BIOSKETCHProfessor Rowena Naidoo is an Associate Professor and Academic Leader of Biokinetics, Exercise and Leisure Sciences at the University of KwaZulu-Natal. She is a respected educator, researcher, and advocate with over two decades of experience in health promotion, physical education, disability sport, and anti-doping education. Her work is rooted in social inclusion and equity, with a specific focus on developing accessible and inclusive health strategies for children, youth, and marginalised communities, particularly persons with disabilities.
She holds a PhD in Sport Science and is a registered Biokineticist with the Health Professions Council of South Africa. Her academic leadership is reflected in numerous interdisciplinary research projects, policy initiatives, and community-based interventions aimed at improving physical health outcomes for diverse populations. Professor Naidoo has published over 45 peer-reviewed journal articles, contributed to five academic book chapters, and developed content for 29 Department of Basic Education-approved school textbooks.
Her contributions to disability inclusion are wide-ranging. She has led several research projects focused on physical activity and rehabilitation for children with disabilities and is currently piloting a national physical education resource guide for special needs schools – a first of its kind in South Africa. She is also collaborating with Volleyball South Africa to introduce sitting volleyball into special needs schools as part of a broader strategy to promote inclusive sport in education.
Professor Naidoo is the principal investigator on a project funded by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), which aims to develop a tailored anti-doping education framework for the World ParaVolley Association. She also serves as a regional coordinator for the South African Institute for Drug-Free Sport (SAIDS) and has been involved in national anti-doping education campaigns since 2002, with a focus on ethical sport and athlete protection.
Passionate about mentorship and transformation in higher education, she has successfully supervised over 35 Master’s and PhD students and continues to play a key role in building research capacity in the field. Her current work bridges academia, community impact, and policy development, with a strong emphasis on disability inclusion, ethical sport, and holistic wellness.
Awards and Recognitions:
- Recognised for contributions to physical activity policy development in Africa
- Contributor to national and international policy briefs on sports and physical activity
- Recipient of research grants supporting physical activity interventions for children with disabilities
- Key contributor to Physical Education curriculum in schoolbooks used across South Africa
- Active participant in international collaborative research projects
Research Interests
- Physical activity interventions and health promotion
- Disability and inclusive physical activity
- Public health policy on physical activity and sports
- Physical activity in children with disabilities
- Sport and exercise science
- Physical education and sports coaching
- Anti-doping policies and athlete health
