Pleased to introduce you to Sikhalazo Dube, from Zimbabwe who will take up the position of Regional Representative for Southern Africa based in Harare, Zimbabwe, beginning 1 November 2014.

Sikhalazo is a full professor and until recently was a Research Team Manager: Rangelands Management and Forage Program at the Agricultural Research Council (ARC)-Animal Production Institute (API), Pretoria, South Africa. Prior to joining ARC, he was a Senior Scientist (Ecosystems Modeling) at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) in Pretoria in the Global Change and Ecosystems Dynamics Research Group. Sikalazo has extensive experience in research and training at all levels (farmers, tertiary and further education). His research, student supervision and policy inputs focus on rangelands ecology and gender: the dialogue between science, resources users and policy formulators, development of decision support tools and mapping of resources in light of a changing world. He has participated in South African Development Community (SADC) in the review of the Regional Agriculture Policy; served as a consultant for a number of national and international organizations. He is a trainer at Women Organizing for Change in Agriculture and Natural Resources (WOCAN) Pretoria, South Africa. He is a trustee, member and former President of the Grassland Society of Southern Africa. His publications include over 40 articles in scientific journals, proceedings, books and chapters in books as well as several technical reports. Sikhalazo holds a Ph.D. in Rangeland Ecology and Management from Texas A&M University, College Station.

Sikhalazo will participate in ILRI@40 in Addis Ababa on 6, 7 November and will spend some time in Nairobi and Addis later in November/December in order to get to know ILRI.

Please join me in welcoming Sikhalazo to ILRI!

Shirley

Email: s.tarawali@cgiar.org