Mapula Tshangela
Biography
Dr Mapula Tshangela's research interests include sustainability transitions, transdisciplinary research methods, green economy, technology and innovation, and science-policy interface. Dr Tshangela was a Steering Group member of the Sustainability Transitions Research Network (STRN) between 2020 and 2023- A global network of sustainability transitions scholars. She is a member of the STRN Global South and science-policy interface thematic groups. She participated in the Transformative Innovation Policy Consortium (TIPC) South Africa launch in 2017 and subsequent policy experiments. Mapula holds an Honours and a Masters in Technology and Innovation Management from the University of Pretoria, Graduate School of Technology Management. She completed her PhD with Stellenbosch University, Centre for Sustainability Transitions, focusing on sustainability transitions and policy change dynamics in South Africa between 2002 and 2024.Dr Mapula Tshangela is the Director of Climate Change Mitigation Sector Plan Implementation at the South African National Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environmental Affairs (DFFE) since 2018. Her areas of responsibility include management of industry climate change greenhouse gas mitigation plans and regulations, technical support to provinces and local governments on implementing climate change response plans, and collaborations in education and gender initiatives on climate change mitigation. Between 2007 and 2018, Dr Tshangela held positions of Senior Policy Advisor: National Sustainable Development and Green Economy; and Director: Cabinet and Cluster. Before joining the DFFE in 2007, Dr Tshangela worked at the Eskom power stations: Kendal and Lethabo, Distribution and Head Office positions between 1997 and 2007 in areas including environmental sustainability performance reporting; environmental impact assessment; environmental, waste, air quality and pollution management; water cycle chemistry; laboratory chemical analysis and quality control systems.
