Renowned CSIR principal researcher Prof. Linda Godfrey, has been appointed on the advisory panel of two international councils on waste, namely; Women of Waste (WOW!) Task Force and The Alliance to End Plastic Waste (Alliance).

Prof. Godfrey has extensive experience in waste and the circular economy in a developing country context, and is currently the Manager of the Waste RDI Roadmap Implementation Unit.

Members to these councils are selected for their knowledge, experience and recognised contributions to the mission to end waste in the environment. They also need to have demonstrated leadership in addressing issues relating to waste management and environmental protection.

In both these councils, Godfrey is the only southern African representative, joining other experts from countries such as Brazil, China, Japan, Norway, Sierra Leone, Thailand and the United States of America.

She says, “As someone who’s passionate about advancing the state of waste management on the continent, unlocking new socio-economic activities while also addressing environmental challenges, I’m honoured to be representing the CSIR and Africa in these global platforms. I’m looking forward to working with my counterparts to make a positive impact in this sector.”

WOW was created by women to advocate and spotlight women’s work and achievements in the circular economy and solid waste management sector. The initiative explores the link between gender and sound waste management and resource recovery systems; improving waste management overall by empowering women in the sector. 

The Alliance is a senior-level, external advisory group that comprises global environmental policy and opinion leaders from governments, intergovernmental organisations, civil society, and academia. Together, they provide expert advice and recommendations to the Alliance on its strategy and priorities.

We wish Prof. Godfrey well on her tenure!