Anwar Jardine obtained his PhD in Organic Chemistry from the University of Cape Town (UCT) in 1995, followed by postdoctoral research in Drug Discovery and Medicinal Chemistry. His career began at the UCT Medical School before moving into industry, where he worked at GlaxoSmithKline R&D in Stevenage, UK, and later at Harvard Medical School in Massachusetts, USA.
He subsequently joined Johnson Matthey’s Pharma Outsourcing Division in Massachusetts before transitioning to the Gillette Advanced Technology Centre, where his research focused on innovation in personal care products. His interest in the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) sector continued through consulting work for cosmetic companies including Unilever South Africa. He specializes in product claims substantiation and endorsement since 2004.
In the same year, he returned to South Africa to pursue an academic career, first at Stellenbosch University and later at UCT, where he specializes in Organic Chemistry since 2008. He also served as Head of the Chemistry Department from 2021 to 2024.
His research spans diverse areas, including natural product synthesis, cancer drug discovery, and bioluminescence probe design. He is particularly passionate about green and sustainable chemistry, with a focus on biomass valorisation in the context of the biorefinery.
Areas of specialization
Green and Sustainable Chemistry
Valorisation of Biomass Byproduct
Extraction and Modification of Cellulose and Chitin
Consumer product claims substantiation and endorsement
Expert witness in advertising claim disputes