Professor Kindeya Gebrehiwot Lilay (PhD) is a former Professor at Mekelle University, Ethiopia, with extensive expertise in forestry, ecology, and agroforestry.
Born on 5 January 1973 in Tigray, Ethiopia, he holds a B.Sc. in Forestry from Alemaya University of Agriculture, Ethiopia (1993, Very Great Distinction), an M.Sc. in Environmental Forestry from the University of Wales, Bangor, UK (1995), and a Ph.D. in Forest Sciences and Ecology from the University of Goettingen, Germany (2003), where his research focused on the ecology and management of Boswellia papyrifera dry forests in northern Ethiopia. Professor Kindeya has undertaken multiple specialist trainings in agroforestry, vegetative propagation, GIS, curriculum development, and higher education leadership in institutions across Kenya, the Netherlands, Germany, Israel, and South Africa. He has received numerous awards, including the Haromaya University Gold Medal (1993), DAAD Scholarship (1999), the Development Cooperation Prize (2004), Mekelle University Best Research Award (2010), and the Hargeisa University Medal (2019). Since 1993, he has served in various academic roles at Mekelle University, progressing from Graduate Assistant to Professor, and has held significant administrative positions including Head of Department, Research and Publication Officer, Associate Vice President for Research and Graduate Programs, Academic Vice President, and President of Mekelle University (2013–2020).
He currently serves as State Minister and Advisor to the Minister of Education, Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia. Professor Kindeya has contributed extensively to the scientific community as associate editor for the Journal of the Drylands and the Ethiopian Journal of Natural Resources, reviewer for multiple international journals, and supervisor of numerous MSc and PhD theses. His professional memberships include the Ethiopian Soil Science Association, Ethiopian Forestry Association, Rural Development Forestry Network (UK), Forest, Trees and People Network (Sweden), and the International Society of Tropical Foresters. He also serves on boards of Tigray Development Association, Tigray Cultural Association, and Tigray Relief Society.