WHO
WE ARE

Professor William Mitsch, is a world-renowned environmental scientist and ecological engineer who has made significant contributions to wetland ecology and ecosystem regeneration. He has published over 500 scientific papers and 18 books on these topics, and his research has been cited over 40,000 times. He is a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and the Society of Wetland Scientists and has received numerous awards for his contributions to science and the environment, including the prestigious Stockholm Water Prize. Professor Mitsch is currently the Director of the Everglades Wetland Research Park at Florida Gulf Coast University, where he has been a professor since 2012. Before that, he was the Olentangy River Wetland Research Park Director at Ohio State University for over 20 years. He has also held faculty positions at the University of Louisville, the University of Florida, and the University of Georgia. Throughout his career, Professor Mitsch has been a champion for wetland conservation and restoration, and his work has had a profound impact on the field of ecology and ecological engineering. His research has helped inform policies and management practices worldwide, and his contributions have been instrumental in protecting and preserving wetlands and other important ecosystems for future generations.

Prof Oberholster began his scientific research career at the CSIR in 2007, assuming the position of Senior Scientist. In 2017, he was appointed as Chief Scientist, overseeing large multidisciplinary projects focused on integrated water resource management and natural-based treatment solutions, with a specific emphasis on ecological engineering across the African continent. During this period, Prof Oberholster also served as an Extra-ordinary Professor and lecturer at the University of Stellenbosch, University of Pretoria, and the University of the Western Cape.

In 2019, Prof Oberholster joined the University of the Free State as Director of the Centre of Environmental. His contributions and achievements in the field of water research were recognized in 2021 when he received the National Science and Technology Foundation (NSTF) award in the category of Water Research Commission, particularly for his work on natural-based passive treatment technology.

The year 2022 marked another significant milestone in Prof Oberholster's career where he was elected as a member of the Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf), acknowledging his outstanding academic accomplishments in the country.

At present, Prof Oberholster holds a distinguished position, being rated among the top 2% of researchers worldwide in the scientific categories of engineering/technology and ecological engineering. His expertise, accolades, and contributions to ecological engineering and environmental research continue to make a profound impact in the field, both nationally and internationally.

Dr. Nukpezah is a Senior Research Fellow at the Institute for Environment and Sanitation Studies (IESS), University of Ghana (UG). He supervises graduate students and also teaches several courses at the graduate level including Sustainability & Industrial Ecology, Water Resource Management, Water Governance for Sustainability and Disaster, Environment & Risk Reduction. Further, his research areas are in circular economy development pathways; low-carbon technologies adoption in developing countries; climate change adaptation; environmental governance; ecosystem-based disaster risk mitigation, and management. Some of Dr. Nukpezah's past and current research interests include phytoremediation of sewage effluent using selected aquatic plants; addressing wastewater challenges using an African bio-resource (African species of vetiver grass) and the use of ecotechnology in restoring degraded freshwater systems. Dan has consulted for several organisations, including Grid-Arendal, an agency of the Norwegian Ministry of Environment on wastewater treatment and sanitation provisioning in Africa; Institute for Water Education (IHE, Delft, Netherlands), Tax Policy Unit of the Ministry of Finance (Ghana), Centre for African Wetlands (CAW, Ghana) and the Water Resources Commission (WRC) of Ghana. He served as a member of the National Technical Committee on Quality, Environmental and Occupational Health Management Systems of Ghana Standard Authority in 2016. He contributed to the State of the Ghana Environment Report for the Ghana Environmental Protection Agency in 2016 and 2017. In 2018, he provided expert knowledge pro bono on Water Law and Policy to the World Bank Group's Enabling the Business of Agriculture (EBA) 2019 report. He is the Deputy Editor of the West African Journal of Applied Ecology. He has authored/co-authored over sixty (60) scholarly publications. Dr. Nukpezah is a strong advocate for the circular economy in Ghana and a steering committee member of the circular economy club, Accra. He holds degrees from the University of Ghana (B.Sc, MPhil), Brandenburg Technology University in Cottbus, Germany (M.Sc and PhD), and Blekinge Institute of Technology in Sweden (MBA).

Dr. Ragen is a Senior Lecturer at the University of Mauritius and a PhD holder in the field of Environmental Engineering. He has 17 years of experience in lecturing and research in the field of environmental engineering and management with an emphasis on wastewater engineering. He was twice the Head of the Chemical & Environmental Engineering department. He started his career as an Assistant Chemist in a sugar factory for one year. Subsequently, he worked as Technical Officer for 11 years at the Mauritius Sugar Industry Research Institute, where he was involved in research and troubleshooting in sugar cane processing, auditing of sugar factory laboratories, and water pollution control in sugar factories. He is also a Registered Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Consultant. His research interest in wastewater engineering is in the area of constructed wetlands for the treatment of household greywater. He holds an MSc in Environmental Engineering and a BSc (Hons.) in Sugar Technology.

Professor Muchuweti, Executive Dean of the Faculty of Science at the University of Zimbabwe has brought about transformational change during her over ten-years tenure as Dean, with notable accomplishments, some of which include: the establishment of the Faculty of Science Innovation Center (FASIC); leading the establishment of a Center of Excellence in Sustainable Food Systems at the University of Zimbabwe, an initiative funded by the World Bank; rand the redesigning the Faculty of Science curricula to provide more comprehensive skills like critical thinking and problem-solving. Professor Muchuweti was previously Chairperson of the Department of Biochemistry, a role she advanced to after having been a Lecturer in the department for several years. As a Biochemist, her highly successful research has focused on the medico-nutritional properties and utilisation of indigenous foods, biological natural products, and the analysis of polysaccharides in wild plants for their use in industrial applications. She has received numerous grants and funding for her research. The W.K. Kellogg Foundation, the Norwegian Development Agency (NORAD), and the United Nations Universities Institute of Natural Resources in Africa (UNU-INRA), are some of the organisations and institutions that have provided funding for her research projects.   In addition, Professor Muchuweti has successfully partnered with the industry to commercialise her research and innovation. She is a member of several professional organisations, including the Zimbabwe Academy of Sciences. A passionate champion and advocate for advancing girls and women in science, Dr Muchuweti has highlighted the need for mentorship programs for female scientists in Africa, particularly those in rural areas.

Professor Ranya Aly Amer is a distinguished environmental microbiology and biotechnology expert serving as a professor at the City of Scientific Research and Technological Applications (SRTA-City) in Egypt. She holds a Ph.D. in environmental microbiology from Alexandria University and an MBA from ESLSCA. Her expertise revolves around water and wastewater management, focusing on nature-based solutions and bioremediation. Beyond her academic roles, Professor Aly Amer is an accomplished editor-in-chief of the journal 'Circular Economy and Sustainability' and an associate editor of 'Environmental Science and Pollution Research'. Her significant contributions extend to numerous international projects and networks, spanning water quality, ecotoxicology, and integrated water management. As one of the presidents of the Youth League under the China Africa Water Association, she actively fosters cooperation and collaboration among young water professionals from China and Africa. Her influential research has led to the publishing of over 50 papers in peer-reviewed journals and conferences. Some of her prominent projects related to ecological engineering include ecotoxicological assessment for small-scale wastewater treatment in rural communities (AFROMONITOX), industrial waste remediation (WIPER), international postgraduate studies in environmental management and sustainability for Mediterranean countries (ENVIPRO-Med), Socio-Economic Approach for Integrated Water Management in Rural Areas (SoWat), and the study of biodegradation of organic pollutants in Lake Mariout's sediment under varying redox conditions. Professor Ranya Aly Amer's dedication and expertise have made her a leading figure in the field, propelling advancements in environmental sciences and sustainable water management.

Dr. Stefanakis is an Assistant Professor at the School of Environmental Engineering, Technical University of Crete in Greece. He is also Visiting Professor at the German University of Technology in Oman and Regional Coordinator for Africa and the Middle East for the 'Wetlands for Water Pollution Control' Specialist Group of the International Water Association. He is the current President of the International; Ecological Engineering Society. He is Editor-in-Chief of the journal' Circular Economy and Sustainability', and Associate Editor of the journal' Environmental Science and Pollution Research'. He is an environmental engineer and researcher focusing on water engineering, specifically nature-based solutions and ecological engineering. He is an expert on sustainable and decentralised water and wastewater treatment systems. He has designed, managed, and constructed several wastewater treatment facilities across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, USA and South America. Previously, he worked as a researcher and lecturer at the University of Brighton in the UK, the University of Beira Interior in Portugal, the Helmholtz Center for Environmental Research – UFZ in Germany, and the Democritus University of Thrace in Greece. His publication record includes articles in international scientific journals and conference proceedings, as well as two books and several book chapters. He is also the co-editor of an upcoming two-volume work on Circular Economy that covers its multiple aspects from business and policy to engineering and society by 202 contributors from academia, industry, business and the policy-making environment and practice. He is known internationally as an enthusiast of green technologies for water management and reuse, always trying to promote and disseminate such technologies and transfer his knowledge to young engineers and students.

Professor Nowbuth is an Associate Professor from the University of Mauritius. Following her training in Civil Engineering, she specialised in the water sector, particularly numerical modeling. She has more than 25 years of work experience as an academic and has been involved in program design and skills development for both undergraduate and postgraduate students in civil engineering. Her research interests are related to the sustainable development of water resources and the impacts of climate change. She is actively involved in regional initiatives, such as WaterNet, WARFSANEPAD and the Global Water Partnership, Southern Africa, and leads several research multi-disciplinary projects at national levels. As a representative of the University of Mauritius in national and regional committees, she has contributed nationally on issues related to the water sector, environmental protection, coastal zone management and disaster risk reduction.

Yolandi Schoeman is an ecological engineer who has dedicated her professional journey to investigating and demonstrating the feasibility of establishing bio-intelligent and functional ecosystems to promote global well-being through ecological engineering. Her involvement with charting a new course for Africa began in 2006 at the Stellenbosch University when she was invited to join the Brightest Young Minds initiative. This opportunity led her to contribute to a book chapter titled "Engineering Engineering" for the initiative and played a pivotal role in the development of the academic field of Ecological Engineering in Africa. Yolandi has gained international recognition as a prominent figure in the domains of Ecological Engineering and Sustainability. She has spearheaded innovative projects, formulated corporate strategies, and engaged in post-normal research on a global scale, including in regions such as Russia, Australia, Africa, the United Kingdom, and United States of America. In 2014, Yolandi took the initiative to establish the Ecological Engineering Institute of Africa, fostering collaboration with esteemed academic leaders from across the African continent and around the world. Her groundbreaking innovations and research have earned her numerous accolades and international acclaim. Notably, she emerged as the overall winner of the 2016 Global Cleantech Innovation Program-SA Program and achieved global runner-up status in the Global Cleantech Innovation Program in Silicon Valley, San Francisco in the same year. Her research contributions have also been published in prestigious international journals, and she has presented her findings at distinguished international conferences. Yolandi was invited to participate in the 2017 Austrian Leadership Program in recognition of her applied research and innovative endeavours. Yolandi's academic journey includes the completion of a Ph.D. at the University of the Free State (UFS) in 2022. Currently, she is in the final stages of completing a second Ph.D. in Economic and Management Sciences at North-West University (NWU) in 2023. Additionally, she leads two Innovation Labs and manages two companies specializing in the regeneration and restoration of ecosystems through ecological engineering. Notably, she is at the helm of a groundbreaking global financial institution dedicated to the preservation of nature—an unprecedented endeavour.