Simangele is an Ecosystem Services Ecologist at Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, where she is responsible for demonstrating the value of biodiversity and ecosystems to human well-being in the province of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Her main research interests lie in the areas of water quality, rainwater harvesting, ecosystem services, socio-ecological systems and climate change. She has played a pivotal role towards the understanding of the challenges and benefits of the implementation of rainwater harvesting systems in protected areas and rural communities in terms of economic and social implications (health risks).  She is passionate about understanding and documenting indigenous knowledge, particularly when it comes to biodiversity conservation and cultural ecosystem services, youth development and empowerment.