Growing up in Bushbuckridge — where access to clean water and academic resources is scarce — Philadelphia Ngobeni, 34, dreamed of becoming a genetic engineer. Though steered toward chemical engineering, an unexpected in-service placement in the water sector changed her path — and her life. As a PhD researcher in civil engineering at the University of Cape Town, Philadelphia focuses on bioremediating wastewater from tanneries using integrated microalgal-bacterial systems. Her work contributes to the circular bioeconomy by recovering nitrogen compounds from waste. Her days consist of lab experiments, computational modelling, academic writing and mentoring. As the outreach and advocacy lead for the Organisation for Women in Science for the Developing World (South Africa), and national marketing lead for the Young Water Professionals, she champions equitable water access and gender inclusion in STEM. She’s also a Black Women in Science Fellow, a Brics Young Scientist, and a 2023 Kofi Annan Foundation Changemaker and was awarded the 2024 Womandla Women in STEAM Award and the Department of Science and Innovation’s Esther Mahlangu Doctoral Fellowship.
My late father, whose influence has become more deeply appreciated through the stories shared by my mother. Although he passed away during early childhood, his unwavering belief in the power of education laid the foundation for a lifelong commitment to learning and personal growth. Every opportunity is seized in honour of someone who never witnessed the outcome but firmly believed in its possibility. Each step forward is motivated by a sense of purpose and gratitude, in recognition of the future he envisioned.