| Dr Thandi Mgwebi is a seasoned leader in South Africa’s research and higher education landscape, currently serving as the Group Executive: Business Advancement at the National Research Foundation (NRF). Her extensive background includes senior executive roles such as Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Research, Innovation, and Internationalisation at both Nelson Mandela University and the Tshwane University of Technology, where she advanced strategic research agendas and global engagement initiatives. Dr Mgwebi brings to AIMS a deep commitment to international science collaboration, with a proven track record of fostering partnerships across Africa and globally. She has held influential positions on numerous strategic bodies, including the Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) Leadership Council, and she has maintained active involvement with the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS) and several other national and international committees. During a previous tenure at the NRF, she was instrumental in securing partnerships with organisations such as Fulbright, the British Council, and the Newton Fund, and she played a transformative role in broadening participation in South Africa’s research landscape — notably through the SARChI 42 initiative, which expanded the appointment of women to Research Chair positions. Her academic background includes a PhD in Cell and Developmental Biology and postdoctoral training in Virology from the University of Cape Town, along with advanced qualifications in higher education management from the University of Melbourne, the University of Stellenbosch Business School, and a certificate in Business Sustainability from the University of Cambridge. Dr Mgwebi’s foundational science training began at the University of Transkei (now WSU). With her global perspective and in-depth understanding of institutional strategy, Dr Mgwebi contributes valuable insight to the AIMS Council’s efforts to promote excellence in mathematical sciences and foster inclusive, sustainable academic networks across the continent. She has been a member of the AIMS Council since May 2017. |
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