Dr Valentina Russo is a system engineer with expertise in life cycle assessment and system thinking. She is a senior engineer within the Sustainability, Economics and Waste (SEW) Research Group at the CSIR. Dr Russo is also a registered engineer accredited by the Engineering Council of South Africa. With 17 years of experience in her field, her areas of specialisation encompass system analysis, modelling and environmental sustainability. She has consistently worked on multidisciplinary topics within these fields, placing a particular emphasis on life cycle management.

Dr Russo’s research is dedicated to evaluating the sustainable utilisation of resources for the collective benefit and enhancing existing practices to make them more sustainable. Her research extends beyond conventional environmental sustainability, encompassing an examination of social aspects, as well as the integration of circular approaches.

In addition, Dr Russo has recently expanded her research interests into the realm of regenerative economy. Her focus lies in discerning how to incorporate regeneration into business and human activities through avenues such as biodiversity restoration, sustainable development and climate change mitigation. She demonstrates a particular passion for exploring nature-based solutions in this context.

Expertise: Life cycle assessment, environmental sustainability, system analysis and modelling, industrial ecology