This week on Womanity, Dr Amaleya Goneos-Malka speaks with Prof Lee-Ann Sadè Modley, from the Department of Geography, Environmental Management and Energy Studies at the University of Johannesburg. With a background spanning zoology, environmental management, sustainability, and community engagement, Prof. Modley shares her journey, shaped by perseverance, purpose, faith, her father’s soft persistence, and an unwavering commitment to creating opportunities for others.

A major driving force throughout her journey was her father, who strongly believed in the transformative power of education. From her very first graduation, he continually encouraged her to pursue a doctorate, instilling in her the belief that education was not only a personal achievement but also a responsibility to uplift others in her community.

Effective Solutions Require Stakeholder Buy-In

One of the most pivotal moments in Prof. Modley’s career came while conducting water monitoring research in the Kaalspruit River in Tembisa. While scientists were focused on measuring pollution levels, she witnessed a resident casually throwing rubbish into the river. She realised that environmental science alone could never solve environmental problems without engaging the people living within those environments. The experience moved her from being purely laboratory and field-science focused into a more community-centred approach, where understanding human behaviour became just as important as understanding ecosystems.

Prof. Modley explains how difficult this transition was for her as a “thoroughbred scientist,” but it ultimately taught her that sustainability depends on trust, participation, and community ownership.

Building Trust in Communities

Throughout the discussion, Prof. Modley shares insights from her work in communities such as Tembisa, Soweto, Eldorado Park, and rural Limpopo. Her projects focus heavily on water quality, water security, and environmental stewardship, but always through a collaborative lens.

She highlights that, contrary to popular assumptions, communities often want to participate in environmental solutions. The challenge lies in building trust and ensuring people feel heard, respected, and included in decision-making processes. Rather than imposing solutions, her approach centres on co-creation, which includes asking communities what they believe will work best in their own environments. Communities are different. For example, in rural Limpopo, communities tend to see themselves as custodians of their water resources, protecting and preserving them collectively. In urban spaces, however, people frequently view environmental management as solely the government’s responsibility. Prof. Modley explains that one of the key challenges is helping communities reclaim a sense of ownership over their local environment.

Climate Change Is Personal

The conversation reinforces that climate change and environmental degradation are not distant abstract issues, they directly affect people’s homes, health, safety, and futures. Prof. Modley discusses how improper waste disposal and poor environmental practices contribute to flooding, water contamination, and worsening infrastructure problems.

She advocates strongly for integrated water resource management, where everyone, from government and scientists to ordinary residents, plays a role in protecting water systems. Even small behavioural shifts, such as proper waste disposal, can collectively create meaningful environmental change.

Empowering Girls Through Education and Mentorship

Prof. Modley engages in several community initiatives, including the I Am Girls Programme and Eco Scouts. These initiatives aim to empower girls and young children through mentorship, environmental education, and personal development.

Driven by her father’s vision of “lifting another girl up,” she invests her time in helping young women from underserved communities believe in broader possibilities for their lives. Her programmes seek to challenge cycles of poverty, substance abuse, and limited opportunities by changing mindsets and exposing girls to education, science, and leadership pathways.

Making Science Accessible and Exciting

Prof. Modley speaks passionately about changing perceptions around science careers, especially for girls from underrepresented communities. She notes that many learners are discouraged from pursuing science because it is viewed as difficult, inaccessible, or reserved for a select few.

She actively works to make science feel exciting, relatable, and achievable by exposing learners to the university environment and demonstrating the diverse possibilities within scientific fields. Her mission is to show girls that science extends far beyond laboratories and microscopes; it can be creative, impactful, and transformative.

Women Leading Sustainability Conversations

As the discussion turns to gender, Prof. Modley reflects on her career experience. Interestingly, she describes how working in zoology often meant being treated equally to her male peers, which ultimately strengthened her confidence and resilience. Prof. Modley also opens up about balancing an intensive academic career with motherhood, marriage, and community engagement. She credits her strong support system, including her husband, extended family, and faith, for enabling her to pursue her ambitions while maintaining family stability.

She believes women are increasingly leading sustainability conversations because of qualities such as empathy, collaboration, community-mindedness, and holistic thinking. Sustainability, she explains, is not only about ecosystems and data; it is also about people, relationships, and care.

Her message to women entering the field is to be true to yourself. Women do not need to imitate men to succeed. Instead, their authentic perspectives and leadership styles are essential to building more sustainable futures.

A Message of Limitless Possibility

Drawing from her own experiences of being underestimated, Prof Modley encourages young women to view barriers and doubt as opportunities to prove what is possible: never allow other people’s limitations or labels to define your future.

Tune in for more…