Lindani, a strong advocate for diversity and inclusion in his native South Africa, joins Chair Dee Caffari, Duncan Truswell, Theresa Zabell, Dr Susie Tomson and Scott Over on the Board of the charity.
World Sailing established the World Sailing Trust as an independent global charity to support sailing in all its forms in September 2018. The Trust works across two main focus areas – People and Planet – promoting greater participation and access, supporting young sailing athletes and safeguarding the oceans for future generations.
Mchunu has been credited with driving transformation programmes in sailing, particularly in Cape Town. He is the Sailing Academy Manager at the Royal Cape Yacht Club working with the under-served communities of the Cape Flats, teaching life skills through sailing and empowering impoverished youth to gain access to the sport and the marine industry as a whole. As part of his wider role, he is also the RCYC’s Transformation and Diversity committee member, tasked with planning and implementing a diversity strategy, ensuring there is more inclusion amongst under-represented demographics within its membership and committees, on and off the water.
Mchunu also serves as the South African Sailing Association’s Diversity Council member and has been instrumental in planning and implementing a diversity strategy through grassroots participation from under-represented communities, through engagement with local and national government structures.
A blue water sailor at heart, who spent most of his sailing career delivering yachts around the world, he further serves as a board member of the South African Boat Builders Export Council where he advocates for transformation and skills development in the sector.
“There is a subtle but powerful confidence that imbues an individual or a group, upon arriving in a space and identifying aspects of themselves represented, welcome and encouraged. This not only engenders the individual or group with a feeling of belonging but also inspires them to thrive,” commented Mchunu.
Dee Caffari, World Sailing Trust Chair added, “I was inspired listening to Lindani in our Autumn Workshop on Gender and Geographic Diversity. He has seen our sport from a broad perspective, as an athlete, an instructor and a programme developer. There are not many challenges he has not found a way to overcome, so he will be able to challenge us all in our thinking and our approach. This is something I look forward to.
“I am excited to work alongside Lindani especially as we take a cold hard look at where our sport is today through our recently launched Participation Study. I am sure he will help the World Sailing Trust develop recommendations to future proof our sport.”
