Desta Mebratu

Professor, Engineering X Lead, Africa Roadmap, Center for Sustainability Transition, Stellenbosch University, South Africa

Desta Mebratu is a Professor at Centre for Sustainability Transition, Stellenbosch University and Addis Ababa Institute of Technology. He is a chemical engineer by background with specialization in Industrial Environmental Economics. He has more than 35 years of experience in the field of sustainability and sustainable industrial development mainly working with 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.

Professor Mebratu has widely published on sustainability and sustainable industrial development in peer-reviewed journals. He also co-edited the ‘Handbook on Sustainable Development Policy and Administration’ and the book on ‘Transformational Infrastructure for development of a Wellbeing Economy in Africa’. Professor Mebratu is a Fellow of the African Academy of Sciences (FAAS) and several other institutions of Advanced Studies. In 2023, Professor Mebratu was recognized by the Royal Academy of Engineering as one of the Engineering Icons for his contribution in the field of engineering for sustainability.