Dave Baker’s background and psyche are rooted in of South Africa’s rainbow of cultures. Born and raised in the capital of the then Transkeian Territories, Mthatha, less than forty kilometres from the birthplace of Nelson Mandela, he was raised as an English boy but during many years of his business career was closely associated with many Afrikaans-speaking colleagues and friends. His father Frank was placed in a Quaker orphanage in Bristol at age ten, but served as a fighter pilot in the Royal Flying Corps during World War I before graduating with a science degree, and fighting in North Africa with the South African Artillery in World War II. He and Dave’s mother, a graduate from the Incorporated London Academy of Music, emigrated to Mthatha, South Africa, in 1925, where his father was a maths and science master and later Headmaster for over thirty years. Following abortive attempts to become as a geologist or lawyer, caused partly by his keen interest in sporting and social activities, Dave entered the financial services industry. Qualifying by examination as an Associate of the Insurance Institute of South Africa and Fellow of the Institute of Risk Management, he found fulfilment as a manager of an insurance company and director of two international insurance broking companies. During that time his extra mural interests included serving as the chairman of a Round Table and president of a Rotary club. Dave and his wife Jacqui have two sons and two grandchildren and live in a golfing estate in Hillcrest, a small town in the greater Durban Area.