Bianca Nolwandle Mkhize-Simelane

From family gatherings in Germiston to shaping future tourism leaders in lecture halls, Bianca Nolwandle Mkhize-Simelane, 33, has always known how to command attention. What began as a love for debating and storytelling led her to academia. A lecturer at the Central  University of Technology, Bianca teaches undergraduate and postgraduate students, supervises master’s and PhD candidates, and drives curriculum innovation in tourism and events management. Her research spans sustainability, whole-brain teaching and an emerging field she pioneered: entomophagy tourism. As the first academic in Africa to explore edible insect tourism, she launched an entrepreneurship project in Limpopo’s Mopane district, using mopane worm harvesting as a lens for sustainable tourism, local income generation and cultural preservation. Armed with a PhD in economics and management sciences, Bianca is as committed to academic excellence as she is to community upliftment. She mentors matric students through her church and serves as a curriculum champion, ensuring that tourism education remains relevant and responsive.

• PhD in Economics and Management Sciences: North West University, Potchefstroom
• Master’s Degree in Tourism and Management, Tshwane University of Technology
• Postgraduate Certificate in Higher Education, University of Pretoria
• Postgraduate Diploma in Education (in the field of higher Education) – Central University of Technology
• B-Tech in Tourism Management, Tshwane University of Technology
• National Diploma in Tourism Management, Tshwane University of Technology

• Initiated an entrepreneurship programme focused on entomophagy tourism in the Mopane District, promoting sustainable food sources and cultural tourism around edible insects like mopane worms.
• Developed and implemented a programme to create awareness, build local capacity, and promote tourism experiences centred on indigenous food practices.
• Brought together local harvesters and tourism stakeholders to develop income-generating tourism products based on traditional knowledge.
• Became the first person to conduct an academic study on entomophagy tourism in Africa, sparking new conversations on cultural tourism, sustainability, and food security.

One of the people I admire most is my mother. She did not have the opportunity to finish school, but she taught me some of the most important lessons I have ever learned: resilience, discipline and the value of hard work. Even though she could not help me with my homework or understand my academic journey in detail, she has always been there. She believed in education even though she never had access to it herself, and she pushed me to go further than she ever could. Her sacrifices and constant encouragement kept me going, especially during times when I wanted to give up. Watching her face life with so much strength and dignity, despite the odds, shaped how I approach my work and my students. She is my greatest role model, not because of titles or qualifications, but because of her character. Her example reminds me that success is not just about degrees and positions; it is about purpose, perseverance and making a difference in whatever space you are in.