.un.org/Pubs/chronicle/2004/issue2/0204cont.htm

Invited Guest Speaker or Course Convener

• Gender Equity and the New South Africa, Keynote Speaker for Women’s Month Conference in Mitchells Plain, Cape Town, South Africa, August 2009
• Comparative Politics and International Law in a Global Era, Guest Lecturer, Political Science Comparative Politics course, Department of Political Science, Rutgers-Newark (USA), May 2008
• Globalization and Sustainable Development, Course Convener for Academic Study Associates’ pre-college and cultural immersion program for students from around the world, held at Princeton University, Princeton, NJ (USA), July – August 2008
• Local Developments of Global Proportion: International Perspectives on Business Improvement District Stakeholder Engagement across Networks; Institute of Place Management, Plenary Speaker for Annual Conference, London, England, February 2008