Dr James Keevy is an experienced policy researcher that has worked in South Africa, Africa and internationally for the last 25 years. James works in the education and training sector. He has conducted    and overseen various initiatives related to national, regional, and international qualifications frameworks in Africa, and farther afield.

His research into qualifications, the recognition of learning, and the professionalisation and migration of teachers has been widely published and presented. Following 13 years at the South African Qualifications Authority in research policy and international liaison capacities, he joined JET Education Services in 2014 as the chief executive, which is an independent public benefit organisation founded in 1992 and located in Johannesburg, South Africa.

His specific areas of expertise include qualifications, the recognition of learning, digitalisation, and the professionalisation and migration of teachers. He has worked closely with several international agencies, including the OECD, ILO, World Bank, Commonwealth Secretariat, Commonwealth of Learning, SADC Secretariat, African Union Commission, and others.

In 2019, James was appointed as Chairperson of NASCEE and has been advocating for quality education in South Africa. He has had a pivotal in forming strong collaborations and networks between education NPOs, government, the private sector.

At present his main expertise lies in the ability to oversee large multinational research and evaluation teams to execute programmes in a robust and efficient manner. He brings a strong international network and perspective that has translated into a wide range of published research, most recently, this includes a mapping study on qualifications for the African Union Commission, as well as a review of the research response in South Africa to the COVID-19 pandemic.