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In my career I have led various groups in research methods, stakeholder engagement, and social justice initiatives.
In my career I have led various groups in research methods, stakeholder engagement, and social justice initiatives.
Becoming the leader I needed_ebok.pdfBecoming the leader I needed
Becoming the leader I needed
I hold multiple identities as a mother, partner, daughter, friend, public health scholar, transdisciplinary researcher, educator, and community-engaged practitioner working in the South African higher education and community landscape. My leadership journey has emerged at the intersection of academia and activism, navigating health equity, social justice, and knowledge democratisation. In recent years, I’ve led innovative research initiatives, including the CO-CREATE Hub (Collaborative and Creative Research for Equity and Transdisciplinary Knowledge Exchange Health Hub), and taken on the responsibility of mentoring young scholars, particularly women of colour. Positioned within a system that often wasn’t designed for someone like me to thrive, I have come to lead by forging alternative pathways rooted in care and supported by other ethical, responsible, female leaders.
As I reflect on how I’ve grown through initiating the CO-CREATE Hub and engaging in programmes like SUNRISE (Stellenbosch University Research & Innovation Strategic Excellence), while applying for transformative grants like the NIH K43 Emerging Global Leaders Award and Wellcome Early-Career Award I realise more and more that I am becoming the leader I needed.
Travelling on the road of leaders
Travelling on the road of leaders
In my career I have led various groups in research methods, stakeholder engagement, and social justice initiatives. In 2010 -2014 I was the Head of Research and Ethics at Pearson International (Now Eduvos) and led a team of 15 employees and was responsible for 150 Psychology third and fourth-year students. In this role, I ensured opportunities for capacity development, networking and simplifying processes while aligning learning and teaching needs with real-world contexts.
Moving from there I joined the City of Cape Town and led a team of 6 junior researchers and over 120 fieldworkers to conduct the first count of persons who sleep on the streets in the city. My leadership style in this space had to be adaptable and structured to align with the functionalities of a municipal office. I worked with 40 law enforcement officers in addition to the fieldworkers and provided training in research methods and ethics to all involved.
In 2015 I joined Stellenbosch University as a Teaching Facilitator with the responsibility of running a mentorship programme in rural Eastern Cape for medical staff in a PEPFAR funded project. In addition, I trained and did capacity building with policymakers, researchers, and practitioners in protocol development, implementation science, ethics, and knowledge translation. Approximately 110 beneficiaries participated in these programmes over 3 years.
Currently, I lead the Inclusive Health Research Unit in the Division of Health Systems and Public Health and co-lead the Global Multimodal Methods Group associated with the Global Evidence fraternity. Other leadership roles include leading the M&E task team for our faculty evaluation of the renewed MBCHB degree. I have been an executive member of the Psychological Society of South Africa for the last 8 years in varying capacities. My most recent projects that I managed include a Social Impact project that were awarded to myself and the team for 2020-2021 and 2023-2024.
Here are some linked articles to the first count of those sleeping and living on the street, which I designed and led for the City of Cape Town.
Leadership in departmental, faculty or university committees and strategic initiatives
Leadership in departmental, faculty or university committees and strategic initiatives
Within my teaching and research focus areas, I have had the privilege of leading and contributing to various service delivery activities across departmental, faculty, and university levels, as well as engaging in strategic initiatives. These experiences have not only enriched my professional journey but also allowed me to contribute to the broader academic community in meaningful ways.
At the departmental and faculty levels, I have actively participated in committees and strategic initiatives aimed at enhancing our academic offerings and research impact, such as the evaluation of the renewed curriculum, participating in the Transformation Committee, the Postgraduate Committees, and the Short Course and CPD Committee.
This year I launched the Inclusive Health Research Programme within the Division to advance transdisciplinary teaching, learning, assessment, and research for inclusive and equitable health, as part of our strategic plan. The vision of the unit is to build equitable bridges between science and the public. The unit was initiated with funding from the Springer Nature Award, and I have funded 3 junior staff to support activities. Additionally, I lead the SU Public Square in Social and Environmental Determinants of Health which is spearheaded by the office of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor Prof Sibusiso Moyo. Here, I lead the collaboration in the conceptualising and implementation of teaching and research projects that intersect health, social determinants, and environmental factors, providing an inclusive approach to health research. University-wide, my roles have extended to transformative initiatives, such as serving on the Research Sub Committee C for the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences. This position has enabled me to influence the direction of our faculty's research agenda, ensuring it aligns with both our academic goals and societal needs.
My leadership and management skills have been recognized and awarded, reflecting the impact of my contributions on peers and the wider public. Stellenbosch University Future Professors Programme (SUNRise) and awards from professional societies underscore the value of my service to the academic and wider community.
Read more about more about the SUNRise programme here: https://www.sun.ac.za/english/Lists/news/DispForm.aspx?ID=10547
Leadership and Management Skills and Activities
Leadership and Management Skills and Activities
2024 : Lead, Inclusive Health Research Unit, Division of Health Systems and Public Health, Stellenbosch University (including three research Masters interns)
2024 : Lead, Public Square in Social and Environmental Determinants of Health, Division of Research and Development, Stellenbosch University
2015-2018 : Lead Co-ordinator, Mentorship in Implementation Science Programme as part of the CDC-PEPFAR funded SUCCEED programme, Centre for Evidence Based Health Care
2014-2015 : Senior Research Officer and Manager – Research, Directorate of Social Development and Early Childhood Development, City of Cape Town (8 staff members)
2010-2014 :Head of Research, Pearson Institute of Higher Education (management of nineteen staff members)
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