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
Dr Phumla Dlamini is a social justice advocate, technology researcher, and development practitioner based in Gqeberha, Eastern Cape. She holds a PhD in Physics (Optical Fibre Research), an MSc in Physics (Cum Laude), a BSc Honours in Physics, and a BSc in Materials Development (Physics & Chemistry) from Nelson Mandela University. Her interdisciplinary expertise bridges technology, science, and community development, with a focus on ICT-enabled solutions for agriculture, aquaponics monitoring, maritime cybersecurity, and youth-centered digital innovation. With over five years of experience spanning research, innovation, and community engagement, her work sits at the intersection of applied science, social impact, and youth empowerment. Her expertise includes sensor-based monitoring systems, Internet of Things (IoT) prototyping, remote sensing integration, data analytics, digital literacy training, and mHealth interventions for gender-based violence and social inequities. She specialises in translating complex technological systems into practical, community-focused solutions that enhance opportunity, skills development, and resilience in underserved communities. Dr Phumla is the Founder of Zakheleni – Future-Fit Youth Ecosystem, leading initiatives such as Smart Kasi, a township-based innovation hub equipping youth with IoT, Arduino, and data literacy skills. She also develops Waze-inspired smart port navigation systems and digital health tools addressing internalised stigma and GBV. She mentors emerging scholars, coordinates interdisciplinary teams, and fosters collaborations between academia, industry, and local communities. Her work reflects a commitment to social justice and equitable access to technology, education, and economic opportunities. Dr Phumla envisions a world where marginalised communities are empowered to drive innovation, strengthen livelihoods, and participate fully in shaping a socially just and sustainable society.
