KHUZWAYO Selby, DBA

As Digital Business Manager at EKZ in Zurich, Switzerland, Selby Khuzwayo is responsible for the end-to-end digital architecture, platforms, and transformation of a residential business unit focused on solar and heating systems as well as flexibility markets, including local flexibility markets and virtual power plants. Acting in a role comparable to a CIO at the unit level, he enables scalable growth through technology, data, and process digitalisation. Previously, he held roles at Axpo, one of Switzerland’s leading energy companies, and advised Boards of Directors and C-level executives on strategic and digital transformation initiatives across various industries. He also brings experience from the financial sector, particularly in synthetic data and compliance.

Selby Khuzwayo will defend his Executive Doctorate of Business Administration (EDBA) in March 2026 on the theme “How can the use of decentralized technologies help communities increase the sustainability of the commons?” under the supervision of Professor Guillaume Biot-Paquerot, Burgundy School of Business, France.

Prof Biot-Paquerot Guillaume

How can the use of blockchain help communities increase the sustainability of the commons?

In developed countries, electricity is taken for granted. In other countries, especially within rural communities, it can be viewed as a common, a finite resource. This phenomenon is problematic because it creates scarcity, which leads to the likelihood of fragility. Coupled with the high costs—often amounting to tens of thousands of dollars—and the multi-year timelines associated with extending the national grid, this situation has significantly increased the relevance of alternative technologies.
The latest technological advancement, known as peer-to-peer (P2P) energy trading, offers community members the possibility of becoming fully self-sufficient and self-governing. It is a mostly solar energy-focused system, which enables every community member to be a producer, consumer, or even both (prosumer).
The objective of this thesis is to present a schema with which governments can systematically increase the long-term sustainability of P2P energy trading in rural areas.
This thesis investigated how this technology must be governed to improve the quality of life for rural community members. The conceptual framework in use consists of Ostrom’s design principles, but tailored to put commons in the center and investigate behavioral economic factors, technological progress, legal implications, and the nature of energy markets.
The methodology employed enabled the author to elucidate how P2P projects can be governed by applying Ostrom’s design principles to 29 projects that were reviewed. To determine how a project scored for a specific design principle, the author created a scoring model, which consists of criteria for each design principle. Further knowledge gaps were filled through questionnaires, and a double-blind process was undertaken to counter the author’s biases, while statistical analysis on the projects provided meaningful insights.
Key findings led to a schema that consists of three layers: Standardization, Full digitization, and Integration. The schema is an iterative, sequential process that allows progression between layers as conditions necessitate. The three-layer schema is important because it provides a strategic framework for introducing the technology to communities, ensuring trackable and measurable adoption.
The conclusion is that, when properly implemented by a government, it can enhance overall quality of life while also increasing economic participation. Members of rural communities, in particular, gain improved access to education, healthcare, business opportunities, and entertainment.
The implications are largely positive, provided that governments engage proactively and prioritize public value over profit maximization. Promoting P2P projects can open doors to funding through corporate responsibility. Prices for solar panels are expected to decline with mass production, potentially increasing social awareness of sustainability. However, environmental issues and geopolitics play a major role in the feasibility of P2P energy trading.