Ezgi Atalay | Disaster Management | Research Excellence Award

Assist. Prof. Dr. Ezgi Atalay | Disaster Management | Research Excellence Award

Assistant Professor Doctor | Bolu Abant Izzet Baysal University | Turkey

Assist. Prof. Dr. Ezgi Atalay is a disaster management scholar whose research integrates disaster science, public health, and social policy with a strong focus on the resilience and needs of vulnerable populations, including older adults, women, and individuals with disabilities. Her work contributes to the development of disaster resilience measurement tools, phenomenological analyses of disaster experiences, and assessments of risk perception and community preparedness. She has published widely in international peer-reviewed journals on themes such as elderly disaster resilience, flood disaster experiences, the psychological power of women in disaster contexts, the role of community pharmacists during emergencies, and bibliometric evaluations of disaster and wildfire studies. Her conference presentations span disaster communication, evacuation challenges, volunteer issues in disaster organizations, and migrant women’s health. She has authored influential book chapters on artificial intelligence in disaster management, disaster education, cultural heritage protection, and search-and-rescue techniques. Dr. Atalay has contributed to several national and international research projects focusing on disaster awareness training, earthquake response evaluation, inclusive disaster strategies for visually impaired individuals, and community-level resilience development. With an interdisciplinary and practice-oriented research approach, she advances evidence-based frameworks that enhance preparedness, response, and societal resilience in the face of disasters.

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Mosekama Osia Mokhele | Disaster Management | Best Researcher Award

Mr. Mosekama Osia Mokhele | Disaster Management | Best Researcher Award

Lecturer at Nelson Mandela University, South Africa

Mr. Mosekama Osia Mokhele is a South African scholar and lecturer specializing in public management, disaster risk governance, and public policy. Currently serving as an nGAP Lecturer at Nelson Mandela University, his academic and professional pursuits focus on decentralised disaster management, public sector reform, capacity development, and ethical governance. He is actively engaged in both academic research and public sector advisory roles, particularly in the domain of disaster risk reduction in South Africa.

Publication Profile 

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Educational Background 🎓

  1. Doctor of Philosophy in Disaster Management (Joint Degree)
    Vrije University Amsterdam & University of the Free State
    Thesis: Decentralisation of disaster management in South Africa
    (Submitted for examination)

  2. Master of Arts – Public Management
    International University of Japan
    Research: Talent management and employee turnover in the Free State public sector
    GPA: 2.61 (approx. 77–79%)

  3. Magister – Governance and Political Transformation
    University of the Free State
    Research: Gender equality and leadership governance in public service
    Distinction in dissertation, Overall: 74%

  4. BA (Hons) in Public Management
    University of the Free State

  5. B.Tech in Public Management
    Central University of Technology

  6. National Diploma in Public Management
    Central University of Technology

Professional Experience 💼

  • nGAP Lecturer, Nelson Mandela University
    Modules Taught:

    • Public Decision-Making

    • Procurement and Logistics Management

    • Disaster Risk Management

    • Governmental Relations

    • Postgraduate research supervision

  • Teaching Assistant, International University of Japan (2016)
    Courses: Public HR Management, Public Finance, Policy Evaluation, Public Policy Process

  • Consultancy/Advisory Projects:

    • Team member in the national review of South Africa’s National Disaster Management Framework (2005)

Research Interests 🔬

  • Decentralisation and disaster governance

  • Public sector ethics and leadership

  • Local government and service delivery

  • Risk communication in disaster management

  • Human rights integration in disaster preparedness

  • Fiscal decision-making and health service governance

  • Public participation and accountability mechanisms

Awards and Honors🏆✨

Mr. Mokhele’s career is marked by significant scholarly recognition, including:

  • Peer-reviewed publications in leading journals such as International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction and Jamba.

  • Multiple conference presentations at top-tier national and international academic events.

  • Chapter contributions in edited academic books on disaster and public management.

  • Active participation in national advisory forums and external committees under the National and Provincial Disaster Management Centres.

Conclusion🌟

Mr. Mosekama Osia Mokhele emerges as a promising academic and public management professional who combines a strong academic background with practical engagement in policy-relevant disaster risk governance. His contributions to local government capacity-building, risk communication, and decentralised governance frameworks position him as a thought leader in disaster risk management in South Africa. His role as a research supervisor and active participation in academic conferences reflect his dedication to scholarly advancement and mentorship.

He stands out particularly for:

  • Bridging academic insight with public sector challenges.

  • Focusing research on real-world governance issues such as disaster decentralisation and service delivery.

  • Contributing to both national frameworks and grassroots disaster preparedness strategies.

Overall, Mr. Mokhele exemplifies the qualities of an emerging leader in the field of public administration and disaster management.

Publications 📚

  • 🦠 COVID-19 Disaster Response: South African Disaster Managers’ Faith in Mandating Legislation Tested?
    👨‍💼 Authors: O. Kunguma, A. Ncube, M.O. Mokhele
    📘 Journal: Jàmbá: Journal of Disaster Risk Studies, 13(1), pp.1–10
    📅 Year: 2021 | 📊 Citations: 18


  • 👩‍⚖️ Effective Implementation of a Strategic Framework for Gender Equality in the Public Service with Specific Reference to Leadership Governance
    👨‍💼 Author: M.O. Mokhele
    🏫 Institution: University of the Free State
    📅 Year: 2016 | 📊 Citations: 13
    📄 Type: Master’s/PhD Thesis


  • 📢 Investigating the Prevention and Mitigatory Role of Risk Communication in the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Case Study of Bloemfontein, South Africa
    👨‍💼 Authors: O. Kunguma, M.O. Mokhele, M. Coetzee
    📘 Journal: Jàmbá: Journal of Disaster Risk Studies, 13(1), pp.1–11
    📅 Year: 2021 | 📊 Citations: 8


  • 🧭 Centres or Units: Making Sense of Decentralisation of Disaster Management in South African Municipalities
    👨‍💼 Author: M.M. Osia
    📘 Journal: International Journal of Disaster Risk Management, 6(2), pp.19–38
    📅 Year: 2024 | 📊 Citations: 3


  • 🌍 Disaster Risk Management Challenges Towards Integrated Disaster Risk Management at the South African Municipalities: What Is Left Untouched?
    👨‍💼 Authors: M.O. Mokhele, A. Ncube, O. Kunguma
    📗 Book Chapter: Challenges, Strategies, and Resiliency in Disaster and Risk Management, pp. 242–276
    📅 Year: 2024 | 📊 Citations: 3


  • 🛠️ To Explore the Effectiveness of Capacity Development Strategies for Disaster Management in the Sol Plaatjie Local Municipality, South Africa
    👨‍💼 Authors: M.O. Mokhele, T. Fana, K.S. Ramolobe
    📘 Book: Development and Public Issues in Sub-Saharan Africa: The 21st-century …
    📅 Year: 2024 | 📊 Citations: 2


  • 🗣️ The Role of Language as a Catalyst in Communicating Early Warning Messages: A Case Study in Walmer Airport Valley Informal Settlement, Gqeberha, South Africa
    👨‍💼 Authors: M.O. Mokhele, A. Mvanyashe
    📘 Journal: International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction, Article 105573
    📅 Year: 2025


  • 💰 Centralisation of Financial Decision-Making on Public Hospitals in the Eastern Cape Province
    👨‍💼 Authors: T. Fana, M.O. Mokhele
    📘 Journal: Africa’s Public Service Delivery and Performance Review, 13(1), Article 827
    📅 Year: 2025


  • 🔄 The Effects of Employee Turnover on the Loss of Organisational Knowledge in South African Municipalities: Balancing Rhetoric with Actual Practice
    👨‍💼 Authors: Y. Ndatshe, M.O. Mokhele, A. Jakoet-Salie
    📘 Journal: International Journal of Research in Business & Social Science, 13(7)
    📅 Year: 2024


  • 👥 Effect of Talent Management on Employee Turnover Intentions in the Public Sector: A Case of the Free State Department of Social Development
    👨‍💼 Author: M.O. Mokhele
    🏫 Institution: International University of Japan
    📅 Year: 2017