The Engaged Research Conference 2025 is guided by a diverse and accomplished Scientific Committee composed of leading scholars, practitioners, and thought leaders from across the African continent and beyond. This multidisciplinary team brings together expertise spanning public health, social sciences, community development, science communication, education, economics, environmental studies, ethics, and policy engagement.
Members of the committee represent universities, research councils, and civil society organisations, and many have extensive experience in both academic research and applied work with communities, governments, and international development partners. Collectively, they bring decades of experience in advancing socially responsive, participatory, and impactful research.
The Committee comprises: Prof. Elizabeth Lubinga (University of Johannesburg), Diana Hornby (Rhodes University, Community Engagement Division), Dr Palesa Sekhejane (Walter Sisulu University, Deputy Dean: Natural Sciences), Dr Marina Joubert (Stellenbosch University, CREST), Dr Tebogo Mabotha (ASSAF), Dr Plaxcedes Chiwire (Western Cape Department of Health), and Dr Timothy K. Stanton (Ravensong Associates); as well as Dr Konosoang Sobane, Prof. Charles Hongoro, Dr Wilfred Lunga, Diana Sanchez, Dr Lucky Ditaunyane, Dr Mokhantšo Makoae, Dr Sara Naicker, Dr Tholang Mokhele, Dr Lwando Mdleleni, Dr Mercy Ngungu, Dr Mmakotsedi Magampa, Dr Kwanele Qonono, Dr Mokhantšo Makoae, and Bongiwe Moni, all of the HSRC.
Scientific Committee Bios
Dr Mokhantšo Makoae
Research Director, HSRC
Dr Makoae has extensive experience leading qualitative research across the SADC region on topics including HIV vulnerability, climate change, gender, and disability. Her work, commissioned by governments, UN agencies, the EU, and philanthropic organisations, has informed policy development and evaluation.
Dr Plaxcedes Chiwire
Deputy Director: Health Intelligence, Western Cape Department of Health
With over 12 years of experience in health economics, Dr Chiwire has worked with international organisations such as the Global Fund, UNAIDS, USAID, GIZ, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, supporting African countries in strengthening health financing systems. She is Chairperson of the Costing Committee at the South African Council of Medical Schemes and has lectured at the University of Cape Town.
Dr Charles Hongoro
Senior Research Director, HSRC
Dr Hongoro is an Extraordinary Professor of health economics, systems, and policy at the School of Health Systems and Public Health at the University of Pretoria. His research interests include sustainable human security, climate change, public health, especially health economics, systems, and policy research, science translation, and impact evaluations. He has published widely over the years.
Ms Bongiwe Moni
Director for External Capacity Development & Internships, HSRC
Ms Moni leads the HSRC’s initiatives addressing youth and graduate unemployment through evidence-based interventions such as internships and capacity development programmes, contributing to its societal impact agenda. Her research focuses on youth labour market access, unemployment, poverty, inequality, and skills development, as well as moral regeneration, ethics, and governance.
Dr Marina Joubert
Associate professor, Stellenbosch University
Dr Joubert leads the Public Engagement Lab at the Centre for Research on Evaluation, Science and Technology (CREST). After two decades in science communication practice, she joined academia in 2015 to develop a teaching and research programme on public communication of science. Her research explores scientists’ roles in public engagement, science in the media, ethics of science communication, and online science-society interactions. She collaborates on international projects, serves as deputy editor of JCOM, and is an honorary lifetime member of the global PCST Network.
Dr Lucky Ditaunyane
Acting Chief Operating Officer, HSRC
Dr Ditaunyane is a seasoned corporate communications specialist with more than three decades of experience in the private and public sectors. He has served in various organisations at middle and senior management levels. With a career dedicated to corporate communications and public relations, his expertise spans a diverse range of domains: diverse sector experience, strategic communication, science communication, crisis communication, media liaison, stakeholder relations, digital marketing, and corporate branding.
Timothy K. Stanton, PhD
Senior Engaged Scholar with Ravensong Associates
Dr Stanton is a consultant in community-engaged scholarship across the US, Africa, and Asia. At Stanford University, he led the Bing Overseas Studies Programme in Cape Town, co-founded the Community Health concentration at the medical school, and directed the Haas Center for Public Service. He has served as a Fulbright Specialist with the HSRC and advised South Africa’s Community-Higher Education-Service Partnerships (CHESP) programme. He co-authored the Research University Engaged Scholarship Toolkit and has published widely on service-learning. He holds a PhD in human and organisation systems from Fielding Graduate University.
Dr Tholang Mokhele
Manager, Geospatial Computing and Analytics, HSRC
Dr Mokhele manages the Geospatial Computing and Analytics Sub-unit of the eResearch Knowledge Unit at the HSRC. He holds PhD in Environmental Science (GIS) and MSc in Environmental Science (Remote Sensing) (Cum Laude) both from the University of KwaZulu-Natal. He is NRF Rated Researcher. Dr Mokhele has more than 15 years of experience in geospatial analytics and data analytics in social and health sciences research. Dr Mokhele’s publication record spans the authoring and co-authoring of more than 60 peer-reviewed journal articles, books, book chapters, conference proceedings and policy briefs.
