Dr Edward Matenga holds a PhD in Archaeology and Heritage from the Department of African Archaeology & Ancient History at Uppsala University (Sweden). Professionally, Dr. Matenga is a member of the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS), and the Association of Southern African Professional Archaeologists (ASAPA).

As a renowned Heritage Resource Specialist, Dr. Matenga has extensive experience in the identification of archaeological and heritage resources, strategic planning for heritage conservation and protection, stakeholder engagement processes, preparation of World Heritage nomination dossiers, Evaluations of World Heritage Nominations and Heritage Impact Assessments, among others. It is for these reasons that Dr. Matenga was previously appointed to various respectable and illustrious heritage Leadership roles and UNESCO-ICOMOS heritage missions. Noteworthy is that Dr. Matenga was the Director and Head Curator of the Great Zimbabwe World Heritage Site (1994-2004) and was part of a UNESCO-ICOMOS reactive monitoring missions to the Aksum Obelisk Monument in Ethiopia (2010) and an ICOMOS expert for the evaluation of Nyika Plateau National Park in Malawi (2005), Mijikenda Sacred Forests in Kenya (2006), and Le Morne Cultural Landscape in Mauritius (2007).

Additionally, Dr. Matenga was involved in the preparation of the Nomination File for the Tongo Tenzug Sacred Cultural Landscape in Bolgatanga in Ghana (2008/9) and has conducted a preliminary assessment of the Royal Bakongo Capital and Roman Catholic Church at Mbanza Kongo in Angola for World Heritage List (2007/2010). For ICCROM, the International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property under the Africa 2009 Programme, Dr. Matenga assessed the state of conservation of stone-built structures in the North Province of Cameroon.

More recently, Dr. Matenga has been involved in several key Heritage Impact Assessment projects and grave relocations in South Africa, as required for various development projects in the fields of mining, rural electrification, and construction, as well as in the Development of Heritage Management Plans for Limpopo Nature Reserves, South Africa. Currently, Dr. Matenga is working with EcoAfrica on two significant World Heritage Site projects. For both a Heritage Resource Specialist and Stakeholder Engagement Specialist for the Development of a National Buffering Mechanism Policy for World Heritage Sites in South Africa and the second as Co-Team Leader, Heritage Resource Specialist and Stakeholder Engagement Specialist for the Integrated and Strategic Management Plans for the World Heritage Listing of the Human Rights, Liberation Struggle and Reconciliation: Nelson Mandela Legacy Sites, South Africa.