Deirdre Prins-Solani works and practices as an educationist, heritage practitioner, museologist and international heritage consultant.
She championed the development of experimental heritage educational programs together with local and international partners, created interdisciplinary teams for enhancing heritage conservation, safeguarding and has numerous publications.
She has served as; Chairperson of the South African Museums Association (SAMA), President of the International Council of African Museums (AFRICOM), a committee member of the Institutions of Public Culture (An Africa/USA collaboration between the Academy, Practitioners in Public Culture, Museums and Galleries), committee member of the Board to the African Program in Museum and Heritage Studies (a University of the Western Cape, Robben Island Museum and University of Cape Town Postgraduate Studies Program) and a member of the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) National Standards Body for the Arts and Culture sector.
She is a Salzburg Global Seminar Fellow and faculty member and an expert to the UNESCO 2003 Convention on Intangible Cultural Heritage. As the latter she has trained senior policy makers and officials in the ratification, implementation and development of safeguarding programs of the Convention. As a 1972 World Heritage Convention expert, she trained heritage professionals in its implementation and assists various states parties in nomination dossier development in Africa which includes; consultative processes, exploring appropriate legal frameworks and the development of management plans. She also serves as an independent assessor of world heritage nomination dossiers for ICOMOS. She is an independent assessor to the UNESCO Creative Cities Network Program which integrates vision, governance and creativity as a source of sustainable living for cities across the world.
Her work in capacity building for custodians of heritage has spanned the African continent and globally. Currently she manages the Museum of AIDS in Africa, experimental programme: "Healing through Memory and Objects". Ms. Prins-Solani holds a degree from the University of Cape Town.