She strongly believes in research-driven programmes, collaboration and leadership management that allow spaces to engage and develop solutions to socio-economic challenges and contribute to national and global development.  Her past work experience involves providing strategic research, monitoring, evaluation, and planning on various health and student development programmes at the University of the Western Cape (UWC) and CPUT. Furthermore, on HIV awareness and prevention programmes in secondary schools and communities. She was involved in teaching activities of the “Monitoring and Evaluation of health programmes” module for postgraduate students at UWC. As a researcher, Nelisiwe has published peer-reviewed research articles in national and international journals. Her current research interest is in developing systems and processes to promote research uptake in higher education institutions.