UCT FACULTY OF SCIENCE INVITES YOU TO THE 
2025 DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI LECTURE

The UCT Faculty of Science Rising Star Distinguished Alumni Lectures aim to highlight our outstanding alumni who are making significant contributions in their respective fields.

Distinguished Alumni
Chris Holdsworth
Chief Investment Strategist at Investec

Chris Holdsworth is Chief Investment Strategist at Investec Wealth & Investment, where he leads the firm’s thinking around macro‑economic trends, risk scoring, and asset allocation both in South Africa and globally. 

Since joining Investec in 2007 as a quantitative analyst in the institutional equities team, he has steadily progressed to strategy roles, heading up research, and ultimately assuming his current leadership at Wealth & Investment. 

Chris is an alumnus from University of Cape Town’s Faculty of Science and holds a MSc in Mathematical Statistics and is a CFA charter holder.

Known for his interest in trails and outdoor activity, Chris is intellectually driven by the evolving nature of markets and the challenge of crafting strategy in complex environments. 

Distinguished Alumni - Rising Star
Hilja Eelu
L'Oréal-UNESCO For Women In Science Sub-Saharan Laureate 

Hilja Eelu is a Namibian scientist, lecturer at the University of Namibia, and public health researcher, currently pursuing her PhD in Statistical Sciences at the University of Cape Town. 

Her research focus is on mathematical modelling of malaria in Namibia—using simulation techniques to assess how combinations of public health interventions might accelerate malaria elimination. 

Hilja is a UCT alumnus with an Honours Degree in Molecular and Cell Biology and a Postgraduate Diploma in Health Professionals Education. 

Hilja is active beyond academia, she has been involved in student leadership, public health education, and science communication. She has also been recognised with awards such as the 2024 L’Oréal‑UNESCO For Women in Science Young Talents Award.