Lukhona Leni

Lukhona Leni is a Joint PhD researcher with Vrije Universiteit Brussel and the University of the Western Cape. Her doctoral research aims to develop a community-informed framework for digital sustainability that promotes inclusive innovation, working with and for marginalised communities in Cape Town. She also lectures on Information Systems at the University of the Western Cape. She contributes to the Designing for Social Justice Partnership (DSJP), a multi-institutional project that advances equity, co-creation, and institutional change through student–staff partnerships. Her master’s research explored addressing the digital skills gap in managing e-logistics within supply chain management. With a professional background in project management, business analysis, and collaborative research, she brings an interdisciplinary perspective to bridging technology, policy, and local knowledge systems in pursuit of just and inclusive digital futures.

Lukhona Leni’s research focuses on digital sustainability, inclusive innovation, and ICT4D, with a particular emphasis on co-designing community-informed frameworks that enable meaningful digital transformation in marginalised communities. Her doctoral work examines how digital technologies can be integrated in ways that promote equity, participation, and long-term social impact, bridging technology, policy, and local knowledge systems. Alongside her research, she lectures in Information Systems at the University of the Western Cape. She contributes to the Designing for Social Justice Partnership (DSJP), where she explores student–staff co-creation, equity, and institutional change in higher education. Professionally, she has a background in project management and business analysis, bringing practical expertise in digital integration, stakeholder engagement, and collaborative innovation to her academic work.

Her joint PhD project focuses on developing a community-informed framework for digital sustainability to support inclusive innovation with and for marginalised communities in Cape Town. This involves participatory workshops, focus groups, and interviews to co-design sustainable digital practices that reflect local needs and knowledge systems. She is also an active researcher in the Designing for Social Justice Partnership (DSJP), a collaboration between UWC, CPUT, and UCT, where she contributes to case studies, ethics processes, and publications on student–staff partnerships in the Global South. In addition, she lectures in Information Systems at the University of the Western Cape, where she develops curricula and integrates digital tools into teaching and learning.