Philile Mbatha

Dr Philile Mbatha holds a Doctorate in Environmental and Geographical Science from the University of Cape Town. She has been awarded fellowships that include: the David and Elaine Potter Fellowship (2010), the Yale Fox International Fellowship at Yale University (2013-2014), the GreenMatter/Harry Crossley Foundation Fellowship (2013-2015), the Newton Fund/British Council Researcher Links Fellowship at Northumbria University (2016), and the University of Michigan African Presidential Scholars Fellowship at University of Michigan (2019-2020). She is currently a Senior Lecturer in the Environmental and Geographical Science Department at the University of Cape Town and the Deputy Director of One Ocean Hub. Philile has published various peer reviewed outputs and has developed and taught various undergraduate and postgraduate courses, as well as graduated various postgraduate students. She sits on various global and national ocean governance-related advisory committees, including the United Nations Ocean Decade Advisory Board and Department of Forestry Fisheries and the Environment’s National Coastal Committee. She has over 15 years’ experience conducting transdisciplinary research focusing on broader themes of coastal and ocean governance and has been invited to give keynote addresses at various international, regional and national conferences. Philile is actively involved in science-policy processes that facilitate dialogue between governments, the private sector, policy makers and local communities. She has collaborated with various United Nations agencies including United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), as well as the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).