Prof Ernest Nene Khalema, PhD, is a full professor of development studies with a B.A. G Dip Ed., MED & PhD (Sociology) from the University of Alberta (Canada). He currently serves the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) in South Africa as a Deputy Vice Chancellor and Head of the College of Law and Management Studies. He is a former Dean and Head of School of Built Environment and Development Studies (2017-2024) at UKZN and simultaneously served the same university as an acting Dean of the School of Applied Human Sciences (2020). Before joining UKZN, Professor Khalema spent a decade at various Canadian universities (2001–2011) with his last post as an Assistant Professor of Social Work at the University of Calgary (2005-2011). Prof Khalema further served as Adjunct Professor of Public Health at the University of Alberta’s School of Public Health (2012-2018). A critical sociologist, development specialist, and mixed methodologist his research focuses on the sociopolitical economy of development, migrant integration, critical youth studies, sexual reproductive health and rights, new urbanism, and social epidemiology just to name a few. Additionally, he has held various positions in the research community including serving South Africa’s Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) as a Senior Research Specialist and later promoted to Chief Research Scientist/Specialist (2011–2016), where his pioneering work on global migration, gender equity, urban demography, and informality studies earned widespread recognition both nationally and internationally. Prof Khalema sits on several high impact academic journal editorial boards and serves in various organisations both locally and internationally as a board member.  He has an extensive publication record, comprising 10 books, over 70 refereed articles in accredited journals and books, 40 technical research reports, 4 policy briefs, as well as contributions to more than 80 academic papers and 25 posters presented at conferences locally and globally. His numerous awards in teaching, research, leadership, and community service highlight his commitment and contributions to human development, inclusivity, and implementation science, with UKZN recognising him among its top 30 researchers. His leadership of more than 30 interdisciplinary, multiyear, and multi-country research projects, with secured funding exceeding R60 million, underscores his exceptional capacity to drive impactful research and engagement that advances responsive human development interventions across the life-course, policy directives that impact praxis, and community empowerment and transformation.