Thandi Mgwebi is a Research and Innovation leader with a PhD in Medical Sciences (Cell and Developmental Biology) from the University of Cape Town (UCT). Following her PhD, from 2004 to 2006 she conducted research as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow with the South African Aids Vaccine Initiative (SAAVI) at UCT. For the past 11 years, she has worked full-time as a research leader and manager within the South African NSI firstly at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), and the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC). She also served as Executive Director for the DST-NRF Research Chairs Initiative and Centres of Excellence at the National Research Foundation of South Africa. Thandi has concluded significant international partnerships that have leveraged financial and in kind support to the national science agenda. She is currently head of Research and is also Director of the Southern African Systems Analysis Centre (SASAC) consortium, University of the Western Cape.