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Dr Chisenga, is a food and bioresources systems technologist with over 18 years of food industry and agriculture practice in private and public sector. Has developed and implemented food security projects in Africa. South Africa's Postdoctorate and PhD in bioresources and food systems. Graduate of postharvest and food preservation engineering from KU Leuven (Belgium) and Graduate of food technology from Universiteit Gent (Belgium). Has served as an expert on joint policy briefs for Group of Seven countries and beyond (G7 Presidency meeting Japan 2023). Has taught food technology, process control systems analysis and postharvest & food preservation at public universities. Has been awarded several developmental funding including Kellogg Foundation through Nelson Mandela Children's Fund. Google Scholar. Interest: food systems, innovation & policy.
Ms Khambule is Executive Director for Centre for Sustainable Development Solutions (CSDS). Has been instrumental in formation of CSDS and creation of collaborative platform that networks research actors of various backgrounds across the continent to participate in unified research, innovation and development towards SDGs and Agenda 2030. She is a lawyer and human capital management expert. An entrepreneur of smallholder businesses in livestock, food, and fashion industry. Has over 16 years of experience in public service and bureaucratic processes of the South African government. Has implemented disaster and relief programs. Has implemented project on human rights to food and gender. She is proponent of Alleviation of Hygiene Poverty in rural communities.
Prof Marenya is an Agricultural Engineer, currently a lecturer at School of Chemical and Biosystems Engineering, Technical University of Kenya and Adjunct Professor at Faculty of Science, Engineering and Agriculture, University of Venda, South Africa. Has over 30 years of university-level teaching and international research. PhD in Agricultural Engineering from University of Pretoria, MSc in Agricultural Engineering from University of Nairobi. Has supervised graduates at PhD and Masters level. He is a proponent of postharvest research on edible insects. Recipient of several international research fund awards including NRF (South Africa), ERAfrica, CCARDESA. Google Scholar. Has researched on diverse areas of agricultural engineering including soil dynamics & tillage, soil mechanics, post-harvesting, systems modeling, drying and aeration of agricultural produce. Interest: systems modeling in agriculture, edible insects,
Ms Chali is agriculture development expert with over 16 years of experience in public service delivery of the Zambian government. Has implemented agricultural research and climate change programs in Zambia. Has managed Green Climate Fund SCRALA project under United Nations Development Program in Zambia. Has coordinated cassava mechanization project in Luapula Province in Zambia, funded by Africa Agricultural Technology Foundation. Holds MSc in Agricultural Risk Management, BA in Social Work and Diploma in Forestry. Has undertaken specialized training in production of disease-free cassava planting materials in Finland. Interest: youth, women, climate change.
Prof Kanda is an Irrigation Engineer with over 17 years of industry practice in water and environmental engineering. Currently a lecturer at Department of Civil and Structural Engineering of Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology. Has participated in various research activities in the areas of water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH). He is a country coordinator of International Commission of Irrigation and Drainage in Kenya. He is member of Africa Water Parliament. Google Scholar. Holds PhD in Irrigation Engineering from University of KwaZulu-Natal (South Africa), MSc in Water Engineering, MSc in Project Management from Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (Kenya). Interest: water security, climate change, modeling
Ms Katotobwe is currently the Executive Director for Centre for Policy Dialogue, Zambia. PhD Candidate in governance and public service management at the University of Zambia. Holds MA and postgraduate Diploma in Public Service Management from London International School of Business and Northampton University, United Kingdom. Has over 17 year of experience of private sector business and non governmental service. An entrepreneur with various active portifolio in media platforms and organizations. Has served as contributor to local and international media organization such as Friendrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES media) and several radio and television platforms BBC Africa and Zambia National Broadcasting Corporations (ZNBC). Interest: Public service policy, governance, financial sustainability, gender, strategic communication.
Prof Nailoke is an academician at the Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Biotechnology, School of Science, University of Namibia (UNAM). Among key research leaders at Zero Emission Research Initiatives (ZERI) at UNAM. Holds PhD and MSc in Applied Biosciences from UNAM, BSc from Zhejiang University, China. Has supervised several PhD and MSc students. Has established specialized research on Mycology focused on Basidiomycetes for health and food industry applications including domestication of indigenous mushrooms and plants of edible and medicinal significance. Has developed training program for women and entrepreneurs in mushroom business. Google Scholar. Coordinating Mushroom Node at AUDA-NEPAD/SANBio. Interest: Indigenous Knowledge Systems, edible & medicinal mushrooms, ecosystem & climate change
Dr Mandizvo has served as lecturer, and currently a postdoctoral research fellow in crop science at University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN). Has a strong background in academia and research. Has served as reviewer for several peer review journals and conferences. Holds PhD in Crop Sciences and MSc in Crop Sciences from UKZN. Google Scholar. He is committed to advancing innovative research in the field of crop science, climate change, and inspire the next generation of scholars in crop sciences. Interest: climate change, crop health, soil health, water, energy and food nexus.