Dr Lwando Mdleleni

Lwando Mdleleni is a policy analyst with extensive experience in academia, research, and community development. He currently works for HSRC as a Senior Research Specialist and a Policy Fellow. Formerly, as Senior Researcher and Senior Lecturer at the University of the Western Cape, he contributed to social innovation for sustainable development. His roles in the Office of the Deputy Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation and the School of Government focused on aligning university-community collaboration with the UN's 2030 and AU's 2063 agendas. He taught governance, public administration, and policy analysis, and has supervised numerous postgraduate students. As the founding member of Zenzeleni Networks, he led impactful research and development projects in rural South Africa. Holding a PhD in Development Studies and Masters in Public Administration, he specializes in e-government and ICT4D policies. Mdleleni is also a prolific scholar, actively publishing and presenting at international conferences.