Dr van Jaarsveld is Chief Executive Officer of the National Research Foundation. His career in research, teaching and leadership include academic and management positions at several Universities o, Vice President and more recently, CEO of the National Research Foundation.

On the international front, Dr van Jaarsveld has served as co-chair of the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment follow-up: Sub-global assessments; member of the IUCS nominations committee; IPBES science focal point; Chair of the G8 science ministers Group of Senior Officials on Global Research Infrastructure; Co-Chair of the Belmont Forum and currently Chairs the International Group of Funding Agencies (IGFA) that collectively funds global change research.