is an associate professor with the University of KwaZulu Natal, also working with International Water Management Institute. His goal is to work on research and development that is dynamic, transformative, informs policy and achieves societal impacts within poor rural and peri-urban populations. His research includes focusing on crop responses to abiotic stresses, water use and crop-climate modelling to multi- and transdisciplinary research areas covering food systems, global environmental change and the water-energy food nexus. His interest is working with multidisciplinary teams to conduct research related to global grand challenges such as food insecurity and climate change. He has a keen interest on research translation and applying research outcomes to solve real life problems, working together with policy and decision makers to contribute to evidence-based policy and decision making.