Godwell Nhamo (PhD Rhodes University) is a Full Professor, National Research Foundation C1-Rated, and a current University of South Africa (UNISA) employee. His research space includes Climate Change, Coastal Resilience and Livelihoods, and Sustainable Development (Goals). Prof Nhamo has a passion for capacity development and mentoring (young) people for success in the academic and business spheres. He has published 19 books (15 edited and four co-authored), over 120 journal articles and many book chapters. Since 2013, Prof Nhamo has graduated 14 PhDs and hosted 13 postdoctoral fellows. Prof Nhamo is also one of the experts for the Non-economic Losses Group under the UNFCCC Warsaw International Mechanisms on Loss and Damage. He also sits in the Gauteng Premier Climate Change Experts Group. He has over 27 years of experience in the academic and consulting spaces of engagements and advocates for open access educational resources. Prof Nhamo is a recipient of many accolades, among them the 2017 Distinguished Old Rhodian Award for having reached exceptional heights in his chosen career by maintaining excellence in the field and service to society, the 2021 NRF Science Award, and the UNISA Vice-Chancellor Research Excellence Award (three times).

Professor Albert Makochekanwa is an economist with over 20 years of experience in economics and social science issues and the Director of the University of Zimbabwe Business School (UZBS). He is also a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Economics and Development at the University of Zimbabwe. Prof. Makochekanwa teaches undergraduate and Master of Science in Economics students and supervises thesis research for both Masters and PhD students. Prof. Makochekanwa holds a taught Ph.D. in Economics Degree (University of Pretoria, South Africa), a Master of Science (MSc) in Economics Degree (University of Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe) and an Honours in Economics Degree (University of Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe). He has worked extensively in Africa, specifically Zimbabwe, South Africa, Botswana and Ethiopia. Prof. Makochekanwa has published several journal papers and book chapters and contributed to several studies on economic issues in Africa. Before joining the University of Zimbabwe, Prof. Makochekanwa worked for Trades Centre (Zimbabwe), Competition and Tariff Commission (Zimbabwe), University of Pretoria (South Africa), Conningarth Economists (South Africa), Commonwealth Secretariat (Addis Ababa, Ethiopia), and USAID-Trade Hub Project (Botswana). Prof Makochekanwa has provided leadership and guidance in various institutions including being (i) Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) Member of the Research Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ), (ii) Board member of the Competition and Tariff Commission (CTC) (Zimbabwe), (iii) Board member of Zimbabwe Economic Policy Analysis and Research Unit (ZEPARU) and (iv) Council Member of Zimbabwe Ezekiel Guti University (ZEGU). Over the years, Prof. Makochekanwa has also been a consultant to the following organizations with which he has produced technical and policy documents: (1) African Tax Administration Forum (ATAF) (South Africa), (2) World Bank, Washington DC, USA; (3) World Bank Institute (WBI) Washington DC, USA; (4) United Nations Conference on Trade and Development Virtual Institute (UNCATDVi), Geneva, Switzerland; (5) Trade and Industrial Strategies (TIPS of South Africa) and AusAID, (6) Center for Global Development (CGD), Washington DC, USA; (7) United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Harare, Zimbabwe; (8) United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UNWOMEN) (Harare, Zimbabwe), (9) African Economic Research Consortium (AERC), Kenya; (10) Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI), Canada; (11) Namibia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NCCI), Namibia, (12) Underhill Capital Solutions, South Africa, (13) University of Mauritius (UoM), Mauritius; (14) Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA Secretariat, Zambia), (15) Oxfam, (16) COMESA Clearing House (Harare, Zimbabwe), (17) Ministry of Industry and Commerce (Zimbabwe), and (18) Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC), (19) Zimbabwe National Water Authority (ZINWA), (20) Trade and Development Studies Centre, Zimbabwe, among others.