Nosipho is currently Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of South Africa in Italy, Permanent Representative to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization in Rome (FAO), Governor to the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and Permanent Representative to the World Food Program (WFP).
Furthermore, she is also accredited as non-resident High Commissioner of the Republic of South Africa to the Republic of Malta and as non-resident Ambassador of the Republic of South Africa to the Republic of San Marino and to the Republic of Albania.
Nosipho has over twenty years in senior management position in the public service, twelve of which she served as a Director General for the Department of Environmental Affairs.
Her previous responsibilities as a Director General included oversight of Statutory bodies such as South African Biodiversity Institute (SANBI); South African National Parks; Isimangaliso Wetland Authority – St Lucia; South African Weather Services (SAWS).
She represented South Africa in various multilateral, bilateral processes and overall intergovernmental bodies and Commissions, some of which include:
- Head of the South African Delegation to the three Rio Conventions in particular the Conference of Parties (COPs), Convention on Biological diversity (CBD), Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC)
- Other International bodies include Global Environmental Facility (GEF), OECD, Indian Ocean Rim Association, Benguella Current Commission, China Council on Sustainable Development, UN Commission on Sustainable Development, BASIC (Brazil, South Africa, India and China group on Climate Change)
- Experience in development of environmental legislation, leading sustainable development goals, national climate change response policy and implementation frameworks which included the biodiversity and mining guidelines developed in partnership with the Minerals Council
- Played a meaningful role in fostering consensus on the Sustainable Development Goals, leveraging the power of South Africa in the continent as well as at BRICS and G20 platforms
- A Former Chairperson of the Directors-General Cluster on International Cooperation, Trade and Security (ICTS).
- As part of SADC in Namibia actively led negotiations during United Nations Convention on Desertification Conference of Parties (UNCCD) which adopted a decision to operationalize Land Degradation Neutrality to enable the convention to align and contribute directly to Sustainable Development goals (SDGs)
- Worked with regional counterparts as Chair of the Directors-General or Senior officials SADC Environment Forum to establish Transfrontier Conservation Areas; establishing a regional Ocean Health Programme, promote marine protected areas and combating coastal erosion.
A recipient of various awards in recognition of her work including Batho Pele awards, best head of National Department for good organizational leadership and governance. In 2008, Nosipho received an annual public sector reporting award for transparency.
A passionate leader caring for the planet, people prosperity, community and youth development and has over the years led efforts in talent management and gender empowerment in government. During 2010 she led the annual empower a child project, therefore, advancing gender equality and participation of women in key development initiatives.
A former anti-apartheid activist under the banner of the United Democratic Front, as a member of the student organizations since 1985. Nosipho served as a national gender officer to the national executive for SASCO in Johannesburg, and as a convener for non-racial sports codes in the Western Cape.