Sarojini Nadar is Distinguished Professor and Deputy Vice- Chancellor: Research and Innovation at the University of the Western Cape. As the Desmond Tutu (LMS-NRF) SARChI chair in Religion and Social Justice, she has led an internationally recognised research programme examining how religion shapes and responds to the world’s most pressing social and political challenges, including gender justice, violence, and human rights. She has significantly advanced public understanding of the intersections between religion, gender, sexuality, and social justice. Her work has reshaped public discourse on gender-based violence by highlighting how religious teachings and institutional cultures can perpetuate abuse, while also influencing policy, faith communities, and broader societal conversations.

Through public lectures, media engagement, podcasts, community partnerships, advocacy initiatives, mentorship, and international collaborations, she has reached diverse audiences, including women, girls, LGBTQIA+ communities, faith leaders, activists, students, and historically marginalised groups. Her meaningful work towards public engagement extends beyond research dissemination to create lasting social transformation and public benefit.

An NRF B-rated scholar of religion, Prof Nadar has published over 100 scholarly works, supervised more than 40 master’s and doctoral graduates, and mentored several postdoctoral fellows. She is an elected member of the Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf) and serves on the President’s Advisory Council on National Orders. She is also a two-time South African Women in Science awardee in the distinguished researcher category.