When the initial invitation arrived, I approached it with caution. I was unfamiliar with the organisation at first and, like many professionals who receive frequent international requests, I remained sceptical until the process became clearer. That clarity came when the South African BRICS Think Tank (SABTT) joined the communication, confirming the seriousness and scale of the engagement. The invitation is to participate in a high-level BRICS roundtable convening in the United Arab Emirates, with engagements taking place across Dubai and Abu Dhabi. The roundtable, titled “Rethinking Connectivity: New Geographies, New Markets, New Infrastructure,” is jointly hosted by the Observer Research Foundation (ORF), ORF Middle East, the SABTT, and South Africa’s Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC).

The convening brings together policymakers, industry leaders, scholars, civil society representatives, and multilateral organisations from across BRICS countries and partner regions. Discussions focus on connectivity, infrastructure, trade, and investment, exploring how emerging markets across Africa, Asia, and Latin America are redefining global economic and knowledge systems.

Why This Opportunity Matters

BRICS platforms play an increasingly central role in shaping development pathways, research collaboration, and investment priorities across the Global South. These conversations are not abstract; they influence how infrastructure is financed, how research agendas are set, and how partnerships are formed across regions.

Participating in this roundtable is both a personal milestone and a professional responsibility. It is an opportunity to contribute African research perspectives to global policy discussions and to ensure that African voices help shape narratives around connectivity, innovation, and development.

From Global Dialogue to Tangible Impact

Engagement at this level strengthens how I run my company, Ulwazi Scientific Communications and STEM Research, and how we support researchers, institutions, as well as other organisations. Being present in global policy and think tank spaces provides critical insight into how research evidence informs policy and investment decisions, what global institutions and funders prioritise across regions and how researchers can better position their work for international relevance and collaboration.

These insights directly inform my work in research development, proposal strategy, and scientific communication, ensuring that the research I support is aligned with real world policy environments.

Looking Ahead

I am grateful for the opportunity to engage in these important BRICS conversations across Dubai and Abu Dhabi, and proud to represent South Africa in spaces where global decisions are shaped. Below, I’m pictured in Abu Dhabi at the Anwar Gargash Diplomatic Academy, where the gathering was concluded. This was a few hours’ drive from Dubai, where the main events were held.

This invitation reinforces a simple truth: African expertise belongs at global policy tables, not as observers, but as contributors shaping the future.