Mr Jacques van der Merwe obtained a Bachelor Degree in Town and Regional Planning (Cum Laude) from the University of Pretoria in 1993, and a Bachelor Degree in Social Sciences (Psychology and Sociology) from the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (formerly known as the University of Port Elizabeth) in 1985. Other professional development academic courses included Architecture, Civil and Transport Engineering, Economics, Anthropology, Philosophy, Political Science, and Statistics. As a Professional Town Planner, Jacques is affiliated to the South African Planning Institute (SAPI) (Corporate Member) and registered as a Town Planner (Candidate) at the South African Council for Planners (SACPLAN).

Jacques specialises in and has exhaustive experience in town and regional planning, state of environment reporting, integrated development plans, strategic planning and management frameworks, human settlement planning, spatial development frameworks, as well as protected areas management plans in South Africa, Namibia, and Mauritius. Jacques has been in private practice since 1994 with national, provincial, and local government (i.e. Metropolitan, District and Local Municipalities) and communities being his main clients. Informed by a paradigm with dignified space, liveable and sustainable settlements, villages, towns, cities, metropolitan regions and protected areas as the core vantage point, he is focused on providing innovative and appropriate urban and rural space, structure, form and management solutions to the developmental challenges faced by governments, communities, settlements and protected areas.

Furthermore, Jacques worked with EcoAfrica on several protected area management and planning and tourism projects including for World Heritage Sites and Nature Reserves, over a period of more than 15 years.