Professor Paxie Wanangwa Chirwa is the Forest Chair and Director of the Forest Science Postgraduate Programme in the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences at the University of Pretoria. He is a forest scientist specialising in socio-ecological systems, agroforestry, and community forestry, with research focused on the interactions between people and forest ecosystems across Africa, particularly in miombo woodlands. He is a Fellow of the African Academy of Sciences and a rated scientist with the National Research Foundation (NRF) in South Africa. His work advances understanding of land-use change, forest degradation, and carbon dynamics, contributing to sustainable forest management and policy development. Professor Chirwa has published widely, led interdisciplinary research collaborations, and contributes to capacity development through postgraduate supervision and mentorship across the continent.