August is a month dedicated to honouring women and their remarkable contributions to society. In this spirit, we are proud to congratulate our very own CSIR principal researcher Prof. Linda Godfrey on her recent appointment to the International Resource Panel (IRP), representing South Africa on this prestigious global platform. Linda is recognised as a phenomenal CSIR woman this Women's Month and beyond.

The IRP, established by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), is a leading science-policy body focused on building and sharing knowledge to improve the sustainable use of natural resources. Her appointment, chosen from a pool of applicants, underscores both her distinguished qualifications and her commitment to advancing global sustainability efforts. The IRP works alongside other well-known science-policy bodies such as the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services.

Linda brings over 25 years of experience in the waste and circular economy sectors. She holds a PhD in engineering from the University of KwaZulu-Natal and serves as an extraordinary professor at the North-West University, where she lectures on integrated waste management and the circular economy in a developing country context.

She leads Circular Innovation South Africa on behalf of the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation, driving the country's transition to a more circular, low-carbon and resource-efficient economy. She is passionate about science communication and has helped to build the profile of circular economy science, technology and innovation locally and internationally.

She has also provided strategic input to numerous initiatives led by the United Nations, European Union, World Bank and the South African Government, and is a respected international speaker and published researcher.

Her appointment to the IRP marks a significant milestone not only for her career but for South Africa's representation in global sustainability efforts. Reflecting on the importance of this role, she stated, "Globally we are facing greater resource scarcity and resource insecurity, which has the potential to significantly impact development, jobs and quality of life. I accepted the invitation to participate in the International Resource Panel to ensure that the voice of Africa and the global south is considered. There's an amazing group of scientists participating in the IRP, and I look forward to adding value where I can."

Linda is also an NSTF-South32 Award winner, further underscoring her impact and excellence in science and innovation.

Join us in celebrating Prof. Godfrey and many other women leading change.