Born in Gqeberha, South Africa, Jabulani Chen Pereira is a seasoned queer activist and visual artist who holds a Master of Arts degree in Museum Studies (from New York University). With a specific focus on museums and photography, Mr Pereira’s thesis was titled Museum Exhibitions, Mass Violence and Human Rights. Their LGBTQIA+ activism extends beyond South Africa: Mr Pereira served as the Africa programme co-ordinator for the International Gay & Lesbian Human Rights Commission. Notably, in 2011, they urged the president of Nigeria to lead his government in adherence to the African Charter of Human and Peoples' and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights to secure the safety and well-being of Nigeria’s gender-variant, gender non-conforming, and queer citizens. Just a year later, Mr Pereira founded a non-governmental, Johannesburg-based media advocacy organisation, Iranti, that focuses on LGBTQIA+ rights. Here, Iranti works within a human rights framework to raise issues on sexuality and gender identity using activism, research, multimedia storytelling, and visual media.

As a visual artist, Jabulani Pereira has hosted three significant exhibitions: Critically Queer (detailed in Dr Kylie Thomas’ book chapter, The Transgressive Visions of Jabulani Chen Pereira), Reflections on the Truth and Reconciliation Commission at the Red Location Museum in Gqeberha, and the 100 Years of Women in Law travelling exhibition. Mr Pereira is a skilled facilitator who draws from the knowledge and experience gained through collective interactions with diverse communities. They often design and facilitate workshops on leadership, building non-profit movements, fostering healthy teams that recognise the impact of trauma on well-being, and creating spaces for the empowerment of marginalised peoples