Sepo Hachigonta is the Executive Manager of Strategic Partnerships, Networking and Resourcing at the National Research Foundation (NRF). He holds a master’s and doctoral degree in Environmental Science from the University of Cape Town. His research interests are in transdisciplinary fields as well as Africa’s science, technology and innovation policy landscape. Sepo has played a key role in developing and supporting the higher education and research ecosystem in South Africa and the region. In additional to spearheading NRF’s bilateral and multilateral partnerships, he has led several initiatives aimed at addressing current global challenges through various programmes, including the Southern African Systems Analysis Centre, a multi-year initiative that takes cognisance of multi-level systems analysis capacity interventions, and a comprehensive approach to policy-related activities in Africa. He has been instrumental in spearheading South Africa’s participation in regional and international bodies, including the Science Granting Council Initiative, the International Science Council and the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis. He has published widely and authored, co-authored and edited more than 60 books and articles. He has extensive networks on the continent, having worked with partners in more than 20 African
countries. His expertise includes stakeholder engagement with the public and private sectors: networking, cultivating and nurturing strategic partnerships across the continent, globe and sectors.