Local economic development: Innovation, new technology and green economies

Bulelwa Maphela is a passionate and driven academic, educator, and creative researcher in the Centre for Local Economic Development(CENLED) at the University of Johannesburg (UJ), South Africa. Her blend of qualifications and experience makes her unique and multidisciplinary in economic development and ethics. Her main research area is on the management of human remains by emerging funeral directors. She taught various subjects at undergraduate and postgraduate levels, nationally and internationally. In the process, she has supervised Honours(Hons), Master of Arts (MA) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) students. In addition, she has extensive experience working with government institutions and private organisations in entrepreneurial development. Being a registered member of The Ethics Institute (TEI) of South Africa and AfricaEvidence Network (AEN) and publishing impactful academic papers in accredited journals, Maphela is a subject matter expert in local economic development (LED) and the legal intricacies associated with establishing and managing small businesses. Because of her keen interest in ethics, Maphela is one of the research ethics champions at her institution.

Chané de Bruyn is a researcher in CENLED at UJ, South Africa. She has a PhD in Economics, with a focus on LED. She is also certified by the Economic Development Council of South Africa (EDCSA) as an Economic Developer in the field of LED. In addition, she is a member of the policymaker FutureFinance Law Hub. She has published numerous peer-reviewed articles, ranging across quantitative, qualitative and mixed-method approaches in international and national journals as well as at conference proceedings and book chapters. Her research focus is centred on topics relating to LED, development economics, sustainable development and tourism development.

Chanté Botha is an accomplished academic and researcher with a PhD in Business Management from UJ, South Africa and Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam. As a senior lecturer at Johannesburg Business School at UJ, South Africa, she specialises in digital transformation, entrepreneurship, strategy and innovation. Passionate about the intersection of technology and education, she actively integrates digital tools into teaching to enhance learning experiences and foster digital competence. She is a prolific researcher, publishing widely on business model innovation and digital maturity in small enterprises. Her contributions extend to postgraduate supervision, curriculum development and academic leadership, and she regularly serves as a journal peer reviewer and external moderator. Committed to bridging the gap between theory and practice, Botha frequently engages in industry collaborations, workshops and conferences, advocating for the integration of technology and innovation in business and education.

Ilsé Botha holds a PhD in Economics and is a professor in the School of Accounting at UJ, South Africa. Her scholarly work focuses on time series econometrics and forecasting, with current interests in tourism economics, financial and business cycle analysis and sovereign credit ratings. Her work on nonlinear forecasting of tourism demand has contributed significantly to methodological developments in this field of research. As an applied econometrician, she has engaged in research projects across both public and private sectors, linking her expertise as a researcher with specific problems facing the economy. She is also a member of the International Institute of Forecasters.

Jan Petrus Grundling obtained his Bachelor of Commerce (BCom) in Industrial Psychology in 1979 from Stellenbosch University (SU), South Africa. In 1982, he completed his BCom (Hons), and in 1986, he completed his Master of Commerce (MCom) in Industrial Psychology from the University of South Africa (Unisa). He obtained his PhD in Organisational Leadership from Tshwane University of Technology (TUT), South Africa, in 2017. In 1980, he started his career at the South African Defence Force(SADF) as the Head of the Department of Industrial Psychology at the Military Academy in Saldanha. In 1987, he was promoted to Senior Office at Military Intelligence in Pretoria. From 1988 to 1994, he joined the Armament Corporation of South Africa as Training Manager in Pretoria, and in 2001, he joined TUT. At TUT, he was the Director of the Centre of Entrepreneurship(2001–2012) and Organisation Director for the Joint African Masters on Comparative Local Development (2003–2012), and he is currently a researcher and senior lecturer in the Faculty of Management Sciences at TUT, as well as a research fellow at Chang’an University, Shaanxi and UJ, South Africa. He has published more than 110 conference papers and 42 journal articles, and he has hosted and participated in 20 national and university-level scientific research projects both nationally and abroad. Additionally, he has published more than 10 academic books, served as a reviewer of more than 10 academic journals and supervised more than 40 postgraduate students. His main research fields include linear programming, optimisation and control, industrial statistics and entrepreneurship. He received more than 11 awards for his contributions to the industry and academia.

Johann Frederich Kirsten is a senior lecturer in economics at UJ, South Africa, specialising in subjective social indicators, cultural economics, economic development, inequality, and environmental attitudes and perceptions. He has published in high-impact journals such as Social Indicators Research, Sociological Inquiry and the Cambridge Journal of Economics. He is also the project manager of the Economic Development and Well-Being Research Group (EDWRG), where he fosters academic collaboration and policy-relevant research. His work has gained national media attention and international recognition, including invitations to present at prestigious conferences and institutions such as the Geneva Graduate Institute, Switzerland, and the International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies (ISQOLS).

Karel Engelbrecht is a registered accountant in private practice and an alumna of UJ, South Africa. His research interests include the fairness of taxation, tax canons, tax sustainability and the European Union’s (EU) Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM).

Lizl Steynberg is a seasoned academic with a wealth of experience in the field of higher education and research. Her academic journey commenced in 1994 at the North-West University (NWU), South Africa, where she began her career as a researcher. In 2001, she joined TUT, South Africa, furthering her dedication to the world of academia. Throughout her impressive career, Lizl has demonstrated her passion for teaching and has successfully led 14undergraduate and three postgraduate courses. Her commitment to education extends beyond the classroom, as she has also supervised and mentored over 12 postgraduate students, nurturing the next generation of scholars. Lizl’s influence in the academic sphere is widely recognised, as evidenced by her active involvement in national and international research forums. She has presented over 71 conference papers, showcasing her expertise and insights to the broader academic community. Additionally, she has made significant contributions to the advancement of knowledge, with 25 academic articles published and collaborative efforts in 20 scholarly books. Her research pursuits focus on two primary areas: the internationalisation of higher education and research methodology. Through these specialised interests, Lizl has collaborated effectively with researchers in various disciplines, including entrepreneurship, small business management, and LED. Her dedication and achievements have not gone unnoticed, as she has received esteemed recognition throughout her academic career. Among her accolades, she was honoured with the TUT Vice-Chancellor Achievement Award in 2003, followed by research awards for five consecutive years from 2003 to 2008. In 2015, her outstanding teaching skills were celebrated with the prestigious Outstanding Teaching Award. With a passion for research, a commitment to education and a wealth of experience, Lizl continues to be a driving force in the academic world, inspiring students and colleagues alike. Her contributions to the internationalisation of higher education and research methodology remain invaluable, and she is poised to make even greater strides in the advancement of knowledge and learning.

Marina Bornman is an associate professor in taxation in the Department of Accountancy at UJ, South Africa. She holds a PhD in Taxation from UJ, South Africa, on the topic of voluntary tax compliance. Her research interests include the intersection of taxation with various other behavioural or social domains such as environmental sustainability, happiness, literacy and compliance.

Marinda Pretorius is an associate professor in the School of Economics at UJ, South Africa, and holds a PhD in Finance. Her research covers a range of economic fields, including subjective well-being, sovereign credit ratings, and forecasting methods for macroeconomic variables. Her current research focuses on measuring environmental climate vulnerability and addressing contemporary LED challenges. She has published extensively in both national and international journals.

Peter Walther Baur is an associate professor in the School of Economics at UJ, South Africa. He holds a PhD in Economics from the same university. He has lectured internationally and across South Africa for many institutions, universities and business schools. His community engagement has spanned both the private and public sectors. His fields of research include cultural, financial, behavioural and development economics. He sits on the research board for the Gauteng Department of Economic Development and is a member of the Community of Practice for Entrepreneurship Research. He has acted as an economic adviser for the city council on LED, and he is a co-director for PASCAL International Observatory (Africa). He has published in several national and international journals and has often been featured in both local and international media, where he is often called upon for commentary and economic analysis. He currently heads the Arts and Cultural Research Unit of the School of Economics at UJ, South Africa, focusing predominantly on research into cultural economics and cultural entrepreneurship in South Africa. He serves as the Deputy Head of the Arts Unit at the Athens Institute of Education and Research. He sits on the Board of the Arts and Culture Trust and is a member of the Centre of Local Economic Development.

Seli Nthite is a programme coordinator at the Centre for Competition, Regulation and Economic Development (CCRED) at UJ, South Africa. She holds a postgraduate diploma in management from NWU, South Africa, and is currently registered for the MCom in LED at UJ, South Africa.

Marius Venter is the founder and director of the Centre for Local Economic Development (CENLED) based at the University of Johannesburg since 2008. CENLED houses the PASCAL Africa Centre with Venter as the director. CENLED’s focal areas are economic development, in particular through entrepreneurship in local communities across South Africa. Venters served as the deputy chairperson of the Small Business Development Agency (SEDA). He has been the driving force in establishing a network of academics and practitioners in these fields in all South African universities, leading to the establishment of the professional body, the Economic Development Council of South Africa (EDCSA), which he chairs. He has more than 40 years’ hands-on experience in small business development and entrepreneurial activities, mainly in the local government sphere. Venter recently received a certificate of appreciation and a Honorary International Fellowship from the Centre for Neighbourhood Studies in Manila in recognition for his expertise, contribution and dedication in the field of Neighbourhood Science in pursuit of the United Nations’ sustainable development goals.

Chané de Bruyn is a researcher in CENLED at UJ, South Africa. She has a PhD in Economics, with a focus on LED. She is also certified by the Economic Development Council of South Africa (EDCSA) as an Economic Developer in the field of LED. In addition, she is a member of the policymaker FutureFinance Law Hub. She has published numerous peer-reviewed articles, ranging across quantitative, qualitative and mixed-method approaches in international and national journals as well as at conference proceedings and book chapters. Her research focus is centred on topics relating to LED, development economics, sustainable development and tourism development.