North-West University (NWU) extraordinary professor Linda Godfrey has been elected as an International Fellow of the prestigious Royal Academy of Engineering (RAEng) in the United Kingdom.

This is the second key role she has had within the ambit of the RAEng. For the past four years, Prof Godfrey has served on the Board of the Academy’s Safer End of Engineered Life Programme, which aims to improve safety in the decommissioning of engineering products, structures and infrastructure.

In that capacity, she saw “first-hand how the Academy has harnessed engineering capability to move the conversation forward on important issues facing society. It’s an honour to have been elected a Fellow of Academy,” says Prof Godfrey.

A principal scientist at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Prof Godfrey joins a newly elected cohort of 74 global leaders in engineering and technology, including 60 fellows, nine international fellows and five honorary fellows. The new group represents expertise across the energy, defence, materials science and sustainable development sectors.

Recognised for advancing the circular economy

As one of only nine international fellows recognised following the Academy’s Annual General Meeting on 23 September this year, Prof Godfrey’s election is a testament to her significant contributions to advancing the circular economy, particularly within the context of developing countries.

With a PhD in engineering from the University of KwaZulu-Natal, she has spent over two decades helping to shape South Africa’s waste-related science, technology and innovation, and has led the CSIR’s research on the circular economy in various resource-intensive sectors of the economy.

In addition to her research, she manages Circular Innovation South Africa (CISA), an initiative of the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation, tasked to give effect to South Africa’s Circular Economy Science, Technology and Innovation Strategy (2024-2034).

At the NWU’s Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, she lectures on waste management and the circular economy, equipping future leaders with the knowledge to drive sustainable solutions.

New fellows head for London in November

Reflecting on the new cohort’s significance, Royal Academy of Engineering President Sir John Lazar said: “Today’s cohort joins a community of around 1 700 of some of the most talented engineers and innovators in the UK and around the globe. Their knowledge and experience make them uniquely well placed to tackle the biggest challenges facing the world, and our determination to advance and promote excellence in engineering remains undimmed.”

Prof Godfrey and the other new fellows will be formally admitted during a ceremony in London in November 2025, where each will sign the Academy’s roll book.

Her election not only recognises her pioneering work in advancing sustainable development and circular economy solutions but also reflects the NWU’s growing contribution to global engineering innovation.