John Volmink was born and raised in Cape Town, South Africa. He started his academic career at the University of the Western Cape where he graduated with a BSc degree in mathematics, physics and applied mathematics, and a BSc (Hons) in Physics. He later completed a Masters and PhD in Mathematics Education at Cornell University, Ithaca NY, United States of America. John started his professional career as a high school teacher and later became the Head of Mathematics at the then Peninsula Technikon. He also held various other teaching positions at other institutions, including the University of Western Cape, University of Cape Town and Cornell University. After 10 years in the USA and a brief stay at the University of Botswana, Gaborone, he returned to South Africa in 1991. He got involved in development initiatives as the Director of the Centre for Advancement of Science and Mathematics Education in Durban. John later served as Campus Vice-Principal at the then University of Natal and thereafter, Pro-Vice Chancellor: Partnerships at the University of KwaZulu-Natal until 2004. During his term at the UKZN he was responsible for partnership programs with business, government and the community and served as the Executive Director of the Development Foundation of the University. John has also been centrally involved in curriculum reform in post-apartheid South Africa and has been asked by all four Ministers of Education to play a leading role in the transformation of education in the new South Africa. He served as the Chairperson of the Umalusi Council for many years, and more recently, he also served for two years as the CEO of the National Education Evaluation and Development Unit (NEEDU). John is currently the Chairperson of MIET Africa and continues to provide leadership on the boards of several other South African and international non-governmental development organizations involved in education, health and community upliftment. He has also been involved in a Leadership Development Program for members of parliament and holds the position of Extraordinary Professor at North West University, Mafikeng Campus. After 25 years away from Cape Town, John returned and refurbished the house in Athlone in which he grew up and where he now lives again. John and his late wife Engela, who was also a teacher, worked together in voluntary community-based educational projects in the Athlone area with a focus on young people.