Prof Lessing Labuschagne is the Executive Director: Research, Innovation & Commercialisation at the University of South Africa (Unisa). He is operationally responsible for leading the Directorate of Research Support and the Directorate of Innovation, Technology Transfer & Commercialisation.  He also leads the Professional Research Group (PRG), a structure to support research capacity development and all research activities of professional employees.

In 2021, Lessing obtained professional recognition as a Senior Research Management Professional (SRMP) from the International Professional Recognition Council (IPRC). He also serves as a non-executive director on the board of Project Management South Africa (PMSA), editorial board member for the Journal of Research Management and Administration (JoRMA) and Honorary Academic Advisor for the PM World Journal.