People & Partners

Prof. Desta Mebratu is an Extraordinary Professor at the Centre for Sustainability Transition (CST), Stellenbosch University and teaches at Addis Abeba University Institute of Technology as a visiting Professor. He is a chemical engineer by background and has a PhD in engineering in Industrial Environmental Economics from Lund University and an MBA in International Business from American University of London. He has more than 33 years of experience working for industries, universities and international organizations. He worked for United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) for more than 13 years holding different positions, including serving as Head of UNEP Business and Industry Program and Deputy Regional Director for Africa. His main areas of expertise are: resource efficient and cleaner production, sustainable energy systems, sustainable industrial development policies, the green economy, and sustainability science. Professor Mebratu has published widely in peer-reviewed journals and co-edited the ‘Handbook on Sustainable Development Policy and Administration’ and the book on ‘Transformative Infrastructure for development of a Wellbeing Economy in Africa’. Professor Mebratu is a Fellow of the African Academy of Sciences (FAAS) since 2016 and other Institutes of Advanced Studies.