Executive Profile - Peter Harris

Peter Harris co-founded and became the Managing Director of the Resolve Group in March 1999, prior to which he was the Managing Director of Resolve Workplace Solutions. Peter is now Resolve Group’s Executive Chairman, and Chairman of the Resolve Board. Under his leadership during the last 9 years, the Group has grown from 2 to 140 professionals, achieving an annual compound earnings growth of 80,3% year on year.

The Resolve team benefits from Peter’s astute judgement and highly developed strategic, managerial and implementation skills. Peter also plays a key role in deal making and investment decisions for the Resolve Group. Specifically, he has extensive experience in the legal field; organisational design; business and operational planning; conflict resolution; performance reviews and audits; investigations and commissions of enquiry; BEE advisory services; project management and electoral experience. He plays the role of senior policy advisor and provides legislative advice to governments and international organisations.

Prior to co-founding and managing the Resolve Group, Peter served a fellowship at the Legal Resources Centre in 1981, and completed his articles at Webber Wentzel. He went on to become the co-founder and later Managing Partner of Cheadle Thompson & Haysom, where he was also legal advisor to the African National Congress' national office and operations committee; the COSATU executive; numerous anti-apartheid organisations; several international organisations and governments; and was a technical advisor to the South African Constituent Assembly. Peter represented numerous detainees and accused in a number of high profile treason trials during the 1980s. He continues to be an operations consultant to the United Nations (EAD), and has advised in numerous countries on their behalf. Peter has also previously held the following positions:

• Director of the Wits/Vaal Region of the National Peace Accord (appointed in April 1993);
• Established and was the Chief Director of the Monitoring Directorate of the Independent Electoral Commission of South Africa in 1994 (responsible for national operations and ensuring the free and fairness of South Africa’s first democratic election in April 1994);
• Led the establishment of the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration in 1996;
• Director of Programmes of the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance in Stockholm, where he was responsible for all electoral and conflict resolution programmes worldwide. This involved advising governments in Africa, Latin America, Australasia and Eastern Europe;
• Lead Consultant to the Department of Trade and Industry for the business and operational planning of the establishment of the National Competition Commission and Tribunal in 1999.

Peter qualified as a mediator and arbitrator in 1986, and has 16 years experience in the practice of law. His focus is on providing advisory services, legal, strategic business and operational planning and implementation work for governments, parastatals and corporates. He continues to advise governments and corporates at senior levels and has:

• conducted the operational planning for the National Health Laboratory Service, including key components of the restructuring and merging of all blood diagnostic services in South Africa into the National Health Laboratory Service;
• led the business and operational planning for the Commission for International Trade Administration;
• been a part of the legal team advising on the allocation of R15.4Bn fishing rights for the Department of Marine and Coastal Management in South Africa;
• project managed the drafting and implementation of Freedom of Information Legislation in Ethiopia and the setting up of an arbitration and dispute resolution body in Mozambique for major employers;
• advised in the former Yugoslavia and Indonesia on legislative issues and led a UNDP expert team to Guyana and conducted a full Review and Audit of their Electoral Process;
• conducted numerous Commissions of Inquiry and Investigations for Ministries and State Bodies;
• conducted Performance Reviews and Audits of the Legal Aid Board, SA Management Development Institute and other major institutions;
• project managed the labour law reform process in Tanzania and the drafting of eight related sets of labour market legislation and policy;
• led the project team for a sector of Judicial Reform in Sierra Leone;
• advised the Chamber of Mines and mining houses concerning wage negotiations and conditions of employment and assisted in strategic planning and organisational development for public and private sector clients;
• Is currently the consultant Programme Leader for the alignment of the National Ports Authority with the new National Ports Act at a national and port level with the objective of creating a competitive, efficient and productive SA Port industry and improving the efficiency of all SA Ports.

Peter is also the editor of the book “Democracy and Deep Rooted Conflict: Options for Negotiators”, foreword by the former Secretary General of the United Nations, Mr Kofi Anan.