Ayanda is a social scientist passionate about people-centered public spaces. Her focus is on how shared spaces are designed, activated, sustained and inclusive of groups with divergent aspirations and particularities. She strongly advocates for innovative participatory planning and design practices that stimulate belonging and public ownership, particularly in the face of rising inequality and injustice. Currently, she heads the Corporate Research and Knowledge Management Department at the City of Johannesburg’s Parks and Zoo agency. She is also the Convenor of the Centre on African Public Spaces (CAPS) – a Pan African public space knowledge sharing hub for African cities, universities and civil society organisations. Ayanda is a member of the World Urban Parks Climate Change and Resiliency Committee. The Committee focuses on parks as vital components of sustainable urban transformation and greener urban futures with a key role in promoting social and environmental resilience of urban systems. She also sits on the International Making Cities Liveable Board (IMCLB) – an international peer-to-peer leadership platform exchanging effective new ideas and tools for creating more livable and sustainable cities and towns. Ayanda holds a Master’s degree in Local and Regional Development from the International Institute of Social Studies of Erasmus University, an Honours degree in Development Studies from Rhodes University and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications from the University of Fort Hare.