Dr Kaaya is a Senior Lecturer and Acting Director for Internationalization, Convocation and Continuing Education at the University of Dodoma, Tanzania. She is also a Guest Lecturer in limnology at Egerton University, Kenya. For over 20 years, Dr Kaaya specialises in aquatic sciences applied to the protection, conservation, and management of aquatic resources including water itself; a Ph.D in Zoology specializing in aquatic sciences from the University of Cape Town, South Africa; an M.Sc. in Aquatic Sciences, and a B.Sc. in Microbiology and Aquatic Sciences from the University of Dar es Salaam. Dr Kaaya, skilled in freshwater ecology, conservation and management, possesses 20 years of experience working in freshwater science, research and aquatic ecosystem management.  Her work focuses on ecological assessment in response to development and climate change for the conservation and management of aquatic ecosystems. Dr Kaaya has developed a biological assessment tool for rivers which has been widely adopted for use by scientists and researchers in Tanzania and regionally (Kaaya et al. 2015).  Dr Kaaya is a mentor for emerging scientists in Africa to take leadership in water management and development; She serves as an advisor, for the AFO organization in Tanzania focusing on aquatic resources development and management. She is also working with the African Centre for Aquatic Research and Education (ACARE) as lead for the mentorship and special projects for the innovative African Women in Science (AWIS) program which focuses on building capacity for emerging African women scientists in the African Great Lakes region.