Cynthia graduated from Monash University with a Bachelor of Social Science degree in International Studies and Criminology, in 2017. She also holds a Bachelor of Arts Honours degree in Development Studies (with distinction) from the University of Johannesburg and is currently pursuing her Masters in Development Studies at Witwatersrand University. Her research interests are post-conflict reconstruction and economic development. Prior to joining SAIIA, she worked as a Researcher at the National Commission for the Fight against Genocide in Rwanda and held a non-permanent post at the Open Society Initiative for Southern Africa in the Strategy, Accountability and Learning team.