Athol Williams facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Athol Williams
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Athol Williams in Oxford, UK, 2017
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| Born | Athol Williams 20 June 1970 Cape Town, South Africa |
| Occupation | Writer, Applied Philosopher |
| Language | English |
| Nationality | South African |
| Alma mater | Oxford University London School of Economics Harvard University London Business School Massachusetts Institute of Technology University of the Witwatersrand |
| Notable works | Deep Collusion Bumper Cars Pushing Boulders |
| Website | |
| www.atholwilliams.com | |
Athol Williams (born 20 June 1970) is a South African poet, philosopher, and university lecturer. He teaches at Oxford University in the United Kingdom.
Contents
Life and Early Work
Athol Williams was born in Lansdowne, South Africa. He grew up in Mitchells Plain, a community created during apartheid. Before becoming a writer and academic, he worked in business for 15 years. He often advised companies on their plans.
In 1991, while at the University of the Witwatersrand, he published his first poem. It was called "New South Africa." This poem showed the hope people felt when Nelson Mandela and other anti-apartheid leaders were freed in 1990.
Williams is a co-founder of Read to Rise. This group helps young people learn to read. They give books to children in communities that don't have many resources. He also started the Institute of Social and Corporate Ethics (ISCE). He helps run the New Contrast Literary Magazine. He also founded the Cape Flats Book Festival.
Fighting Corruption
Athol Williams is known for his strong stand against corruption. He believes businesses should act ethically. In 2019, he spoke out against a company called Bain & Company. He said they hid important information from a commission investigating problems at the South African tax service.
Later, in 2021, Williams gave evidence to a special commission. This commission was looking into "state capture" in South Africa. State capture is when private companies or individuals secretly control government decisions for their own gain. Williams shared information about Bain's connection to this problem.
The commission's final report said Bain's actions were "unlawful." They praised Williams for refusing money offered to keep him quiet. They also thanked him for his help. In November 2021, Williams wrote a book called Deep Collusion: Bain and the capture of South Africa. It was based on his experiences.
Because he spoke out, Williams had to leave South Africa in November 2021. He was a "whistleblower," meaning he exposed wrongdoing. He feared for his safety. While away, he worked with Lord Peter Hain to tell the world about Bain's actions. This led to the UK government banning Bain from state contracts for three years. They found Bain guilty of serious professional misconduct.
Academic Achievements
Athol Williams holds three teaching positions at Oxford University. In 2023, he became a Lecturer in Management at the Said Business School. He also became a Lecturer at St Peter's College. Since 2022, he has been a Research Associate at Hertford College. In 2024, Hertford College gave him their highest honor, an Honorary Fellowship.
He is the first person to earn five master's degrees from five top universities around the world. His degrees include:
- BSc (Engineering) from the University of the Witwatersrand
- MBA from MIT Sloan School of Management
- MSc (Finance) from London Business School
- MPhil (Political Theory) from University of Oxford
- MPA from Harvard University
- MSc (Political Theory) from London School of Economics and Political Science
- A PhD (Politics) from University of Oxford
Williams has also taught at the University of the Witwatersrand and the University of Cape Town. He focused on how companies should act responsibly and how leaders can be ethical.
Writing Style and Themes
From 2009 to 2014, Williams published his poetry using the name AE Ballakisten. His poems often explore four main ideas:
- Social justice: This means fairness for everyone in society. Examples include "When It Rains" and "Protest in Colombo."
- Humanity: Exploring what it means to be human. An example is "Your Song."
- Inspiration: Poems that uplift and motivate, like "39 Postcards."
- The surreal: Poems that explore dreamlike or unusual ideas, such as "At Home."
Williams also writes academic papers. These focus on how businesses should be responsible and ethical. He often writes for newspapers and magazines about poverty, reading for young people, and social justice. He is also a regular guest on radio shows and speaks at conferences.
Awards and Honours
Academic
- Honorary Fellow, Hertford College, University of Oxford (2024)
Literary
- Sol Plaatje European Union Poetry Award (2015)
- Sol Plaatje European Union Poetry Award (2016)
- Parallel Universe Poetry Competition, Winner, Oxford University (2016)
- South African Independent Publishers Award (2017) for Invitation
- Cultural Affairs Award for Contribution to Literary Arts, Western Cape Provincial Government (2019)
Public Service
- Special Recognition Award, Blueprint for Free Speech, Australia (2022)
- Chairman's Award, SA Chamber of Commerce UK (2022)
- Mayor's Medal for Extraordinary Bravery, Cape Town, South Africa (2023)
- Social Justice Champion of the Year, Centre for Social Justice, South Africa (2024)
