Unathi Lutshaba
SACO Executive Director

Ms. Unathi Lutshaba

Ms. Unathi Lutshaba has directed the South African Cultural Observatory (SACO) since 2018. Under her leadership the research project of the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture has grown from strength to strength producing a significant body of work on the cultural and creative industries and arts, culture, and heritage sectors. Under ger guidance, South African policymakers, government and the private and civil sectors have a tangible grasp on the value of the creative economy and its impact on the economy. This makes  Ms. Lutshaba one of South Africa’s most recognised creative economy experts.

Ms. Lutshaba has an MA in Development Studies from the Nelson Mandela University and spent year tenure as a lecturer in the university’s Economics and Sociology departments. She is an Erasmus Mundus Scholarship recipient and an Alumni of the University of Antwerp.

Ms. Lutshaba’s research interests are multi-disciplinary and they include economics, business management, sociology, strategy, development policy, theory and project management. She has also leveraged her academic and entrepreneurial skills to secure and run a range of small, medium-scale and large projects.

She is passionate about the creative economy, the promotion and development of young people in the workplace, women in leadership and social solidarity.