Chaeli Mycroft was born in Cape Town on 30 August 1994. A University of Cape Town graduate, Chaeli has a B Soc Sci (Hons), M Phil (Human Rights Law) and is currently a PhD candidate (Public Law).

Chaeli is an internationally recognised ability activist having been awarded the International Children’s Peace Prize in 2011, the Medal for Social Activism from the Nobel Peace Laureates in 2012 and in 2013 she accepted the World of Children Youth Award in New York. In 2017 she won the Turner Social Change Prize and in 2018 was welcomed as an Obama Foundation #AfricanLeader and Global Changemaker. In 2019 she was appointed to the Global Board of Generation Unlimited, a global initiative. In 2019 she accepted the World of Children Hero Award.

On 3 September 2015 Chaeli became the first female quadriplegic to summit Mt Kilimanjaro. She competes in wheelchair dancing on the international stage and is the first wheelchair athlete in 95 years to finish the iconic 89km Comrades Marathon. On 4 June 2017 she became the 1st adaptive (assisted wheelchair) athlete to get her Comrades back-to-back. Chaeli has completed 5 Cape Town Cycle Tours as Team Beastie, in a buggy with her cycling partners.

Chaeli serves as a member of the Board for The Chaeli Campaign, Chaeli Sports & Recreation Club, Chaeli Foundation and Inclusive Arts Collective. Chaeli is also the Global Ambassador for the Chaeli group of non-profit organizations.