Prof Sijekula Mbanga is an Associate Professor, a Programme Leader for the Human Settlements Studies, a Member of the Research Group on Environmental Stewardship and Sustainable Livelihoods and the Chair for Sustainable Human Settlements and at the Nelson Mandela University, in South Africa. He holds a PhD in Public Administration, with his thesis focusing on integrated development planning, obtained from the previous Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University. This is the same institution where he completed his Masters’ degree in Administration (Cum Laude) with distinctions in Advanced Project Management, Advanced Public Policy Analysis and 100% pass in Integrated Development Planning modules. Sijekula is a registered and active member of SAAPAM, SAMEA, GISSA and SAPI. His research interests include: integrated approaches to development management, sustainable livelihoods, spatial transformation and urbanism, green settlements and neighbourhoods, human settlements policies and systems, local government capacity, and indigenous knowledge systems in infrastructure development. Sijekula spans a wealth of industry experience and has worked in a number of public sector organisations. Before joining the Nelson Mandela University he has held senior management positions in the Eastern Cape Departments of Roads and Public Works, Office of the Premier, Housing Local Government and Traditional Affairs and Human Settlements in South Africa. Sijekula, currently serves in university committees and South African national government Advisory Committees, including the DST/CSIR Advisory Committee on Science and Technology Innovations for Sustainable Human Settlements, South African Reference Group on the New Urban Agendas, the Southern African Cities Academic Network, the South Africa /Swedish Universities Forum Advisory Committee on Urbanisation and 21st Century Cities, the NAHRO – USA International Housing Research and Exchange Forum, the World Bank Inclusive Development Network, the Society for Housing Professionals in Africa.. Sijekula is not only an academic but a purpose-driven community development activist that is critical of societal order where a naturally resourced economy sits side by with abject poverty, malnutrition and homelessness. Sjekula thrives in research that transcends sectors and disciplines due to his strong conviction that no single sector or discipline holds a solution to complex societal problems, and that trans-disciplinary and multi-agency approaches are prone to yield sustainable outcomes. Sijekula is a devout Christian, married to Buyelwa, and they are blessed with two daughters and two grandsons.