Fellows Profile

Received Sylff fellowship in 2025
Academic supervisor : Prof Osden Jokonya
Current affiliation: PhD Candidate

I am a PhD candidate in the Information Systems department at the University of the Western Cape and a holder of a Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Cape Peninsula University of Technology. My research interests are in the integration of digital technologies and smart agriculture to optimize food production, maximize resources and minimize losses. By focusing on the development of an IoT- as-a-service adoption framework to reduce post-harvest losses in smallholder farmers, my doctoral research directly contributes to achieving the UN SDG2 (Zero hunger) and addresses a deeply urgent and globally relevant challenge of food security. I am also passionate about developing the younger generation of academics and researchers. Hence, I have worked as a mentor, part-time lecturer, undergraduate supervisor and research assistant. I am currently a postgraduate coach at the Research Development and Postgraduate Support (RDPS) department at the University of the Western Cape where I support students in strengthening their research skills, building academic confidence and navigating their postgraduate studies. I enjoy mentorship and view it as a way of giving back to the community that shaped my journey.