2nd International Conference on Climate Resilient, Smart and Sustainable Futures

Professor Mandivamba Rukuni (Mandi) is a development analyst and strategist with expertise in agriculture, land governance, rural industrialisation, and education. He's currently Chairman of Zimbabwe Council for Higher Education (ZIMCHE) and Great Zimbabwe University (GZU).

He is actively engaged with the Government of Zimbabwe, business sector and civil society on a number of developments including land tenure reform, rural industrialisation, reparations and fertiliser industry reforms. Prof Rukuni taught at University of Zimbabwe for 20 years, serving as Dean of Agriculture before leading Africa Programs at W.K. Kellogg Foundation for 11 years.

He has served on boards like Kingdom Bank (Chair), ARDA (Vice Chair), and Agricultural Research Council (Chair). Internationally, he has worked with the Africa Union, World Bank, FAO, to mention a few. He has published upward of 100 articles, several academic books and also several non-fiction books including Being Afrikan and Leading Afrika (Penguin).

His qualifications portfolio includes D. Phil (UZ), MSc in Tropical Agricultural Development (Economics), University of Reading, and a BSc. (Hons) Agriculture (University of Rhodesia).

Godwell Nhamo (PhD Rhodes University), is a Full Professor, National Research Foundation C1-Rated, and a current employee of the University of South Africa (UNISA). He is currently the Acting Head for the Institute for Sustainability and corporate Citizenship (ISCC). His research space includes Climate Change, Coastal Resilience and Livelihoods, and Sustainable Development (Goals).

Prof Nhamo has a passion in capacity development and mentoring (young) people for success, both in the academic and business spheres. He has published 19 books (15 edited and 4 co-authored), over 140 journal articles and many book chapters. Since 2013, Prof Nhamo has graduated 14 PhDs and hosted 21 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 is an advocate of 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, 2021 NRF Science Award, and the UNISA Vice Chancellor Research Excellence Award (three times).

Professor Timothy Dube is a globally renowned scientist in Geospatial Science and Earth Observation, currently serving as the Director of the Institute for Water Studies at the University of the Western Cape (UWC) in South Africa.

His academic foundation is rooted in a deep-seated interest in environmental and water resources sustainability, having earned his PhD in Environmental Science from the University of KwaZulu-Natal, an MSc in Water Resources from the University of Twente in the Netherlands, and an Honours degree from the University of Zimbabwe.

As a National Research Foundation (NRF) rated researcher, Professor Dube has dedicated his career to bridging the gap between advanced satellite technology and practical environmental and water management, particularly within the context of sub-Saharan Africa. His research expertise lies at the intersection of remote sensing, artificial intelligence, and water resource management.

He is particularly renowned for his pioneering work in monitoring non-perennial rivers—waterways that do not flow year-round—which account for a vast majority of the water resources in his region. By leveraging "new-generation" satellite data and cloud-based big data analytics, he develops predictive models that allow for more accurate resource planning and climate change adaptation strategies. Throughout his career, Prof. Dube has received numerous accolades for his contributions to science, most notably the 2024 NSTF-Water Research Commission Award, often referred to as the "Science Oscar" of South Africa. His influence reaches far beyond the continent through his role as an Adjunct Professor and Programme Adviser at the United Nations University (UNU-FLORES) and his leadership on high-profile projects funded by the European Space Agency (ESA) and the European Union.

With over 250 peer-reviewed publications and a high citation impact, he remains a central figure in the application of Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) technologies to solve the pressing socio-economic and environmental challenges of the modern era.

Kaitano Dube is a full professor of Tourism Geography at Vaal University of Technology and a visiting professor at Emirates Aviation University, Dubai, UAE. He is a leading scholar with an impressive research background in the areas of tourism, aviation, climate change, and sustainable development. In South Africa, Prof Dube is an NRF C2-rated researcher and enjoys working relationships with several universities and civic societies. He is a declared academic who has received several accolades.

Onisimo Mutanga, is a Professor of Remote Sensing and South African Research Chair (SARChI) in Landuse. His expertise lies on resource modelling, pattern and condition analysis in the face of global and land use change. This includes the development of innovative remote sensing approaches for improved monitoring and management of various ecosystems. 

Focus areas include Ecosystem services quantification, forest fragmentation, disaster risk assessment, rangeland monitoring as well as invasive species modelling, among others. Prof Mutanga is B-rated by the NRF and has published more than 300 journal articles, with more than 12000 citations. He is a recipient of the NSTF-South 32 Oscars Award, Fellowship of the Society of South African Geographers, among others.

Prof Wame Lucretia Hambira is an Associate Professor of Environmental Management at the Botswana University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (BUAN). She is currently BUAN's Sustainability co-chair. Prof Hambira has extensive experience in the sustainability science sphere including environmental sustainability, climate change adaptation, sustainable tourism, as well as human dimensions of biodiversity conservation and management.

She has served the Intergovernmental Science- Policy Platform for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) as a scoping expert (the nexus assessment of the interlinkages among biodiversity, water, food and health in the context of climate change as well as the global assessment of the second biodiversity and ecosystem assessment).

She is also a United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) Review Editor for the Solution pathways for Transformation of Environmental Systems chapter of the seventh Global Environment Outlook report. Prof Hambira holds a PhD in Geography (Tourism and climate change adaptation) from the University of Oulu, Finland, an MSc in Environmental Economics from the University of York (UK) and a BA in Social Sciences (Economics and Environmental Science) from the University of Botswana.

Ikechukwu O. Ezeuduji, rated as an established researcher by the National Research Foundation in South Africa, is a full Professor of Tourism Management in the Department of Recreation and Tourism at the University of Zululand, South Africa. He obtained his MSc and PhD from the BOKU-University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria. He also received an MBA from The Open University, Milton Keynes, UK. He has over 15 years of teaching experience in higher education institutions. He has published widely in broader areas of tourism development (rural and events tourism), tourism management (strategic tourism management and tourism entrepreneurship), and tourism marketing (brand essence, brand competitiveness, brand image, and brand loyalty). He has won numerous national and international awards for his teaching and research and has served as a keynote speaker at national and international conferences.

Professor Edson Gandiwa is the Director General of the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks). Professor Gandiwa has over 20 years of experience in the fields of wildlife conservation and higher education. Previously, Professor Gandiwa served as Director Scientific Services at ZimParks (January 2021-January 2025); Associate Professor, Inaugural Executive Dean and Full Professor in the School of Wildlife, Ecology and Conservation at Chinhoyi University of Technology (May 2013-January 2021), Ecologist and Senior Ecologist based in Gonarezhou National Park (Chiredzi) at ZimParks (October 2004-April 2013). Professor Gandiwa holds a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Degree in Wildlife Conservation and Management from Wageningen University and Research, The Netherlands (2013), a Master of Science Degree in Tropical Resource Ecology (with merit) from the University of Zimbabwe (2007), and a Bachelor of Science (Honours) Degree in Environmental Science and Health (with first class) from the National University of Science and Technology (NUST), Zimbabwe (2004).

 Professor Gandiwa has (co)authored over 200 peer-reviewed scientific publications. His research interests include biodiversity and wildlife conservation, protected area management, community-based natural resource management, ecotourism and media framing of wildlife conservation. He is a recipient of several awards including a research award in the Environmental Sector from the Research Council of Zimbabwe (2017) and the International Council for Game and Wildlife Conservation (CIC) Working Group Young Opinion Thesis Award for his PhD thesis titled - The Numbers Game in Wildlife Conservation: Changeability and framing of large mammal numbers in Zimbabwe (received in Bulgaria, 2015).

Dr. Nomhle Ngwenya specialises in climate risk, disaster management, and ESG integration, and focuses on resilient systems and environmental strategies. She combines climate science and sustainable finance to develop solutions for mining, agriculture, and infrastructure. As a member of the National Advisory Council on Innovation, she advocates for gender equity in STEM and Africa’s climate resilience.

Dr. Yacob T. Tesfaldet is an environmental data scientist and researcher with over seven years of experience in academia and applied research. He specializes in geospatial data science, and GeoAI, leveraging GIS, remote sensing, and spatiotemporal analysis to address complex environmental and public health challenges. His research focuses on the spatial and temporal dynamics, integrating ground-based and satellite observations to support climate change mitigation, public health resilience, urban sustainability, and evidence-based policy evaluation. By applying advanced spatiotemporal forecasting and machine learning models, Dr. Tesfaldet helps stakeholders identify at-risk areas, design targeted interventions, and build data-driven, climate-resilient communities. In addition to his research, he serves as a Scientific Editor for Next Research, contributing to the advancement of interdisciplinary environmental and data science scholarship.

Dr. Mahlomola Ernest Daemane is a highly passionate South African conservation scientist and ecologist. He has spent over two decades in the field of biodiversity and conservation management, primarily with South African National Parks (SANParks).

He holds multiple advanced degrees, including an MSc in Vegetation & Restoration Ecology from North-West University and a PhD in Geography from the University of the Free State (UFS).

He joined SANParks in 2002 and has held key roles such as Plant Ecologist, Head of the Park Interface Programme, and General Manager of the Arid Research Unit Scientific Services. He is currently responsible for the Wildlife Management and Strategic Support Unit in SANParks.

He is a published author, having contributed to several research articles and book chapters on plant ecology, vegetation classification, and habitat suitability modeling in South African protected areas. His research interests include Afromontane forests and grassland ecosystems.

Dr. Webster Gumindoga is a hydrologist and geospatial scientist with over 15 years of experience in satellite hydrology, water resources modelling, and climate change applications in Southern and Eastern Africa. He holds a PhD in Satellite Hydrology and Water Resources Management from the University of Twente (ITC), The Netherlands, and is a Senior Lecturer and Research & Innovation Manager in the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment at the University of Zimbabwe.

His work integrates Earth observation, GIS, AI-driven analytics, and hydrological modelling to support climate resilience, water security, and sustainable development. Dr. Gumindoga has led and contributed to numerous regional and international projects with institutions including UNDP, UNCCD, GWP, SADC, and CGIAR, and has published extensively in leading peer-reviewed journals.

Ntandokamlimu Nondo is a senior environmental officer with the Environmental Management Agency .He has over 15 years experience in the environmental sector, blending scientific expertise with community engagement.

His work spans wetland conservation, fire risk reduction,soil erosion monitoring and sustainable land management and invasive alien species management.

Professor Thulani Dube is the Pro-Vice-Chancellor at Lupane State University (LSU) in Zimbabwe, a position he has held since October 2024. He brings over 23 years of experience in university teaching, research, and senior academic administration, having previously served as Acting Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Dean of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, and Chairperson of the Department of Development Studies at LSU.

Professor Dube holds a Doctor of Philosophy in Social Science from the University of Fort Hare (South Africa), a Master of Philosophy in Disaster Risk Science and Development from the University of Stellenbosch, and a Master of Arts in Development Studies from the University of Leeds (United Kingdom). His research interests span climate change adaptation, indigenous knowledge systems, livelihoods, monitoring and evaluation, and sustainable development in semi-arid environments.

An accomplished scholar, Professor Dube has published extensively in peer-reviewed journals and contributed book chapters with leading publishers, including Springer. His recent work explores the integration of indigenous knowledge systems into climate services and anticipatory action, smallholder farmer adaptation strategies, and the socio-economic dimensions of climate resilience in marginalised communities. He has also authored a technical report for the World Food Programme on climate-related indigenous knowledge systems in Zimbabwe.

Beyond academia, Professor Dube is a highly sought-after consultant, having undertaken assignments for international organisations such as the World Bank, World Food Programme, UN Women, African Development Bank, Plan International, and World Vision. His consultancy portfolio includes monitoring and evaluation systems development, gender analysis, baseline studies, and climate resilience programming across southern Africa. At the ICCRSF 2026, he will draw on his extensive research and practical experience to contribute to transdisciplinary dialogue on climate-resilient and sustainable futures.

Prof. Alen Manyevere is a soil scientist and environmental conservationist with over 20 years’ experience of research, teaching and learning and community development. His expertise is in soil mapping, agro-ecology, soil fertility, climate change, land degradation and ecological restoration. Prof. Manyevere has vast experience in the public sector including government institutions and public universities in South Africa and Southern Africa. He has worked in many local, regional and international projects including projects sponsored by International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), National Research Foundation, Water Research Commission, WaterNet and Agriculture Departments in Zimbabwe and South Africa.

Prof. Manyevere is a holder of more than 10 national and international research grants as Project leader/co-leader, supervised to completion 7 PhD and more than 35 MSc students in soil and environmental science related fields. He has authored/ co-authored of at least 60 peer-reviewed articles, more than 25 technical bulletins and at least 30 conference proceedings. Prof. Manyevere has served as an external examiner of more than 30 postgraduate (MSc and PhD) candidates from across many academic institutions. He is also a review panel member of the National Research Foundation and Water Research Commission and several accredited journals.

 Prof. Manyevere was educated in Zimbabwe and South Africa and has worked for the Department of Research and Specialist services in Zimbabwe and University of Limpopo. He is currently working for the University of Fort Hare where he has served in various capacities as a lecturer, the soil science discipline leader, the Head of Agronomy Department and Deputy Dean Research and Internalisation of the Faculty of Science and Agriculture