Invited Speakers
Dr. Happy Jabulani Nukeri
Happy Jabulani Nukeri is currently the Managing Director for the South African Agency for Science and Technology Advancement (SAASTA) which is one of the business units of the National Research Foundation (NRF). The NRF is an independent statutory institution performing an agency function for the Department of Science and Technology (DST). The NRF’s mandate is to support and promote research through funding, human capacity development and the provision of necessary facilities. Through SAASTA the NRF drives science awareness, advancement and engagement through education, science communication and science awareness.
He was a Manager of the Science Education Unit at SAASTA for a number of years before being appointed Managing Director. In the position as manager of the unit he conceptualised new projects that allowed the organisation to identify and nurture talent in science, engineering and technology amongst youngsters, even in deep rural areas.
Before joining SAASTA in March 2005, he served as a science educator, head of department, lecturer at a college of education, curriculum adviser and as an Education Specialists in Mathematics, Science and Technology for the Department of Education from 1985 to 2005.
He also worked as part-time tutor and examiner for some Higher Education Institutions in South Africa and consulted for some organisation in the education sector. He is presently representing the NRF as a member of the board of directors for the South African Mathematics Foundation and also for Eskom Expo for Young Scientists.
He obtained his BA degree (Education), BEd (Specialising in Educational Management) and MEd and DEd degrees from the University of South Africa (UNISA).
His main research areas on interests are in Mathematics, Science and Technology Education and science advancement and engagement.
Dr. Mthuthuzeli Zamxaka
Mthuthuzeli Zamxaka holds a Doctorate in Environment Microbiology from the University of the Witwatersrand. He is a project manager of Nanotechnology Public Engagement Programme (NPEP) and HySA Public Awareness, Demonstration and Education Platform (HySA PADEP) which are implemented by the South African Agency for Science and Technology Advancement (SAASTA), a business unit of the National Research Foundation (NRF). The main objective is to make these technologies relevant and accessible to the broad South African public via dedicated public engagement programmes. It is also to promote public awareness and the use of nanotechnology to overcome the developmental sustainability problems, including sustainable energy, facing South Africa and many other African countries. And lastly to promote awareness of hydrogen and fuel cell technologies and its socio-economic benefits.
He is an Advisory Board member of the centre for High resolution Transmission Electron Microscope (HRTEM) at Nelson Mandela University (NMU) and has managed a number of projects in the past ten years. He has written project proposals, research grant applications, scientific journal articles, scientific reports and research briefs. He has communicated his research findings to local and international conferences, postgraduate symposiums, government stakeholders, community leaders to name but a few.
Mthuthuzeli’s passion is to build up the supply of tomorrow’s scientists and innovators by engaging the public with the phenomena of science, engineering and technology as well as sharing the science and technology advancements with the public, thereby building up their appreciation of the benefits of science so at to improve the quality of life of all people..
Email: info@npep.co.za
Dr. Steven Mufamadi
Dr Steven Mufamadi is currently the founder and Managing Director of Nabio (Pty) Ltd, Meck SA Bridging Day (via Industry Bridge Program Initiative) and co/founder of the South Africa Nanotechnology Symposia series (HIV/AIDS, Malaria, Cancer and Energy). Dr Mufamadi has also assisted during the following programmes; the 2017 L’Oréal-UNESCO for Women in Science Awards in Africa and Symposium on Clinical Research in Africa (SCRiA). He has successfully completed the Next Generation Scientist (NGS) program in Nanomedicine at Novartis Pharma, Basel, Switzerland in 2013. He has served as the adjudicator/advisor and facilitator of the GAP Innovation Competitions by The Innovation Hub Management Company (TIHMC), Germany-DAAD scholarship, British Council International FameLab (South Africa), Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) chemical station, DST-NRF Scientific writing & presentation skills workshops, Eskom International Science Fairs and many more.
Dr Mufamadi has earned his PhD in Pharmaceutics from Wits University, Entrepreneurship short courses (University of Pretoria) and [Ecole Polytechique Federale de Lausanne (EPFL), Switzerland]. He has authored and co-authored three patents, one filled by World Intellectual Property Organization, ± 40 peer-reviewed scientific publications, congress abstracts and book chapter. He was featured in the media, The Star, Pretoria newspapers, and SAFM, etc.
Dr Mufamadi was awarded as an International Inventor by the Wits enterprise & Wits University Innovation Forum. He has also received an outstanding award from the South African Academy of Pharmaceutical Sciences for the best peer reviewed research paper of Pharmaceutics published in 2012/13 (Journal Pharmaceutical Research), National Health Scholar Programme an initiative by National Health Research Committee and Gauteng Biotech communicator of the year by BioFundi Award. Biofundi awards are an initiative from the collaboration of Gauteng Department of Rural Development (GDARD) and The Innovation Hub Management Company (TIHMC).
Dr Mufamadi is currently a P-member of the National Nanotechnologies Committee at the South African Bureau of Standards (SABS).
Dr. Jan Reynhardt
Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of Ottawa (Canada)
MBA from the Gordon Institute of Business Science.
Jan has over 18 years’ experience in amongst others the Oil, Gas, Biotech and Manufacturing industries. He started his professional career at Sasol where his potential was quickly realised. Within a short space of time, he was promoted to Production manager at Sasol’s Fischer Tropsch Catalyst plant and later became Process manager of one of the largest cement plants in South Africa. He managed the production of a sizable 1.8 million tons of Clinker per annum when his expertise was sourced by Afrisam.
Jan co-founded GrnCAT Holdings Pty Ltd that specialised in waste abatement and product recovery within the petrochemical industry. Waste streams emanating from Sasol’s Sasolburg Wax operations are treated to minimise waste output and maximise overall returns.
Within the green biotech space, Jan established and excelled the Business Development function for BiODX Chemical Biological Technologies Pty Ltd. He was instrumental in establishing the necessary business drivers to leverage and secure funding from sources such as TIA, DTI and the IDC. He further created worthy business relationships both in South Africa and abroad for the company in order to achieve long-term profitability.
Jan also co-founded GRNQ Environmental Solution (“GRNQ”) to develop sustainability solutions for Triple Bottom Line (“3BL”), profit-driven organisations. The company partnered with service providers and product development companies. They developed and commercialized practical solutions that improves organisations’ contribution to the well being of our environment. GRNQ explored opportunities in the coal industry, alternative, and sustainable energy industry to reduce companies’ carbon footprint. They jointly succeeded in providing solutions to organisations. Their solutions led to improved fuel efficiency and the development of alternative fuel sources for their clients.
Jan is passionate about the environment, alternative technologies and viable solutions. Through his consulting work he developed a substantial knowledge base of the South African energy and electricity market. Jan regularly consults and develops solutions with Naf-Tech Energy, Raventech and others.
Throughout his career Jan has built a substantial network in the coal mining, cement manufacturing, banking and private equity as well as the sustainability and renewable energy sectors. Jan collaborated with multiple tertiary institutions in South Africa especially with the University of the Northwest, University of Cape Town, University of the Freestate, internationally with the University of Ottawa in Canada and St Andrews University in the UK to offer comprehensive solutions to the private and public sectors respectively.
Jan has managed significant local and international research projects. Major industrial installations have been built or modified owing to his ability to translate a business opportunity into a reality.
Jan is frequently invited to give talks on industry and business matters.
Jan holds various international patents and has been published in various international scientific journals.