Dr. Philile Mbatha is a Senior Lecturer in the Environmental and Geographical Science Department and the Deputy Director of One Ocean Hub at the University of Cape Town, South Africa. With over 15 years of experience in transdisciplinary research, she specializes in coastal and environmental governance within the Western Indian Ocean region. Her work encompasses multi-scalar governance of conservation, fisheries, and contemporary blue economy interventions, as well as the examination of coastal livelihoods, blue justice, and blue tenure in the global South.

Dr. Mbatha’s vision centers on bridging the gap between policy and practice, as well as fostering connections among people, science, and policy in coastal and ocean governance—particularly where Indigenous Peoples and customary communities are impacted by complex governance processes. As a facilitator in various governance debates, she is actively engaged in developing innovative science-to-policy approaches that promote dialogue among diverse stakeholders, ensuring meaningful participation and equitable decision-making.

She has collaborated with intergovernmental organizations, regional bodies, research institutions, grant makers, governments, civil society organizations, and coastal communities to co-produce scalable solutions for inclusive ocean governance in Africa and beyond. Dr. Mbatha leads several transdisciplinary projects in the Western Indian Ocean region, focusing on blue economy, fisheries governance, blue tenure, legal pluralism, and climate change. Additionally, she mentors youth and early-career professionals in the region and serves in an advisory capacity within various structures and initiatives.