Jacques Francois Stofberg was born on 23 October 1969 in Walvis Bay where he was raised and matriculated at Walvis Bay High School.  He obtained the degree Bachelor of Accounting Science (B. Compt) from UNISA in 1992 followed by an Hons B. Compt (UNISA) degree.  He then obtained the Certificate in the Theory of Accounting and qualified as a Chartered Accountant (SA) in 1999.

After completing Articles of Clerkship in 1993, he started his career in corporate finance at Oceana Group Ltd and was soon promoted to be the Group Accountant from 1997 to 1999.  He then joined the technology transfer office (www.innovus.co.za) of Stellenbosch University.  InnovUS have successfully exploited new technologies emanating from university departments and have spun off many start-up companies.  His experience at previous employers includes amongst others being the Chief Financial Officer of a subsidiary of Firstrand Investment Holdings (Pty)Ltd.   He consulted as strategic corporate adviser to multinational and private companies and currently serve on a number of the boards as a non-executive member.

He completed the M.Phil (Future Studies) degree at Stellenbosch University in 2001.  During 2000, whilst working at Stellenbosch University, he was awarded a Fellowship by the Worshipful Company of Chartered Accountants of England and Wales to study at Oxford University.  At Oxford, he read Intellectual Property Law under the guidance of Dr Robert Pitkethly.  He received a similar award in 2004 from the Harry Crossley Foundation to read more about the Commercialisation of intellectual property emanating from Higher Educational Institutions at North Carolina State University, Raleigh, USA.