The first 17 years of my career (1989-2006), were spent as a podiatrist in clinical practice and teaching at the University of Johannesburg (formerly, Technikon Witwatersrand). I have trained many podiatry students and developed a number of academics in podiatric medicine during this time. As emphasis was primarily on undergraduate teaching and clinical training, I only started developing my research career since 2004. This was a period in which I became involved in the fields of physical anthropology and palaeoanthropology, and developed a research interest in the study of the origin and evolution of human bipedalism, foot and ankle functional morphology and palaeopathology. After taking up the post of Curator of Fossil and Rock Collections at the University of the Witwatersrand in 2007, I have been able to spend more time on research, notwithstanding that most of my time is dedicated to curatorial duties. The fossils in my care include Karoo vertebrates (e.g. therapsids and dinosaurs), fossil plants, Cenozoic fauna and fossil primates (including hominins). I am also responsible for the extensive rock and mineral collections housed in the School of Geosciences. It is a privilege to  curate this precious part of our South African national estate and world heritage. I also take an interest in the cultural anthropology and history of African, East Asian and Native American peoples. Time allowing, I can be found dabbling in hoplology (the scholarly study of human combative behaviour).