Expert knowledge is needed to protect and manage water, an essential and scarce natural resource. As a relatively dry country, South Africa faces crucial challenges that include insufficient water, water quality problems, inadequate infrastructure and inconsistency in access.
The Water Research Commission (WRC) plays an integral role in enabling the country to address these issues. One of the NWU’s own is now stepping up to play a part in this commission’s important work.
The Minister of Water and Sanitation, Mr Senzo Mchunu, has appointed the NWU’s director for Research Support to the WRC’s board of directors. Prof Nnenesi Kgabi will serve on the board for a term of four years, which started in April 2023. She is one of 10 appointees to the board.
“I feel honoured and excited to serve on the board. This appointment should challenge and encourage researchers in higher education towards impactful research. It is important to not only grow in terms of research outputs but also to strengthen the impact of research within communities and on a national level.”
She expressed her eagerness to contribute towards the entity’s governance and advise on strengthening its water research and innovation solutions that can be applied for the benefit of the nation. Prof Kgabi sees her work on the WRC as an opportunity to lead by example. “When you support researchers, try to create visibility for them and encourage them to conduct impactful research, you have to lead the way.”
A seasoned researcher in water-climate studies, Prof Kgabi is an extraordinary professor in the Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management at the NWU. She previously served as UNESCO Chair on Sustainable Water Research for Climate Adaptation in Arid Environments at the Namibia University of Science and Technology.
Her contributions to the regional and international research community include serving as chairperson of the WaterNet board of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) since November 2022.
Her other contributions include being part of executive and evaluation committees such as the Advisory Board for the UNESCO Chair on Global Understanding for Sustainability located in Germany, the National Science and Technology Forum (NSTF), the Swiss National Science Foundation in Switzerland, and the Southern African Research and Innovation Management Association (SARIMA).
Prof Kgabi holds a BScEd, BScHons and MSc degree from the University of North West, an MA from the University of Birmingham and a PhD from the NWU. She is a professional natural scientist registered with the South African Council for Natural Scientific Professions (SACNASP), and also a member of the Water Institute of Southern Africa (WISA) and the International Association of Hydrological Sciences (IAHS).
She has authored or co-authored more than 80 peer-reviewed publications and supervised at least 35 master’s-degree and doctoral students.
More about the WRC
The WRC was founded in 1971 to address issues of research coordination and strategic direction to identify priority areas for appropriate technology transfer.
Its vision is to promote highly informed water decision-making through science and technology at all levels and to ensure innovative water solutions for South Africa and Africa.
For more information on the Water Research Commission, visit https://www.wrc.org.za/ or learn more about SADC WaterNet by visiting WaterNet (waternetonline.org).
Prof Nnenesi Kgabi
