The HSRC Annual Conference aims to promote scholarly excellence, intellectual exchange, evidence-informed policymaking, and trans-, inter-, and multidisciplinary engagement on issues of strategic importance to South Africa, Africa, and the wider global community.
The Scientific Committee is established as the Conference’s principal academic and intellectual authority. It is responsible for safeguarding the Conference’s scientific quality, scholarly integrity, academic and policy-advisory reputation, and the HSRC’s publication outcomes.
The Committee’s Remit
Safeguard the scientific quality of the Conference programme.
Uphold the scholarly integrity of every accepted contribution.
Protect the Conference’s academic and policy-advisory reputation.
Steward the HSRC’s publication outcomes from the Conference.
Committee Membership
The following members were selected to achieve a balanced portfolio of skills, knowledge and experience to fully support and engage with the Committee’s remit.
Prof. Charles Hongoro (opens in a new tab)
Prof Charles Hongoro is the Acting Divisional Executive of the HSRC's Developmental, Capable and Ethical State research division, and Senior Director in the Office of the CEO. He leads the…
View profileProf Charles Hongoro is the Acting Divisional Executive of the HSRC's Developmental, Capable and Ethical State research division, and Senior Director in the Office of the CEO. He leads the division's Peace and Sustainable Security unit. He is also the acting coordinator of the HSRC's Africa Institute for South Africa. He holds a PhD in health economics and policy from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), University of London.
Dr Vuyo Mjimba (opens in a new tab)
Dr Vuyo Mjimba is Chief Research Specialist in the Africa Institute of South Africa (AISA), an Africa-focused research division of the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC). He holds a PhD…
View profileDr Vuyo Mjimba is Chief Research Specialist in the Africa Institute of South Africa (AISA), an Africa-focused research division of the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC). He holds a PhD in Development, Policy, and Practice from The Open University (The OU) (2012) in the United Kingdom where he was mentored by Prof Raphael Kaplinsky.
Dr Mzikazi Nduna (opens in a new tab)
Dr Mzi Nduna is the Divisional Executive of the Research Impact Division at the HSRC. Nduna has 29 years of work experience, 17 of which were spent in the University…
View profileDr Mzi Nduna is the Divisional Executive of the Research Impact Division at the HSRC. Nduna has 29 years of work experience, 17 of which were spent in the University sector. She is the former Dean of Health Sciences at the University of Fort Hare and a former Head of School at WITS University. Among others, Nduna started and led the Net 10 and FACT research groups, consisting of researchers from the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) and universities who conduct research in the fields of Father (dis)connections and sexual and gender identity expressions (LGBTIQ).
Dr Bongiwe Mncwango (opens in a new tab)
Bongiwe Mncwango is a Senior Research Manager within the Education and Livelihoods theme of the Equitable Education and Economies (EEE) Unit of the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC). Bongiwe has…
View profileBongiwe Mncwango is a Senior Research Manager within the Education and Livelihoods theme of the Equitable Education and Economies (EEE) Unit of the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC). Bongiwe has a PhD in Sociology from the University of Pretoria.
Her areas of research interest are post-school education and skills development, labour markets and inequality, changing nature of work and occupations, and quality of work life. She is well-experienced in survey and evaluation research.
Prof. Sizulu Moyo (opens in a new tab)
Associate Professor Sizulu Moyo is a Research Director in the Human and Social Capabilities Division. She holds an MBChB degree, an MPH (epidemiology), a postgraduate certificate in Clinical Research Administration,…
View profileAssociate Professor Sizulu Moyo is a Research Director in the Human and Social Capabilities Division. She holds an MBChB degree, an MPH (epidemiology), a postgraduate certificate in Clinical Research Administration, and a Ph.D. in Paediatrics and Child Health in the field of tuberculosis (TB). She has extensive experience in public health research and is an NRF rated researcher. Her work is focused on TB and HIV where she has successfully participated in numerous TB and HIV research projects leading multi-disciplinary teams and working with local, national, and international stakeholders and collaborators. She also has experience in health systems and programmatic research.
Dr Odilile Ayodele (opens in a new tab)
Dr. Odilile Ayodele is a Senior Research Specialist at the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC), attached to the Developmental, Capable, and Ethical State (DCES) division. Dr. Ayodele holds a PhD…
View profileDr. Odilile Ayodele is a Senior Research Specialist at the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC), attached to the Developmental, Capable, and Ethical State (DCES) division.
Dr. Ayodele holds a PhD in Political Studies from the University of Johannesburg and a BA (Hons) and MA in International Relations from the University of the Witwatersrand. Her research focuses on public and private sector responses to the challenges and opportunities presented by the Fourth Industrial Revolution in Africa.
Dr Tholang Mokhele (opens in a new tab)
Dr Tholang Mokhele is the Manager of Geospatial Computing and Analytics sub-unit of the eResearch Knowledge Unit at the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC). He holds a PhD in Environmental…
View profileDr Tholang Mokhele is the Manager of Geospatial Computing and Analytics sub-unit of the eResearch Knowledge Unit at the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC). He holds a PhD in Environmental Science (GIS) and MSc in Environmental Science (Remote Sensing) (Cum Laude), both from the University of KwaZulu-Natal. He is an NRF-rated researcher. Dr Mokhele has more than 17 years of experience in geospatial analytics and data analytics in social and health sciences research.
Dr Nomcebo Ubisi (opens in a new tab)
Dr Nomcebo Rhulani Ubisi holds an undergraduate degree in Biology and Environmental Sciences, a Post-grad Diploma in Food Security, a Master of Agriculture in Research, and a PhD in Food…
View profileDr Nomcebo Rhulani Ubisi holds an undergraduate degree in Biology and Environmental Sciences, a Post-grad Diploma in Food Security, a Master of Agriculture in Research, and a PhD in Food security from the University of KwaZulu-Natal. Dr Ubisi has gained valuable experience in conducting and managing various research projects applying qualitative and quantitative research methods covering research topics but not limited to Food Security, Poverty, Inequality, Climate Change, Smallholder Agriculture, Indigenous knowledge systems, and Geospatial analysis.
Auriel Niemack (opens in a new tab)
Auriel Niemack is Senior Research Manager for BRICS in the Africa, BRICS and Global South (ABGS) Division at the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC), where she coordinates the BRICS Research…
View profileAuriel Niemack is Senior Research Manager for BRICS in the Africa, BRICS and Global South (ABGS) Division at the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC), where she coordinates the BRICS Research Centre. Her research focuses on BRICS and Global South cooperation, science diplomacy, and environmental peacebuilding, with interdisciplinary interests spanning international relations, feminist political ecology, and South-South cooperation in science, technology and innovation. She has over fifteen years' experience across national and international research and policy ecosystems. She holds master's degrees from the University of the Witwatersrand and International Christian University, Tokyo.
Dr Paul Plantinga (opens in a new tab)
Paul Plantinga is a Senior Research Manager at the Human Sciences Research Council in South Africa. He is currently leading projects on digital policy and platforms, and on evidence-informed policy…
View profilePaul Plantinga is a Senior Research Manager at the Human Sciences Research Council in South Africa. He is currently leading projects on digital policy and platforms, and on evidence-informed policy making. Between 2012 and 2016 he managed open innovation and open data work at The Innovation Hub, an agency of the Gauteng Provincial Government. Prior to this he completed a PhD in ICT governance with the Centre for Organisational and Social Informatics at Monash University, and worked as a solution architect and engineer in mobile telecoms and VoIP.
Dr Kwanele Qonono (opens in a new tab)
Dr Kwanele Qonono is a Manager in the Research Governance and Integrity Unit at the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC). He holds a PhD in Urban and Regional Sciences, a…
View profileDr Kwanele Qonono is a Manager in the Research Governance and Integrity Unit at the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC). He holds a PhD in Urban and Regional Sciences, a Master's degree in Disaster Risk Science and Development, BCom (Hons), Public Development and Management, and a Bachelor of Arts in Development and Environment from Stellenbosch University. His interdisciplinary academic and professional background spans research governance and ethics, public policy, urban and regional development, environmental governance, disaster risk reduction, and geospatial analysis. His areas of specialisation include urban geography, environmental studies, disaster risk sciences, and development studies, with a strong focus on Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Remote Sensing.