Thandeka Palai

Thandeka Palai is the President of the Architects Association of Botswana (AAB) and a licensed architect in Botswana and South Africa with over 14 years of experience. She holds a Bachelor's (cum laude) and Master's in Architecture from the University of Cape Town and is a 2018 Mandela Washington Fellow. She is Founder of Lebone Architects, a woman-led practice in Gaborone, and One-Six lifestyle brand, with a portfolio spanning Botswana, South Africa, and Kenya focused on innovative, context-sensitive design. She advocates for sustainable, inclusive African cities and stronger cross-border collaboration in architecture.