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Prof Thea van der Westhuizen 💯

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Africa-led innovation took centre stage at the 28th IEASA Annual Conference and the room was packed! 🌍✨
So grateful to share lessons from the Innovation for African Universities programme on a stage that champions a Global South lens.
Huge thanks to Ms Meekness Lunga-Ayidu — Regional Director for Higher Education (Sub-Saharan Africa) at the British Council — who initiated it all, and to co-presenter Ms George Barrett, Country Director of the British Council South Africa 🙌
Thank you, IEASA — a wonderful place to learn and connect — and beautiful Kugompo City for hosting us 💛 by @theavander

5

1

a month ago

Home after a full and rewarding stretch abroad.
London Climate Action Week gathered the global clean energy community, and being part of the Ayrton Fund forum was a real privilege. More than 300 people from 22 countries, all working to drive the clean energy transition across emerging economies. The sessions spoke to work I care deeply about: widening access to clean energy, circular energy economies, and leaving no one behind.
Our REACH-PSM team also joined the UKRI Ayrton Challenge Programme mid-point review to share progress and lessons from the first half of the programme. My work package focuses on Inclusive Co-Design, Community Empowerment, and Overcoming Barriers, so these conversations sit right at the heart of what drives me.
Then on to Swansea University, where the welcome was as warm as the setting. Bay Campus labs, the Active Office, and that beautiful beach. Excited to keep building our collaboration on low-cost solar PV fabrication and entrepreneurship education in the energy transition.
Grateful for the people, the partnerships, and the shared sense of purpose.
#CleanEnergy #ClimateAction #EnergyAccess #REACHPSM #Sustainability #RenewableEnergy #Swansea #UKZN #WomenInSTEM by @theavander

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3 months ago

𝗣𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗱 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗿 𝗺𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 🎓🎓
Two of my PhD candidates graduated from @ukzn, and what makes this extra special is that both combined their academic journeys with entrepreneurial ambition.
𝗗𝗿 Siddharthiya Pillay (PhD in Management) developed a power-based model for the inclusion of informal waste reclaimers as co-innovators in South Africa's recycling systems. Her Waste Recycler Innovation Systems (WRIS) framework, grounded in critical realism and nonduality, offers both policy and practice insights for meaningful inclusion of marginalised communities. Co-supervised by Dr Geoffrey Banda (The University of Edinburgh) and funded by the prestigious The National Research Foundation of South Africa (NRF) SASAC grant, Dr Pillay is now channelling her expertise into a social innovation venture in waste management.
𝗗𝗿 Sipho Twala (PhD in Entrepreneurship) built a DEA-based model measuring the efficiency of entrepreneurial activity and its impact on GDP at provincial level across South Africa. His work challenges the one-size-fits-all approach to entrepreneurship policy, showing that interventions must be tailored to provincial realities. Dr Twala has been building his own small businesses alongside his studies, embodying the very spirit his research examines.
What makes me most proud is not just their academic contributions, but that both chose to put theory into practice along the way.
Congratulations, Dr Pillay and Dr Twala 👏

#PhDGraduation #UKZN #UKZNGrad2026 #Inspired2032 #LoveMyUKZN by @theavander

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5 months ago

Energising the innovation ecosystem ✨An extraordinary gathering at The Caputal, Sandton, as the @britishcouncil 's Innovation for African Universities programme brought together student innovators, academics, and ecosystem builders from across the continent.
As South African Community of Practice Lead, it was a privilege to facilitate a design thinking session where delegates co-created the future of our community. The energy in the room was incredible.
Student teams from Nelson Mandela University , the University of Zululand, and the University of the Witwatersrand presented bold, contextualised innovation projects. Colleagues from Strathmore University and Imperial College London added a powerful international lens.
More connection. More collaboration. More learning from one another. This is just the beginning 🌍 @southernafricaarts h
.
.
#InnovationForAfricanUniversities #IAU #UniteToGrow #BritishCouncil #CommunityOfPractice by @theavander

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6 months ago

Smiles, stoke and ready for new chapter in Grade 000 🎉✨ by @theavander

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8 months ago

As the year turns, I’m reminded that the greatest joys are often in our daily blessings ✨
Wishing you a peaceful and enjoyable new year 🤍 by @theavander

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9 months ago

Wishing you a peaceful Christmas and time well spent with those close to you 🎄✨

#christmas #festiveseason2025 peace #grateful #yearendreflections by @theavander

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9 months ago

In #Durban Santa comes on a boat 🎄🎅🌞😎🏖️

@durbanunderseaclub @dsbc_durbanskiboatclub
#summer #beachvibes by @theavander

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9 months ago

📣 Looking forward to the national launch of the EDHE ABSA Innovation Challenge 2025!

This initiative continues to ignite entrepreneurial thinking and sustainable innovation across South African universities. As someone passionate about developing youth entrepreneurship and shaping innovation ecosystems, I’m excited to witness the next wave of bold ideas and student-led ventures.

📺 Join the live broadcast and be inspired by what's possible when education, innovation, and industry converge:🔗 https://youtube.com/live/MCFfwi3L1L0?feature=share

#EDHEAbsaInnovationChallenge #EntrepreneurshipSustainability #InnovationLeadership #StudentEntrepreneurs

@edheentrepreneurship
@ntsiki_mkhize Ntsiki
@ukzn by @theavander

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0

a year ago

Gelukkige Vadersdag en Oupa dag 💖 Ons is baie lief vir Pa/Oupa. Baie dankie vir Pa en liefde. Ook, dankie vir super georganiseerd wees en beste wildspesie 😍💃💖
Philip Van der Westhuizen
Philip Van der Westhuizen
Betsie van der Westhuizen
Elsabe van Der Westhuizen by @theavander

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a year ago

Year Three of our Little Big Adventure was simply memorable ✨. Happy third birthday to our darling Emma 🎂🧜‍♀️🦄! We combined her mermaid and unicorn-themed party with our housewarming 🏡, and it was very special to be surrounded by amazing friends and loved ones 💕. Seeing everyone come together to celebrate reminded me how precious the friendships of caring people truly are 🥰. What a wonderful day filled with joy, laughter and celebration 🎉!

📸 @_aureliaphotography_
🎂 @taimur_gourmet.dalgonacoffee
🧘‍♀️ @omtots_sa by @theavander

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2

a year ago

Gelukkige Moedersdag Ma en Ouma. Baie dankie vir die oneindige liefde, omgee, ondersteuning en versorg. Ons is baie lief vir Ma 💞💞💕💕🥰🌹🌸🌺🌷💐🌻

Betsie van der Westhuizen
Philip Van der Westhuizen
Philip Van der Westhuizen
Elsabe van Der Westhuizen by @theavander

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a year ago