Dr Tshilidzi Madzivhandila
Founder and Group CEO
Dr Tshilidzi Madzivhandila, with rich global and African experience, is an experienced researcher, policy analyst, and monitoring and evaluation specialist in the area of agricultural and food systems, land reform, water resources management to achieve sustainable rural development. He is with over 20 years of practical experience working for National Research Institution (i.e., Agricultural Research Council (ARC)), Government Department (i.e., Department of Education and National Treasury), and Regional Organizations (Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources Policy Analysis Network (FANRPAN). He possesses strong intellectual, analytical, project management, stakeholder relations and communication skills. Dr Madzivhandila thrives on establishing and maintaining effective relationships, partnerships and strategic alliances with key players in the private, public and civil society sectors.
He has served in various middle management and senior echelons capacities, including the following;
- January 2019 to current: Founder and Group CEO of MADZIX Group Companies Pty (Ltd) and its entities.
- April 2016 to December 2018: Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources Policy Analysis Network (FANRPAN) as a Director for Policy and Research.
- February 2011 to March 2016: Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources Policy Analysis Network (FANRPAN) as a Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Specialist.
- November 2010 to January 2011: Co-operative Banks Development Agency (CBDA) as a Research, Monitoring and Evaluation Officer.
- July 2007 to August 2010: University of New England, School of Business, Economics and Public Policy as a PhD Student and John Allwright Research Fellow.
- August 1998 to November 2007: Agricultural Research Council (ARC) as a Professional Development Candidate, Research Technician and Socio-economics Researcher.
Dr Madzivhandila holds the following qualifications;
- University of New England: Australia: Economics - PhD, 2011
- University of Free State: South Africa: Development Studies - Master, 2007
- University of South Africa: South Africa: Marketing Management - Diploma, 2002
- University of the Limpopo: South Africa: Teaching - Diploma, 1995
- University of the Limpopo: South Africa: Agric. Management - Bachelor, 1995
During his career, he has held various positions of responsibility, including the following -following advisory capacities:
- A member of IDRC-CARIAA (Collaborative Adaptation Research Initiative in Africa & Asia - cariaa.net for Science & Policy Advisory Committee providing technical guidance to consortium projects (i.e. ASSAR, DECCMA, HI-AWARE and PRISE)
- A member of Pool of International Experts for the Food & Business Applied Research Fund (ARF) of the NWO-WOTRO Science for Global Development, the Netherlands
- A member of the Commissioning Panel for the UK Department for International Development (DFID) and Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) Growth Research Programme as funding proposals reviewer
- A member of an independent Reference Group to provide oversight in the review of Agriculture Education and Training strategy of the South African Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
- Recipient of the John Allwright Fellowship for a PhD degree study at the University of New England: Australia from June 2007 to August 2010.