Professor Wilson Akpan, a Ford Foundation Scholar and social justice advocate, is the Head of the Directorate of Research Development and Innovation. He is a well-published and globally cited research social scientist, public commentator and former two-term President of the South African Sociological Association (SASA). He has previously served as Acting Dean of Research, Deputy Dean for Research and Internationalisation (Social Sciences and Humanities), and Director of School of Social Sciences at Fort Hare University – where he won the Vice-Chancellor’s Research Medal (Senior Category). Deputy Chairperson of the South African National Research Output Review Panel (Social Sciences) and of Higher Education Reform Group (HERE-SA), Akpan has an abiding interest in researching and publishing on social-ecological systems and sustainability, health and wellness, and knowledge futures. He is keenly interested in how different knowledge systems interface in the articulation and shaping of responses to society's challenges, including challenges of managing research and innovation in the higher education sphere. He has (guest-)edited and contributed to books and journal special issues on the themes of environment, natural resources, indigenous knowledge, community engagement, population dynamics, international higher education, and popular culture. In the last few years, Akpan has dedicated himself to promoting and supporting research that not only tackles the many difficult questions confronting humanity, but particularly innovation-focused research that seeks lasting solutions to the myriad problems that undermine human happiness and threaten human survival, especially in Africa.

Dr C Dapira is currently working as a Manager for Research and Postgraduate support at Walter Sisulu University, Mthatha Campus. She is responsible for managing, coordinating and reporting on all activities pertaining research administration and postgraduate support. Her oversight areas include research output, grants, staff and postgraduate research capacity-building, postdoctoral fellowships, research ethics, and research information management. Her portfolio also includes liaising with internal (university) stakeholders and external grant-making, standards-setting and research management organisations and networks.

Ms Nomafu Sigodi is responsible for administrative support to the Directorate. Her areas of administrative responsibility include research output, grants, research-associated study activities, research events organising, and researcher training.

Dr N Dyantyi is Manager: Research and Postgraduate Support at Walter Sisulu University, Butterworth Campus. She manages and coordinates all activities pertaining to research administration and postgraduate support at the Campus, where she reports to the Campus Rector and is a member of the Campus Management Committee. At the institutional level, she assists the Senior Director: Research and Innovation in the administration of Research Niches, Research Ethics and specific research and innovation projects within the UCDP. As an NRF Designated Authority at WSU, she helps in the coordination of NRF-related administration activities, and in the administration of research information management systems. She is involved with research standards administration and knowledge dissemination, and liaises with research management organisations and networks.

Dr Mpumelelo Nkomo manages the operations of the Office of Technology Transfer (OTT) and leading the strategic direction of the IP management function along with the execution of technology transfer projects from WSU research and innovation initiatives. This also extends to providing support to the WSU researchers, innovators, and entrepreneurs towards sourcing of external funding, and facilitating relationships between researchers, innovators, entrepreneurs, and industry. Managing such third party partnerships and ensuring development and growth of WSU’s innovation and IP portfolio.

Mr Siyabonga Mantanga is responsible for Intellectual Property (IP) scouting at WSU. Creating IP awareness and capacity building. He also facilitates stakeholder engagement and provides technology and innovation capacity building support at all WSU campuses.

Miss Asipe Kenene is responsible for increasing WSU IP Policy through scouting activities, Improve and maintain high IP Awareness in all WSU campuses. Identifying and initiating the process of research and innovation into the Technology Transfer Value chain. Administrative and logistical support relating to the OTT team.

Mr Siyabonga Faku is responsible for administration support in the Research Directorate. His areas of administrative responsibility include: Facilitating the timeous dissemination of information from the NRF to potential applicants, serving as Designated Authority (DA) to quality-assure NRF applications, and administering all NRF-linked grants and bursaries.

Buyiselwa's responsibility is to provide comprehensive secretarial and administrative assistance to the Senor Director. Her areas of administrative responsibility include: general and office administration, document management, client liaison, assistance in procurement processes within the Directorate, and processing of conference applications.

Mr Mzingeli is currently working as Research Finance Officer within the Directorate. His portfolio involves assisting researchers and postgraduate students with the administration of the financial support from internal and external research grants such as University Capacity Development Grant, TIA Seed Fund and Council-approved grants. He also provides financial administration support for the entire Directorate, and thus serves as a link between the Directorate, Finance Department of the University and grant beneficiaries.

Mr L Gwebelele has previously acted as Higher Education Management Information System (HEMIS) Officer in Institutional Research & Planning Directorate, WSU. He currently serves as Senior Administration Officer: Postgraduate Studies, responsible for key administrative services that support postgraduate students and supervisors. These include quality assurance, postgraduate admissions, assessment administration, postgraduate students funding, supervisor-development programmes, supervision support and postgraduate tracking. Mr Gwebelele’s portfolio includes interfacing with Deans, the Registrars Division, and prospective postgraduate students.

Mr Lwandle holds a National Diploma in Information Technology (Software Development) from the Durban University of Technology. Currently, he is working as a Lab Technician at the postgraduate laboratory. He provides assistance to postgraduate students regarding research-related software.

Mr Zukisa Pato holds a National Diploma in Office Management and Technology from Walter Sisulu University and Certificate in Business Management from Esayidi College. He has worked as an Assistant Administrator at the Department of Education. Though working as Temporary Senior Secretary, Mr Pato provides administration support to the Directorate and the entire research community at WSU.

Miss Vuyokazi Nibe is responsible for providing administrative support in the Office of Technology Transfer (OTT). Her administrative areas include: processing inquiries from researchers and innovators as well as requisitions in the OTT. The main key performance areas are client liaison, document management, and coordination of office events.