Simangele is a conservationist with an interest and experience in research, community engagement and policy development. She holds a master’s degree in Biological Sciences, specializing in pollination biology, from the University of KwaZulu-Natal
At AWF, Simangele serves as the Senior Manager, Youth Leadership Program, where she manages and oversees AWF’s engaging youth program. This role includes:
- Curating and implementing Bespoke Leadership Programs aimed at building leadership capacity of youth as Policy Makers as well as Senior Managers, such as the AWF Charles R. Wall Youth Leadership Program.
- Opening Professional Growth opportunities for youth through internships, research projects and youth led enterprises
- Strengthening and Amplifying the voice of youth leaders and youth networks in Africa in the space of biodiversity policy making.
- Supporting the organisation’s engagement in the Africa Ministerial Conference on the Environment (AMCEN), Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), and Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES)
She previously served in the leadership structures of the South African Youth Biodiversity Network, the Global Youth Biodiversity Network and the African CSOs Biodiversity Alliance.
Quote: “We are part of an intergenerational mission, and our success is hinged on our ability to equip upcoming generations to take on the baton.”