Dr Dorothy Ngila is a recognised leader in science partnerships, research governance and gender equality in STEM. She is director of Knowledge and Institutional Networks at South Africa’s National Research Foundation, where she has led flagship initiatives including the Science Granting Councils Initiative in sub-Saharan Africa, the OR Tambo Africa Research Chairs Initiative and the Covid-19 Africa Rapid Grant Fund, which supported 73 projects — 45% led by women.

Dr Ngila is a delegate to Women 20 (W20) under South Africa’s G20 presidency, co-leading the task team on education, STEM and the digital divide. She has co-authored an article in the journal Nature on applying intersectional analysis throughout the research process and has contributed to global policy guidance on gender and research through the Global Research Council and the InterAcademy Partnership.

Dr Ngila is vice-chair of the advisory board of the Alliance for African Partnership and holds a PhD in Science and Technology Studies from Stellenbosch University.