Prof Joyce Chitja
Director of the African Centre for Food Security
Prof Chitja works as an academic at the University of KwaZulu-Natal for the past 20 years. She is currently the Director of the African Centre for Food Security (ACFS) and an Associate Professor of Food Security and food security programme.
She is a widely published academic in the transdisciplinary field of Food and Nutrition Security, a passionate community engager with a commitment to translating research into action.
She is experienced in acquiring and leading large multi-million and multiyear research grants. She is experienced in supervising and mentoring, masters and doctoral students at UKZN.
Fhatuwani Nixwell Mudau
University of KwaZulu-Natal DVC & Head of College, PhD Agric and Master in Business Leadership (MBL)
Tel: +27 33 260 5199
Email: mudauF@ukzn.ac.za
Professor Fhatuwani Nixwell Mudau is Acting Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Head of College of Agriculture, Engineering and Science. Professor Mudau possesses a BSc in Agric (Crop Science) from the University of Venda in 1996. He also has an MSc from the University of Stellenbosch, where he researched citrus nutrition. He then completed his PhD (Horticultural Sciences) at the University of Pretoria in 2005. A scientist of note, he has extensive research in herbal medicine. He further completed a Master in Business Leadership (MBL) at UNISA Graduate School of Business Leadership and a number of Leadership courses at GIBBS and the University of Cape Town Graduate School of Business.
An esteemed academic, his previous work experience includes Vista University VUDEC, Campus (Now Incorporated into the University of South Africa), University of Venda and University of Limpopo as a Lecturer.
Prof Paramu Mafongoya
Agroforestry at University of Florida
Tel: +27 33 260 6247
Email: mafongoya@ukzn.ac.za
Professor Mafongoya holds a PhD in Agroforestry from University of Florida (USA), an MSc in Applied Plant Sciences as well as an MSc Agricultural Development from Wye College, University of London (UK) and a BSc (Hons) Agriculture from the University of Zimbabwe. He has over 30 years’ experience working with various international organizations and universities in the areas of agricultural research, development, education, and integrated natural resources management.
He has published 146 papers (112 refereed journal articles, 31 refereed book chapters and 2 books). His total publication record stand at 244. Currently he is South Africa Research Chair in Agronomy and Rural development at the University of KwaZulu-Natal.He has supervised and co- supervised up to date 7 Post Doctoral fellows, 31 PhD students, 34 MSc students and 15 undergraduates.
He has worked with Universities in the North and South in supervising these students. He has also done up to date 30 consultancies on integrated natural resource management for UN organizations such FAO, UNEP, UNDP, ILO and international NGO`s such Oxfam, WWF, HIVOS and national governments in SADC. Currently he is a member of several international professional societies.
He is a fellow of the Zimbabwe Academy of Sciences. He has participated in several collaborative research involving CGIARs, Advanced Research Institute, National Agricultural Systems, International Foundations and NGOs. His experience is multidisciplinary, transdisciplinary, multi-institutional and multi-cultural.
Relebohile Moletsane
Professor and JL Dube Chair in Rural Education at University of KwaZulu-Natal
Tel: +27 31 260 3023
Email: moletsaner@ukzn.ac.za
Professor and JL Dube Chair in Rural Education. Areas of expertise include rural education and development, gender and education and girlhood studies. Co-editor (with Claudia Mitchell and Ann Smith) of a 2012 book, Was it Something I Wore? Dress, Identity, and Materiality. Cape Town: HSRC Press. 2012 winner of the Distinguished Women in Science: Social Sciences and Humanities Award (South African National Department of Science and Technology), a 2014 Echidna Global Scholar at Brookings Institution’s Centre for Universal Education, and a 2015 New Voices Fellow of the Aspen Institute.
Ralph Dean Christy
Professor at Cornell University Ithaca, New York, United States
Tel: +1 (607) 227 8776
Email: rdc6@cornell.ed
Ralph D Christy is director of CIIFAD and professor of emerging markets at Cornell University, where he teaches and conducts food marketing research and educational programs on the economic performance of markets and distribution systems. He has advised industry leaders and public policy makers on food marketing strategies, economic development, and the organization of the global food economy.
A PhD graduate of Michigan State University’s Department of Agricultural Economics, Christy is past president of the American Agricultural Economics Association, and is currently a board member of the Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation, WinRock International, and the Agribusiness Capital Fund.
He is the author of three books: A Century of Service: Land Grant Colleges and Universities, 1890-1990(1992); Achieving Sustainable Communities in a Global Economy (2004); and Emerging Markets (forthcoming). His most recent research calls attention to the role of creating an enabling environment for accelerating agro-industries’ contributions to sustain economic growth and development.
Stefan Schmidt
Professor at University of KwaZulu-Natal | UKZN Discipline of Microbiology, School of Life Sciences, Pietermaritzburg
Tel: +27 33 260 5523
Email: schmidts@ukzn.ac.za
Stefan Schmidt has three decades of research experience in the area of applied and environmental microbiology. Before joining UKZN, he did his PostDoc in the UK, lectured Microbiology at his alma mater, and worked for Fraunhofer (the world’s leading applied research organization).
He is a member of the American Society for Microbiology, Vereinigung für Allgemeine und Angewandte Mikrobiologie, South African Society for Microbiology, and the Royal Society of South Africa.
His research involves representatives of all microscopic forms of life, ranging from bacteriophages via the prokaryotic Bacteria and Archaea to eukaryotic fungi, algae, and protozoa.
Dr Thulasizwe Mkhabela
Senior Partner@Agriculture House | New Business Development | Policy Development & Analysis | Economics
Tel: +27 73 303 3186
Email: thulasizwe.mkhabela@gmail.com
More than 20 years’ experience in agricultural sector as an economist, executive at various important institutions. Vast consulting experience and econometrics analysis skills. Have served in the Agricultural Economics Association of South Africa (AEASA) at various management levels, including being the President. Experienced MSc and PhD supervision.