Mahlubi Chief Mabizela
Speaker
Mr Mahlubi Chief Mabizela
Director: Operations and Sector Support, Universities South Africa (USAf)
Mr Mahlubi “Chief” Mabizela is the Director: Operations and Sector Support at Universities South Africa (USAf), serving as second-in-command to the Chief Executive Officer.
In this role, he oversees strategic operational frameworks and policy initiatives supporting all 26 public universities across South Africa.With over 16 years of executive experience in national policy formulation, Mabizela previously served as the Chief Director: Higher Education Policy and Research Support at the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET).
He is a leading expert on structural governance, institutional transformation, and public-private partnerships, focusing on balancing academic transformation with global competitiveness, decolonising education, and driving student entrepreneurship. He is highly regarded for his data-driven insights into graduate labour market transitions and his work establishing international university networks with global partners.