Ms. Amanda Mwelase is a South African public health strategist, ethnographer, and academic leader working at the interface of health systems, community knowledge, and institutional practice. She is currently completing her second Master’s degree (Master of Public Health) at the University of the Witwatersrand and serves as a Senior Project Manager and Honours research supervisor within academic and implementation partnerships.

Amanda holds a Master of Social Science in Research Psychology and brings more than a decade of experience across higher education, clinical trials, and large-scale programme implementation. Her expertise spans health systems strengthening, ethical governance, capacity development, and translating research into policy and operational practice. She has led multidisciplinary teams and collaborated with institutions across South Africa, Zimbabwe, The Gambia, and the United Kingdom, while supervising 29 Honours students to completion.

 As an AFRIAK Fellow, Amanda is committed to advancing African-led scholarship and strengthening the integration of indigenous knowledge within formal health systems. She is motivated by building resilient institutions, mentoring emerging researchers, and producing evidence that is locally grounded, globally relevant, and transformative for communities.