Professor Gugu Mchunu is the Executive Dean in the Faculty of Health Sciences at the Durban University of Technology (DUT). She holds a PhD in Health Sciences (UKZN) and has more than 20 years’ experience in the academic sector. She has worked as an Occupational Health Nurse and as a Primary Care Nurse. Prof Mchunu progressed from being a Junior lecturer at UKZN, to become Head of Nursing Department from 2013 till 2019.   She has served as an Executive Director of the Durban Chamber Foundation, a Senior Research Specialist at the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC). Prof Mchunu has received a number of prestigious scholarships including The Ford Foundation International Scholarship Program and spent some time at the Johns Hopkins University, USA as a visiting scholar. She is the co-founding member for Action in Autism – an organization for people with Autism.

Her research focus area is on Health Promotion in the Workplace and has published more than 50 research papers in peer reviewed journals.

Current membership in various bodies includes:

• Board membership at The Heart and Stroke Foundation of South Africa
• A Chairperson of SHAHUMNA Board of Directors for Action in Autism Centre
• Panellist member at the GreenFlag Association
• Honorary Associate Professor – UKZN School of Nursing and Public Health
• Former Deputy Director of the WHO Collaborating Centre for Midwifery at UKZN School of Nursing