Michaela Elsbeth Martin is a young aspiring African leader from South Africa. She is currently a Junior Lecturer at the University of the Free State (UFS), in the Department of Governance and Political Studies. She holds a BA Degree in Governance and Political Transformation (UFS), a Bachelor of Honours specialising in International Relations (UFS). Michaela is passionate about education and aims to use this powerful tool to enhance the social, economic and political climate on the African continent. In her capacity as a lecturer at the UFS, she received a number of academic and research accolades. Her research interests include among others, Governance and State Capacity in South Africa, Security Studies focused on the Middle East and in the context of Institutions of Higher Learning, she has done extensive research on decolonisation, focusing on the role students can play in narrating knowledge in University spaces. She was also awarded the Excellence in Teaching and Learning Award in 2017 for using advanced technological expertise to enhance teaching and learning in a university classroom. In 2019, Michaela will be pursuing her Master’s Degree specialising in International Studies at Stellenbosch University with the primary focus being on Governance, Climate Change and Food Security in Africa. In 2020, she hopes to enhance her diplomatic aspirations whilst pursuing her Ph.D.