Ernst Drewes is a professional, registered Urban and Regional Planner with 25 years’ experience in the industry. He specialises in strategic spatial frameworks, property development and project management and obtained the degrees: B. Art et Scien. (Urban and Regional Planning), M. Art et Scien. (Regional Planning), and Ph.D (Regional Planning). He is member of the South African Council for Planners (SACPLAN); the South African Planning Institute (SAPI) and the International Society for Urban and Regional Planners (ISOCARP).  Ernst is also an accredited commercial mediator specialising in property development mediation. He has been appointed as a senior lecturer at the North-West University for the past 18 years and is the Head of the Department since 2012. At this time, he also chairs the Council for Heads of Planning Schools (CHoPS) in South Africa. As a rated researcher (C3) with the National Research Foundation (SA), his research is focused on strategic spatial planning, regional resilience, and planning legislation.