MBDA WELCOMES TWO NEW DIRECTORS APPOINTED BY COUNCIL

The MBDA is honoured to welcome Dr Michael Barry and Mr Rory Riordan as newly-appointed directors to the Mandela Bay Development Agency Board, as appointed by council on 27 August 2026.

Dr Michael Barry is a highly celebrated South African visual artist, art educator, and cultural and social activist. He is the former Head of Arts, Culture, and Heritage at Nelson Mandela University, and is highly respected across the public, private, and NGO sectors. Dr Barry’s work has played a pivotal role in cementing art as a cornerstone of cultural renewal in the inner city and in Nelson Mandela Bay’s Northern areas.

Mr Rory Riordan is an author, human rights activist, and public finance expert who has served as a city councillor, managing complex financial infrastructure. He is the founder and director of the Human Rights Trust, advocating for human rights during the years of apartheid, and a celebrated author: His book, ‘Apartheid’s Stalingrad: How the Townships of the Eastern Cape Defied the Apartheid War Machine’ earned a spot on the prestigious 2023 Sunday Times Literary Awards longlist.

Please join us in welcoming these distinguished new members of the Board.