Dr. Linda Zikhona Linganiso
Keqiao Talent
Prof. Linda Zikhona Linganiso is a distinguished scientist and academic leader specializing in Circular Economy and Waste-to-Energy at the University of South Africa (UNISA). She holds a C2 rating from the National Research Foundation (NRF), recognizing her as an established researcher with significant national and international impact. She earned her PhD in the Production of Transportation Fuels and Clean Chemicals from the University of the Witwatersrand, where her research led to a patent filing, demonstrating practical innovation beyond academia. Her Postdoctoral Fellowship at the University of Kentucky (USA) focused on the Hydrogen Economy, where she pioneered a cost-effective catalyst design for green hydrogen production. In 2011, Prof. Linganiso joined the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) as a Senior Researcher, securing funding to establish a Biotechnology Research Unit within the Polymer and Composites Competency Area. Her work advanced bio-composite materials for the automotive, aerospace, and construction industries. She later joined the University of Zululand (UNIZULU), where she led student-driven circular economy projects in partnership with sugar mills. These initiatives produced three commercial innovations:
Biogas and biofertilizer from sugar wastewater.
Construction materials from sugarcane ash.
Biodegradable plastics & biofuels from sugarcane bagasse — all contributing to sustainable circular economy frameworks.
Prof. Linganiso is the author of the acclaimed “Waste-to-Profit” book series, available on Amazon:
Volume I: Value-Added Products to Generate Wealth for a Sustainable Economy
Volume II: Circular Economy in the Construction Industry for a Sustainable Future
Volume III (forthcoming): Energy Derived from Waste — A Transition Toward Low-Carbon Energy Systems
In 2020, she was appointed Director of Research and Postgraduate Studies at the Durban University of Technology (DUT), where she shaped institutional strategies to translate research into commercial innovation. Her advisory work with the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) included developing a feasibility study for an industrial resource recovery hub in Mpumalanga Province, South Africa. At UNISA, Prof. Linganiso’s current research focuses on student-led Waste-to-Technology Innovations, including:
Recycling of renewable energy technologies (solar panels, lithium-ion batteries, membrane electrolyzers).
Metal recovery and industrial upscaling for sustainable production.
She serves as a consultant and expert in Renewable Energy and Circular Economy for both public and private sectors, helping organizations establish sustainable business systems. To date, Prof. Linganiso has raised over R47 million in funding from agencies including CSIR, DBSA, TIA, EDTEA, EU, DSI, and the Chinese Government, supporting innovation, technological development, and industrialization of research outcomes. Currently completing her MBA in International Finance at the University of Edinburgh Business School (UK), she aims to develop innovative financial models that strengthen the Black economy and promote inclusive growth. Prof. Linganiso takes pride in training and mentoring youth, equipping them with both technical and entrepreneurial skills to drive sustainable economic development. She has published more than 70 research articles in high impact journals.
