Prof. De-Graft Owusu-Manu (PhD, BSc., CMC, FIMC, FGIOC, MGhIS, ChPA, MISD, MIET) is a distinguished academic and seasoned professional with a profound impact on the fields of infrastructure finance, sustainability, and green development. He currently serves as a Professor at the Department of Construction Technology and Management, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), where he integrates his expertise in capital asset investments and corporate financial management.

With an illustrious academic background, Prof. Owusu-Manu earned First Class honors in his bachelor’s degree before advancing to a PhD, specializing in capital asset investments and financial management. His research spans a diverse array of disciplines, including construction economics and finance, construction management, project management, procurement management, sustainable management, sustainable cities development, climate resilience, and green management. His academic contributions are further highlighted by over 250 publications in leading peer-reviewed journals, conference proceedings, book chapters, and reports.

Prof. Owusu-Manu is a Chartered Management Consultant and Fellow of the International Council of Management Consultants Institutes-Global and the Ghana Institute of Construction. His professional memberships include the Ghana Institute of Surveyors and the Institute of Sustainable Management. His excellence in academia has been recognized through prestigious awards, such as the Best Graduate Award from the Ghana Institution of Surveyors (2003) and the Eminence Award in Research from KNUST (2011).

Beyond academia, Prof. Owusu-Manu is an accomplished entrepreneur and business leader. He founded and leads multiple ventures, including Top Technocrats (Gh) Limited, Training Innovations and Technology Transfer Institute, Business Angels Limited, Green Communities International, Jannika Organic Agro Business Limited, Jannika Foods Processing, and Yummy Premium Bakery. His entrepreneurial spirit is matched by his dedication to mentorship and coaching, demonstrated by his establishment of the Global Institute of Mindset Transformation and Attitudinal Change, aimed at fostering mindset transformation across the African continent and its diaspora.

Prof. Owusu-Manu’s influence extends to his roles as Chairman of the International Conference of Environment, Social, Governance and Sustainable Development of Africa (ICESDA) and the International Conference of African Mindset Transformation and System Thinking (ICAMTST). He has served on numerous committees and boards at various levels, leveraging his expertise to drive impactful decisions and initiatives.

In addition to his academic and entrepreneurial endeavors, Prof. Owusu-Manu has contributed significantly to scholarly discourse as the Editor of the Journal of Built Environment and as a Guest Editor for special issues of journals such as Sustainability and the Journal of Frontiers of Sustainable Cities. He also serves on several editorial boards and scientific review committees of leading international journals and conferences.

Prof. Owusu-Manu’s comprehensive experience, spanning academia, industry, and entrepreneurship, coupled with his commitment to sustainable development and transformative leadership, makes him an invaluable asset to the board of any organization transitioning graduates to professionals.

He is married to Matilda and is a proud father of three children: Jason, Annika, and De-Graft Jr.