WCW: Candace Moolman, CEO of Hillcrest AIDS Centre Trust
Originally from Canada, Candace Moolman has called South Africa home for over three decades. She shares how the country captured her heart with its vibrant culture, rich diversity, and what she describes as "beautiful chaos".
Today, Carol Ofori celebrates a woman who may not have been born in our beloved country but holds abundant love for South Africa.
Candace Moolman, CEO of Hillcrest AIDS Centre Trust (HACT), first arrived in South Africa 30 years ago. What began as a semester abroad at the University of Cape Town quickly turned into a lifelong love affair.
Captivated by South Africa’s vibrant culture, rich diversity, and what she affectionately calls the “beautiful chaos” of everyday life, Moolman knew she’d found something special.
While she’s spent time back in Canada and a few years in rural northern Namibia, it’s South Africa that truly claimed her heart – and Durban that she now calls home. (Though she admits, hot Christmases still take some getting used to.)
Moolman holds a Bachelor’s degree in Biology and a Master’s in Public
Health, and she’s also a trained leadership coach. Her unique global
perspective is shaped by her experiences living and working in 10 cities
across the world.
Yet, despite her international expertise, Moolman remains deeply committed to the local context, making her a powerful advocate for the communities served by the HACT.
Moolman leads a passionate team of 100 staff. HACT provides holistic health, empowerment, and education programmes to more than 10,000 beneficiaries annually, primarily in the Valley of 1000 Hills (eThekwini West).
She credits her faith and deep sense of purpose as the driving forces behind her decades-long commitment to South Africa’s HIV and AIDS response.
Her career spans public health, HIV and AIDS, food security, youth development, and sports, with leadership roles in both grassroots NGOs and major research institutions such as the HSRC Human Sciences Research Council and Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa.
She also gives back as a board member of the Church Alliance for Social Transformation, continuing to invest her time and heart in building stronger communities.
Although Moolman carries her role with immense grace and purpose, her journey hasn’t been without challenges. As a mother of four children (aged 15–27), a daughter-in-law, and two bonus stepsons, she bravely shared that she spent more than two decades in an abusive marriage.
Finding the courage to leave, she made the difficult decision to pause her Doctoral studies in Public Health Medicine to navigate this life-altering transition, while continuing to lead HACT with strength and purpose.
Today, she’s happily remarried and, together with her husband, co-facilitates a course that supports others on the path to healing from separation or divorce.
Moolman's story is a powerful reminder that even in the face of personal hardship, it’s possible to lead with compassion, inspire hope, and build a life rooted in purpose.
Her dedication to creating a healthy, empowered, and AIDS-free community continues to shine through everything she does.
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