Simon Lorentz has a BSc (1977) and GDE in Civil Engineering from the University of the Witwatersrand and an MS and PhD in Bioresources Engineering from Colorado State University. He has worked with the Iron and Steel Corp and with consultants, Steffen, Robertson and Kirsten, specialising in mine waste water management and water resources assessment. Since returning to South Africa in 1992, he has had a position at the University of KwaZulu-Natal where he is now an associate professor, specializing in vadose zone hydrology and water quality.