Dr Ethel E Phiri holds a BSc Honours Botany; MSc Botany, PhD Molecular systematics, and a PG Dip. Agronomy. She is a lecturer and researcher, at Stellenbosch University, focusing on the sustainable production and protection of indigenous, underutilised, and emerging crops. In 2014, Phiri was nominated for the category Young South African of the Year (in the South African of the Year awards). She has also been interviewed on the 1000 African Voices podcast, which profiles influential Africans. Dr Phiri has also been featured on The Mail & Guardian's 200 Young South Africans and is an award-winning biologist – her research for her Master's degree earned her a medal of excellence.

She is currently the edior in Chief of the interdisciplinary Journal of Underutilised Crops Research with a vision to place underutilised / neglected crops in the spotlight. Globally, indigenous crops, which are abound with genetic diversity, have been neglected in terms of research and investment in favour of the so-called high value crops. Nonetheless, the value of these crops has been realised, especially the role they might play in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals of #NoPoverty (SDG1) and #ZeroHunger (SDG2) in the face of climate change.