Prof. Linda Godfrey is a Principal Scientist at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), South Africa specialising in the circular economy in the context of developing countries – in particular, the circular economy as a development opportunity for Africa.
Prof. Linda Godfrey is a Principal Scientist at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), South Africa specialising in the circular economy in the context of developing countries – in particular, the circular economy as a development opportunity for Africa. She is an Extraordinary Professor at North-West University, South Africa, where she lectures on integrated waste management systems, and on the circular economy. She holds aPhD in Engineering from the University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
She manages Circular Innovation South Africa (CISA) on behalf of the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI). CISA aims to give effect to Government’s science, technology and innovation aspirations to transition the country to a more circular, low-carbon and sustainable economy.
Prof. Godfrey has led the CSIR’s research on the circular economy. In particular, identifying the appropriateness of circular interventions and their current levels of implementation in various resource-intensive sectors of the South African economy. She initiated the first material flow analysis to map the level of circularity of the South African economy. The study highlighted, similar to what many developing countries face, the highly resource extractive and linear nature of the economy, with very little resources flowing into local stock building. She brings more than 25-years of sector experience to these roles.
She has provided strategic input to a number of local, regional and international waste and circular economy initiatives for the United Nations, European Union, World Bank, South African Government and various universities and businesses. She is a sought-after keynote speaker, lectures internationally on the circular economy, and on solid waste management in the context of developing countries. She has published extensively in the field.
Prof. Godfrey joined the Panel in May 2025 for a 1-year engagement period, before being considered for full membership by May 2026 (as per IRP standard procedures).