Prof Suzan Oelofse obtained a PhD in 1994. After spending 10 years in government, she made a career change back to research joining the CSIR as a waste expert. She currently holds the position of Principal Researcher in the Sustainability, Economics and Waste Research Group, is an appointed Extra-ordinary Professor in the Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management of the North-West University, South Africa, and served as President of the Institute of Waste Management of Southern Africa from 2013 to 2016. Her expertise includes the institutional and legal framework within which waste is managed in South Africa; waste information and data; reducing the environmental impacts of waste, circular economy, and sustainable consumption and production. Her research outputs are published peer reviewed scientific journals and presented at national and international conferences.