Bio2Biz Conference: Speakers

Dr. Sylvester Mpandeli
Dr. Sylvester Mpandeli is the Programme Manager for Climate change and Agricultural Risk Management at the Agricultural Research Council-Institute for Soil, Climate and Water (ARC-ISCW).

Some of his main responsibilities, market the programme, initiates and develops projects and to oversee the management of the projects. He has completed a PhD degree in 2006 at the University of Witwatersrand. Completed a master’s degree in 2001 at the University of Pretoria, he has also completed two honours degrees in 1998 and 2000 both at the University of Pretoria. He completed his junior degree in 1997 at the University of Venda.

Dr. Mpandeli fields of expertise are:Agrometeorology, seasonal forecasting, agronomy, irrigation and Agricultural Risk Management.
Contact details: Phone: (+27) 12 310 2667 and mobile (+27) 83 2604 946 Email: Sylvester@arc.agric.za

Elisabeth Freeman, MPH
Executive Director of Legacy Direct, Inc.
Senior Advisor for Fellows Program at the Biotechnology Institute
Elisabeth Freeman was born and raised in Zimbabwe. She is the co-founder and Executive Director of Legacy Direct, Inc., a California non-profit organization working to build greater self-reliance and improve healthcare access and education in African communities.

In 2005, Elisabeth joined Amgen, Inc., as an intern in the lab of Dr. Timothy Osslund, a founding Scientist at Amgen, Inc. She soon thereafter joined Amgen’s Pharmaceutics Department and was also assigned to the company’s Analytical and Formulation Sciences Division.

Elisabeth’s research at Amgen included the formulation and development of human protein therapeutics and crystallization for alternative formulations, resulting in multiple talks, posters and an invention disclosure. While at Amgen, Elisabeth also mentored and supported the professional development of numerous undergraduate, graduate and post-doctoral researchers as an Amgen Mentor for the Biotechnology Institute’s Minority Fellows Program.

In addition to her responsibilities at Legacy Direct, Elisabeth now serves as a Consultant and Senior Advisor for the Biotechnology Institute’s Fellows Programs. In this role, she works closely with the Institute's staff to plan and carry out several professional development training programs each year.

Elisabeth received a BA in Biology from California State University Channel Islands and an MPH in Healthcare Management and Policy from the University of California Los Angeles School of Public Health. She has received numerous recognition awards including the 2005 Cal State Channel Islands “Maximus” Leadership Award presented annually to the university’s top student leader. In 2006, she received the Camarillo Healthcare District’s Apple of Excellence Award and in 2008 Elisabeth was honored with the Multicultural and Women’s Leadership Award from Cal State Channel Islands and multiple leadership awards from UCLA’s School of Public Health.

Elisabeth is currently a guest lecturer for UCLA's School of Public Health and a frequent speaker for training programs, meetings and conferences.

Dr. Campbell M Macfarlane
Dr. Macfarlane graduated with a BSc (Hons) in Chemistry from the University of Stratheclyde, Glasgow in 1970. He completed a PhD in Biochemistry at the University of Aberdeen in 1974 and a year’s post-doc at the Biochemistry Department, Medical School, University of Edinburgh in 1975 before emigrating to South Africa in June, 1975.

Initially he worked under contract in the Department of Chemical Pathology at the Red Cross Children’s Hospital in Cape Town for five years. In 1980 he married a South African and took a permanent position at Chemical Pathology at Tygerberg. He remained there until his resignation in September 2006. His research interests at Tygerberg Campus were in gestational diabetes and neonatal and adult obesity and he collaborated in several clinical studies. He was president of the South African Association of Clinical Biochemists from 1994-1998 and is the recipient of the Welcome Diagnostics Award (1991) and the Bayer Health Care Senior Researcher Award ((1998).

Since 2006 he has attended several graduate level management and business programmes, been on the organizing committee of several congresses and started his own business, Phoenix Therapeutics. He is currently the Senior Scientific Advisor for Lazaron Biotechnologies.

Mr. Mclean Sibanda
BSc.Eng (WITS); MSc.Eng (WITS); LLB; LLM-Commercial (UNISA), SAIIPL

McLean Sibanda holds BSc(Eng) and MSc(Eng) degrees from the University of the Witwatersrand (Johannesburg), and the LLB and LLM (Commercial Law) degrees from the University of South Africa (UNISA). He is an admitted and practicing attorney of the High Court of South Africa, and is also a qualified and registered South African patent attorney. He has wide legal experience in intellectual property and commercial law, with particular interests in patents, copyright, commercialization of intellectual property, deal structuring, company law, and commercial law. He has a wide experience in intellectual property management, commercialization, company law and commercial law, owing to his experience as a Senior Patent Attorney and Head of the Intellectual Property Management Office for the Innovation Fund, a business unit of the Department of Science and Technology that funds and supports technological innovation and South African developed intellectual property. McLean qualified as a patent attorney after serving articles with Adams & Adams patent attorneys. He also spent close to seven years at De Beers Industrial Diamonds Division (now Element 6) being a Senior Research Scientist and Intellectual Property Team Leader. McLean has authored and co-authored a number of scientific and intellectual property articles and has been an invited speaker at various conferences, seminars and workshops on various aspects of intellectual property. He has been involved with reviewing and drafting intellectual property strategies and policies, in addition to developing intellectual property management and technology transfer capacity for the South African public sector. He led the public consultation process for the development of the South African Policy Framework for Intellectual Property Rights from Publicly Financed Research. In 2007 - 2008, he was seconded to the Department of Science and Technology to assist with the drafting and development of the draft legislation on Intellectual Property Rights from Publicly Financed Research and Development, which is currently before the South African parliament. He is a fellow of the South African Institute of Intellectual Property Lawyers (SAIIPL) and serves on a number of boards in the capacity of a non-executive director; and is also the Vice-President of the Licensing Executives Society of South Africa.

Prof. Nceba Gqaleni
Coming Soon

Prof. Puri Kamal
Kamal Puri was appointed Professor of Law at University of Queensland in 1995, which position he presently holds at the Queensland University of Technology.
He obtained his PhD from the Australian National University, Canberra, in the field of public procurement. He has published 6 books and numerous journal articles in two areas of his specialisation – Intellectual Property and Public Procurement.
His commitment to teaching is confirmed by his Commendations for teaching and learning on four occasions under the University of Queensland’s Excellence in Teaching Awards.

His emphasis on applying legal rules in the real world has led to his present appointment as the foundation Director of the Intellectual Property Commercialisation Unit at the Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation, Queensland Government, which position he now holds together with Professorship of Intellectual Property at the Queensland University of Technology.

He has been instrumental in establishing the new WIPO-QUT Master of Intellectual Property Law course (LW53), which is the first of its kind in the Asia-Pacific region. The first edition of this course will be offered in February 2010.

Prof. Petro Terblanche
Petro Terblanche, D.Sc.
President, TB Alliance Stakeholders Association
Executive Director, Technology & Business Development Directorate
Medical Research Council, South Africa

Prof. Terblanche is a member of the MRC’s Strategic Management Team and an expert in innovation management. She has extensive experience developing and managing research portfolios for clinical research projects for single and/or combination therapy in the field of medical oncology, and in planning, executing and publishing original research aimed at decision support and policy development in the field of environmental health. Prior to her current position at the MRC, she was Executive Director of the Food, Biological and Chemical Technologies Division (Bio/Chemtek) at South Africa’s Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), one of the leading scientific and technology research, development and implementation organisations in Africa.

Prof. Terblanche has held numerous research positions at the MRC, including Senior Medical Researcher in the programme on indoor and atmospheric air pollution, and Chief Medical Researcher and Specialist Scientist in the Research Institute for Environmental Diseases. She has been a Professional Officer in the Department of Medical Oncology at H.F. Verwoerd Hospital; a Research Officer at the Department of Medical Oncology, University of Pretoria; a Senior Medical Researcher at the Research Institute for Environmental Diseases; and a Visiting Scientist at Harvard University’s School of Public Health. Since 2005, Prof. Terblanche has also been Honorary Professor at the University of Pretoria, in the School of Health Systems and Public Health.

Prof. Terblanche holds B.Sc. degrees in Botany and Zoology from the University of Pretoria, and a M.Sc. and D.Sc. in Medical Oncology, also from the University of Pretoria. She has post-doctoral training in Environmental Health Management from Harvard University.

Prof. Margaret Riley
Margaret Foster Riley is Professor of Law at the University of Virginia School of Law where she teaches in the areas of Bioethics, Food and Drug Law, Health Law, Animal Law and Public Health Law. She also has a secondary appointment in the Department of Public Health Sciences at the University of Virginia School of Medicine. She is a graduate of Duke University and Columbia University Law School and was a litigation associate at Rogers & Wells in New York and Pepper Hamilton & Scheetz in Philadelphia prior to joining the faculty at Virginia. Her areas of interest include biomedical research, food and drug law, genetics, reproductive technologies, stem cell research, animal biotechnology, health disparities and chronic disease. She is a member of the UVA Health Sciences IRB, Chair of the UVA ESCRO committee and was a UVA representative on the Virginia Advisory Committee on Genetics.

Mr. Roger Reisert
Mr. Reisert is President and CEO of C2 Biofuels, a United States based clean technology company formed to commercialize 2nd generation cellulosic ethanol production from pine forest thinnings. He formed the company in May of 2005 with assistance from Georgia Tech’s technology incubator. The company’s technology has been developed through collaboration with scientists at Georgia Tech and the University of Georgia.

Mr. Reisert’s prior experience includes over 20 years in oil & gas and chemical companies including 13 years with Atlantic Richfield Corporation, which is now part of BP. He has held executive engineering and operations positions with Baker Hughes Corporation and Phelps Dodge Corporation. As Vice President for Phelps Dodge’s Columbian Chemicals Division, Mr. Reisert managed the company’s five North American production plants, the corporate engineering division, and the company’s environmental affairs.

Mr. Reisert’s education includes a Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering from Georgia Institute of Technology, and a Masters of Business Administration from the University of Houston.

Dr. Sarah Taylor
I recently graduated from Wits University with a PhD and I am currently employed as a Postdoctoral Fellow at Wits. My PhD research, under the supervision of Professor Chrissie Rey, involved the development of RNA silencing-based resistance strategies to cassava mosaic viruses. I produced RNA silencing constructs resulting in the efficient knockdown of virus replication. My undergraduate majors were Genetics and Conservation Biology and I still regard these aspects of science to be my passion. It was during my PhD research that I was introduced to the field of Plant Biotechnology and this has joined my list of scientific interests. Furthermore I have abundant enthusiasm for education and scientific writing and I like to explore the innovation potential of scientific research.

Dr. Carola Niesler
Dr. Carola Niesler is a young NRF-rated stem cell scientist who has 15 peer-reviewed international publications and has supervised 14 postgraduate students to the completion of their studies. She also plays an active role in the development of stem cell technologies and regulations in South Africa, as well as reviewing publications and grant applications for various institutions. Dr Niesler started her stem cell research career in the UK after being awarded a competitive scholarship to pursue her PhD at the Department of Clinical Biochemistry, University of Cambridge. She subsequently spent two years as a full time researcher in a Centre of Excellence for wound healing research at the School of Biological Sciences, University of Manchester. In 2001 she returned to Stellenbosch University to take up a position as Lecturer in the Department of Physiological Sciences and also to establish a Stem Cell Biology Group and laboratory. During this time Dr Niesler also acted as a director of a Clinical Research Organization based in Cape Town. She is now a Senior Lecturer at the Department of Biochemistry, University of KwaZulu-Natal where she focuses on the regulation of stem cell activation, migration and differentiation.

Prof. Diran Makinde
Professor Diran Makinde is the NEPAD West African Biosciences Network Director based in Dakar, Senegal. He earned the degrees of Doctor of Veterinary Medicine in 1976, and a PhD in Veterinary Physiology from the University of Ibadan, in 1986. Prior to his current appointment, he was Professor of Animal Science at the University of Venda, South Africa where he also served a five-year term as Dean of the School of Agriculture, Rural Development and Forestry (1997-2001). In addition, he taught at the universities of Ibadan (Nigeria), 1977-1991 and Zimbabwe, 1989-1995. Diran Makinde’s research interests reside in the field of gastrointestinal physiology of monogastrics, which includes such areas as digestibility, intestinal transport and pathogenicity. As a result he developed and applied this in risk assessment studies and also became involved in advocacy for agricultural biotechnology. He has well over 45 publications in peer-reviewed journals locally and internationally, as well as several contributions in the form of books/ chapters in books. He is a C-rated scientist as evaluated (1998) by the South Africa National Research Foundation. He is a member, from inception, and President of the Board of AfricaBio, a non-profit making biotechnology stakeholders association based in South Africa and was in-charge of biosafety. He has attended workshops and conferences in many countries in Africa and abroad, in the capacity of both as facilitator and resource person on digestive physiology, biotechnology and biosafety. Prof. Makinde is the current project coordinator for the NEPAD African Biosafety Network of Expertise (ABNE) and key link between NEPAD African Biosciences Initiative secretariat, MSU and the African biosafety regulators for this project.

Dr. Dennis C. Liotta
Dr. Dennis C. Liotta, Samuel Candler Dobbs Professor of Chemistry, Emory University: Prof. Liotta received his Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry in 1974 from The City University of New York and completed his post-doctoral training at The Ohio State University. Dr. Liotta has been a professor at Emory University for thirty-two years.

He is a Fellow of the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, the recipient of a Camille and Henry Dreyfus Teacher Scholar Fellowship, an Alexander von Humboldt Senior Scientist Award, the 2005 Herty Award, and was the Emory University Distinguished Faculty Lecturer for 2006.

He serves as the Director of the Republic of South Africa Drug Discovery Training Program as well as the Emory Institute for Drug Discovery. While at Emory, he has authored more than two hundred research publications and patents.

Over the last fifteen years he has also developed a great deal of experience in the discovery and development of pharmaceuticals. He has served as a consultant to several major pharmaceutical firms, including Merck, Glaxo, Burroughs Wellcome, Boehringer Ingelheim and Johnson & Johnson. Along with his colleague, Raymond Schinazi, he was the recipient of the 2003 Biomedical Industry Growth Award, given by the Georgia Biomedical Partnership. He serves (or has served) on the Scientific Advisory Boards (SABs) of several prominent biopharmaceutical companies including Achilion, MetaStatix (SAB Chair), AtheroGenics, Pharmasset (scientific founder), iThemba Pharmaceuticals (scientific founder, SAB Chair), NeurOp, and FOB Synthesis.

In addition, he is the inventor of record for several clinically important antivirals, including FTC (Emtriva, Emtricitabine), 3TC (Epivir, Lamivudine), Reverset (DPC 817, D-D4FC), Racivir and Elvucitabine.

Miss. Anele Sabela
Currently in the second year of MSc studies through the University of KwaZulu-Natal (School of Biological and Conservation Sciences) and the South African Sugarcane Research Institute (SASRI). The current research forms part of a larger project that is jointly funded by the South African Sugarcane Research Institute (SASRI) and PlantBio which aims to isolate promoters to target transgene expression to leaves, stems, and roots of sugarcane. The specific focus of the current project is root-specific promoter isolation with subsequent verification of reporter gene expression.

Dr. Hennie Groenewald
Dr Hennie Groenewald is the executive manager of Biosafety South Africa (www.biosafety.org.za), a national biosafety platform initiated by the National Department of Science and Technology.
Biosafety South Africa supports innovation in biotechnology through the delivery of value adding services and investment in biosafety research to help ensure the safety and sustainability of biotechnological products.
Hennie has a PhD in plant biotechnology and has 20 years of experience in research and development, teaching, project management, entrepreneurship and business development.
Dr Groenewald’s research career focused on aspects of plant molecular physiology, biosafety, tissue culture, molecular biology and biochemistry and he has authored several peer reviewed papers and patents on these subjects. Prior to joining Biosafety South Africa Hennie worked at Stellenbosch University and still holds an extraordinary senior lecturer position at that institution. He has previously also worked at the South African Sugarcane Research Institute and has been a visiting researcher at the Texas Agricultural & Medical University, Weslaco, USA, the Max Planck Institut für Molekulare Pflanzenphysiologie, Golm, Germany and the Commonwealth Scientific & Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Plant Industry, Brisbane, Australia.

Prof. Luke Mumba
Professor Mumba is the Director of the Southern African Network for Biosciences (SANBio) of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD). This is one of the four Networks of Centres of Excellence in the life sciences established by NEPAD throughout the continent. Since he joined the Secretariat in 2006, he has been actively involved in the implementation of the AU/NEPAD S&T Consolidated Plan of Action (ACP) in Southern Africa.

Professor Mumba has a PhD in Plant Genetics from University of Cambridge and an MSc in Molecular Genetics from University of Whales, UK. He still holds the position of Professor of Genetics in the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Zambia where he also held senior management positions of Dean of Faculty and Head of Department. He joined the University of Zambia in 1985 after obtaining his BSc degree from the same institution, rising through the academic ranks. In 2002 he was awarded the Hawaii State Foundation Research Fellowship for his outstanding contribution to research and development in biological sciences. His work has been published in national, regional and international journals, books and conference proceedings. He has carried out consultancies ranging from country biodiversity assessments, to policy and legislative framework development strategic planning, and project proposal development in life sciences. His research interests include sourcing useful genes from wild relatives of the common bean for crop improvement, bioprospecting, biotechnology and biosafety.

Professor Mumba has also participated in many national and international expert consultations on biotechnology and risk assessment of genetically modified foods, including the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the USAID-RSCA, UN/Norway conference on Technology Transfer and Capacity Building, and the European Commission Parliament. He has served on a number of national and international committees including the ASTM International Technical Committee on Biotechnology (E48); the National Plant Genetic Resources Committee (NPGRC); the Interim National Biosafety Committee (INBC); the National AIDs Council Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC) of which he was the founding Chair; Board of Directors of Zambia Wildlife Authority (ZAWA); founding Director of Biotechnology Outreach Society of Zambia (BOZ); as well as a member of the University of Zambia (UNZA) Council and Senate.

Dr. Sibongile Gumbi
Managing Director: Smart Innovation Dr Sibongile Gumbi joined the CSIR in 2004 as their Intellectual Property and Innovation Manager. A year later she was promoted to CSIR Group Manager for R&D Outcomes. She has an academic background in Pharmacy, which includes a MSc in Pharmaceutics and a PhD in Pharmacology. Dr Gumbi moved into the field of Intellectual Property when she became Programme Director at the Centre for the Management of Intellectual Property in Health Research (MIHR). This job entailed being responsible for the strategic planning, implementation and coordination of MIHR capacity development programmes in Intellectual Property management.

Her work as a consultant for the Rockefeller Foundation resulted in the formation of MIHR. Dr Gumbi also worked for the Technology and Business Development Directorate at the Medical Research Council where she was responsible for establishing the Indigenous Knowledge systems office. The office addressed policy, ethical and intellectual property issues relating to health research of Indigenous Knowledge systems and technologies. She is past and present chairman of three biotech companies. Dr Gumbi has published widely and presented numerous papers on the topic of intellectual property management, technology transfer and foresight methodology. In 2006 she completed the IMD, Mastering Technology Enterprises programme and the UNISA/WIPO IP Law programme.

Currently, Dr Gumbi is Managing Director of Smart Innovation, a company that invests in life science technology-focused enterprises and offers consulting services.

Dr Ronél van Rooyen
Ronél van Rooyen obtained her PhD in Fungal Biotechnology from the University of Stellenbosch. During her final year of PhD research (2005), she became involved with the South African mushroom industry after completing a mushroom cultivation course at the SA Gourmet Mushroom Academy. Initially, mushroom cultivation was only a hobby but soon she identified the need for a commercial spawn producer that complies with international standards. Mycophiles (Latin for “Fungal Friends”) was registered as a company in 2006 and after a year of intense planning, construction of the facility started in 2007. Mycophiles Spawn Laboratory is the first commercial-scale spawn production facility in South Africa for gourmet and medicinal mushrooms. The facility consists of an analytical laboratory, an ISO Class 7 Cleanroom and on-site quality control growing rooms for mushroom production. Their aim is to support the up-and-coming gourmet mushroom industry with top quality inoculums, analytical and consultation services. The facility started commercial production in January 2009 and produces spawn from a variety of gourmet and medicinal mushrooms ( www.mycophiles.com).

Silindile Buthelezi
After demonstrating a passion for biology, mathematics and physical science at High School; becoming a Food Technologist was the more logical step to take for a great career! She qualified for a National Higher Diploma at the former Natal Technikon now called Durban University of Technology; then completed a Bachelor of Technology in the same field at Pretoria University of Technology. To earn these qualifications projects done successfully were Fat-free ice cream and Diabetic, instant jelly that sets at room temperature. Professional expertise was obtained at companies like Bromor Foods, Anglo American Farms – Dewhurst Foods, Langeberg Foods – Tiger Brands and South African Breweries (SABMiller) where she worked in the following roles: Quality Controller, Senior Quality Controller, R&D Controller, Microbiologist, Laboratory Manager, and Quality Assurance Manager.

Her recent qualification in Master of Science in Packaging Technology through Brunel University (London) has earned her roles such as Packaging Laboratory Manager, New Product Development Consultant: Packaging and currently Packaging Supplier Development Consultant at SAB. However; the dissertation done was on effectiveness of integrated business management systems such as ISO 9001, HACCP at all levels of the business. Her strengths lie in quality management, project management and consulting skills whilst she is known for tenacity, hardworking, persistence, results driven whilst displaying fun loving sparks and genuine care for humankind.

Dr Andre Trollip
Dr. André Trollip is General Manager and director of Biotec Laboratories South Africa Ltd. He started his working career in diagnostic microbiology laboratories having trained at Baragwanth Hospital, South Africa. In addition to his undergraduate degrees, he holds Masters and Doctoral degrees in Biotechnology. His primary research interest is tuberculosis drug resistance, epidemiology and immunology. He joined Biotec Laboratories Ltd. as a research scientist in 2000. He was appointed Product Manager in 2006, and General Manager in 2007. He is currently responsible for the management of Biotec Laboratories South Africa, a research, development and service company part of the Lab21 Group (UK).

Mr Ashley Uys
In 2004 Ashley Uys graduated from UWC with a BSc. Honours degree in Biotechnology, after which he was employed as a research assistant at UCT’s Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine in the HIV/Aids research centre.

He’s primary duty was to do research on HIV subtype phylogenetic classification. In 2006 Ashley joined an internship program hosted by Acorn Technologies, which was a small business incubated that fell under the Small Enterprise Development Agency umbrella and is now part of The Cape Biotech Trust.

The internship was a Department of Trade and Industry initiative to promote entrepreneurship in science. This is where Ashley acquired business training through WITS Business School and UCT Graduate School of Business and subsequently started his company called Real World Diagnostics.

Ashley consulted to Vision Biotech as an R&D scientist for the development of rapid diagnostic test kits and is currently raising an investment to set-up an in-house laboratory and R&D facility for diagnostic test kits. These test kits include diagnostic tests for HIV, pregnancy, Malaria, Drugs of Abuse, and many more.

Real World Diagnostics is current supplying diagnostic test kits to Makro Wholesalers, Alpha Pharm Pharmacies, The Department of Health, De Beers mines, South African Breweries, and many other organizations. Real World Diagnostics has recently developed tests for long term alcohol consumption and CD4 cell counts in HIV positive patients.

Dr Tony Ndifor
Dr Tony Ndifor is currently a Director in Preclinical Development at Johnson and Johnson Pharmaceutical Research and Development (J&JPRD). He has over 12 years of drug development experience with 7 years spent at the Biotechnology giant Amgen, Inc. He, as such has extensive experience in assessing preclinical safety of drug candidates to meet global regulatory guidelines including US, EU and Japanese requirements. This includes authoring the requisite regulatory documents to obtain clinical trials and marketing authorizations. In his years at the biotechnology company, Amgen, Dr Ndifor provided expert preclinical support for developing biologics (monoclonal antibodies and peptides) as well as small molecular entities. In his current role he provides preclinical functional expertise to small molecule drug development teams as early as during lead optimization through late phase clinical trials. He is responsible for designing GLP safety packages to support various clinical trials, authoring regulatory submissions, and representing the company in regulatory interactions on preclinical issues. Dr Ndifor is actively involved in the Society of Toxicology (SOT) and served over the last 4 yrs as a member of the Committee on Diversity Initiatives. He is also Treasurer/Secretary of the Toxicologists of African Origin- a sub-group of SOT, and President-Elect of the Southern California Chapter of the SOT. He has for many years been part of the organizing committee for the BIO International Conference and serves as a mentor for students in the Minority Fellows Program sponsored by the Biotechnology Institute.

Dr Ndifor holds a BS and PhD in Pharmacology from the University of Liverpool, UK and an MS degree in Parasitology and Medical Entomology from the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine. He was born and raised in Cameroon.

Dr Maritha Kotze
Dr Maritha Kotze is the founder and CEO of Gknowmix, a healthcare company that developed a business process for integration of clinical assessments, laboratory analysis and reporting through a web-based genetic testing service delivery system. She maintains close links with academia through an appointment as senior researcher at the University of Stellenbosch, promoting genome research innovation among students, scientists and clinicians. She obtained her BSc, BSc honours and MSc degrees cum laude at the University of Stellenbosch. Since obtaining her PhD degree in 1990, she has supervised several postgraduate students including more than 10 PhD graduates. She has been awarded the Rector's Award for Research Excellence in 1999 and obtained a patent award for Research Innovation in 2005. Her publications include more than 100 peer-reviewed articles and invited book chapters. Maritha has been an invited speaker at numerous national and international scientific meetings and is a regular presenter and facilitator of CPD accredited lectures countrywide. The Gknowmix system was developed under the auspices of the Innovation Centre of the SA Medical Research Council and was partly funded by the Industrial Development Corporation of South Africa. The long-term goal aim is to build a genetic database that could facilitate the conversion of research and innovation.

Miss Candice Pillay
Miss Candice Pillay has recently been appointed as the South African HIV/AIDS Platform (SHARP) manager. Candice graduated with an M.Sc degree from University of KwaZulu Natal, a post graduate diploma in Human Resources Management from University of KwaZulu Natal, a post graduate diploma in Negotiation and an MDP from GIBS. On completion of her M.Sc degree Candice joined the HIV/ AIDS research unit at the NICD where she set up the drug resistance studies. She worked extensively on prevention-of-mother-to-child drug trials. From her research work she published a number of papers in international journals.

In 2004 Candice started a 5 year journey in the private sector with Roche Diagnostics. Whilst at Roche Diagnostics Candice moved through the ranks starting as an Applications Specialist. Later she moved to KwaZulu Natal to work as a Sales Consultant to grow and manage the molecular diagnostics business for the area. Whilst in KZN she worked on the Early Infant Diagnosis project at Roche. In 2008 she was appointed as Key Account Manager (Public Sector) to manage the molecular diagnostics business in the public sector.

In May 2009 Candice was appointed as the Platform Manager for the South African HIV/ AIDS Research and Innovation Platform (SHARP). Responsibilities which are inherent with her position at the LIFElab platform are to drive and focus on HIV research activities, assuring researchers milestones and project objectives are reached. Miss Pillay (the platform) will be a catalyst to facilitate collaborations between researchers and also between researchers and the public sector. A relationship between the latter entities could culminate in various research projects receiving much needed funding. She will also leverage international and private sector funding bodies to invest in SHARP to enable the growth and success of the platform.

Mr Derek Mathews
Grew up on the farm near Lichtenburg in the North West Province of South Africa.
After matriculating at Potchefstroom Boys High School in 1979, did National service in the SAAF 28 Squadron as a loadmaster crew member on Transall C160 transport aircraft. Completed an Agriculture diploma at the Potchefstroom College of agriculture in 1983 and started farming the family farm with his father. He took a work opportunity on farms in Illinois and Texas in 1985.gained valuable experience and contacts. In 1989 Derek took over the farm from his father and has farmed it to date, expanding the operations to 2000 hectares of crops and 30 ha irrigation and Ethanol production. On farm storage was designed and built to service niche markets. Most of this land is owned by black people from the former Bophuthatswana and is share cropped with them.

Derek was elected Chairman of the Brahman Breeders Club in Lichtenburg in 1994 and 1995.

In 1996 was elected to the national executive of NAMPO and served on the market committee and the editorial committee of Mielies/ Maize. When the organization amalgamated to form GrainSA, Derek was elected to the national executive of GSA. In 2002 he was elected to the executive committee of GSA where he served until standing down in 2005. Derek was chairman of the public relations committee in 2003. Served on the harvest day and various other duties at GSA. Derek was chairman of the farming committee from 2003 until leaving the organization in 2005. 2001 to 2005 was delegated to the commodity chamber of AGRI SA and also attended the general council of AGRI SA

In 1998 Derek attended a coarse at the Chicago Board of trade in basic trading of futures and options. In 1999 together with other partners started Grainman International a futures trading company on the Johannesburg Stock exchange, was elected to the Agricultural Products Division advisory committee of the JSE and still holds that position to date.

In 1998 Derek also started a degree coarse and attained his BACCALAUREUS TECHNOLOGIAE Agriculture Management in January 2000 from Pretoria University of Technology.

In 2003 Derek joined the Soetmelksvlei Study group. Derek was awarded the crop and overall Farmer of 2004 by the group, for the farms achievements in 2004. Elected as Chairman of the study group in November 2004.

During 2004 Derek was part of a group of farmers that visited the Monsanto facilities in the USA to gain firsthand information on biotechnology and its developments in the world.

In 2004 Derek was nominated to attend the Pretoria University school of Business and attained a postgraduate certificate in Agricultural Business Leadership. Graduation in May 2005.

In July 2005 they build the first grain ethanol plant on the farm to produce gel fuel from maize. Derek also attends the Ethanol Producers and Consumers conference in Wyoming USA

In 2006 He delivers a paper at the EPAC conference in Montana USA on Ethanol gel fuel.

In 2007 Derek attended the world food prize awards and the Truth About Trade & Technology farmer round table in the USA discussing the use of biotechnology in addressing food shortages.

In 2008 he is appointed to the SABS gel fuel standards comity.

Mr Ken Neethling
CEO, Biological Control Products (Pty) Ltd

After completing a BSc in Engineering (mechanical) at the University of Natal, Ken relocated to Sydney Australia, where he worked as a Project & Design engineer for Resmed, one of the worlds leading bio-medical companies. In 1996 he was awarded a Masters in Industrial Engineering from the University of New South Wales, Sydney.

In 1997 he joined Smith & Nephew in the UK as a Continuous Improvement Engineer before forming an IT company contracting to the Eastern Group, one of London’s major energy suppliers.

Ken returned back to South Africa to join BCP as a Commissioning & Design engineer and in 2004 he was promoted to Production Director. In April 2007 Ken was appointed as CEO of BCP. In 2009 he was awarded an Executive MBA from the University of Cape Town’s Global School of Business. Ken also serves on the board of Madumbi-BCP, an associated sales & distribution company.

Mr A Lewis
Mr Lewis has a BSc with Physics and Maths as majors, a BSc (Electrical Engineering) (Cum Laude) and a BProc law degree. He is a patent attorney and has been a partner in the prestigious South African IP law firm, Adams & Adams since 1977. He is also a Notary Public. He has been involved in the Licensing Executives Society, being President of LES South Africa in 1994/95 and again in 2005/6. He was a Vice President of LES International from 2005 to 2007 and has been nominated as the next President of LES International. In his practice Mr Lewis has successfully litigated many high profile IP cases and has lectured and examined candidate patent attorneys between 1988 and 2004. He has been involved in several due diligence investigations, in particular for Net 1 UEPS when it listed in the USA; is a Certified Licensing Professional; is the contributor for “Trade Secrets Throughout the World” (published by Thomson West) in regard to South Africa; and he has also presented a number of papers at conferences, seminars and courses in South Africa and overseas on a variety of IP and licensing issues. In addition he is a member of the group of experts advising UNCITRAL in regard to a proposed legislative guide on secured transactions dealing with security rights in intellectual property.

Dr. Florence Muringi Wambugu
Dr. Florence Muringi Wambugu, a renowned agricultural plant pathologist with specialization in virology and genetic engineering, has a B.SC Botany, University of Nairobi; M.SC in Plant Pathology, North Dakota State University; PhD in Plant virology, Biotechnology, University of Bath, England; and a Post-Doctoral Research Associate – Biotechnology, Plant Science Monsanto, St. Louis, USA.
Dr. Wambugu who has over 30 years experience in agricultural crop research is the Founder, Director and the Chief Executive Officer of Africa Harvest Biotech Foundation International (AHBFI) from 2002 to the present. AHBFI is a nonprofit foundation with offices in Nairobi, Kenya, Johannesburg, South Africa, and Washington, D.C. Previously, she founded, established and worked as Africa Regional Director, ISAAA – Afri-center, in Nairobi; she also worked as Plant Biotechnology Research Scientist, Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI), Kenya.
Dr. Wambugu has made significant contributions in research, development and improved production in maize, pyrethrum, banana, sweet potato and forestry in Kenya. She has published over 100 articles and co-authored various papers. She is also the author and publisher of Modifying Africa: How Biotechnology Can Benefit the Poor (www.modifyingafrica.com). Dr. Wambugu is a strong believer in the power of biotechnology and has participated in many international forums in support of biotechnology in Africa to increase food production. Under her leadership, the Biotech Tissue Culture Banana Project has positively impacted thousands of small-scale farmers in Kenya and Eastern Africa.

Dr. Wambugu is the recipient of numerous local and international honors, awards, and grantsKARI’s 1989 Crop Science Award for outstanding scientist of the year; International Potato Center’s (CIP) Regional Research Award/Grant, 1989; Noble Prize of the United Cultural Convention 2002; World Bank Global Development Network Award in 2000 for succesful introdution of the tissue-culture banana in Kenya; Woman of the Year 2001 by the American Biographical Institute; and Woman of the Year Award by Eve Magazine. Under the leadership of Dr. Wambugu, Africa Harvest (and consortium collaborating institutions) has been awarded US$ 18.6 million from a global competitive grant from Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Global Health Challenge for Health and Nutrition. In August 2008, the Yara Foundation awarded her the Yara Award for outstanding contribution to development of rural agriculture and entrepreneurship in Africa

Dr. Wambugu has served as a board member for and in other capacities both local and international institutions. Previously she served in several board of directors which include Private Sector Committee of CGIAR, United Nations Millennium Development goals Hunger task force; Executive Committee member of Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA); DuPont Company Biotech Advisory Panel, USA; International Plant Genetics Research Institute (IPGRI now called Bioversity) and African Biotechnology Stakeholders Forum (ABSF).
Currently, she is serving as a Council Member of the Japan Science and Technology in Society (STS) Forum, a Steering Committee Member of the European Action on Global Life Sciences (EAGLES) and a Science Board member of Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Grand Challenge in Global Health.

Ms Simphiwe P. Buthelezi
Ms Simphiwe P. Buthelezi is studying towards her PhD degree in Microbiology at UKZN under the supervision of Prof. Bala Pillay and Dr. A.O. Olaniran. Her research, which is funded by LIFElab, is on xylanase production and characterization from Bacillus species. She is also currently appointed as a lecturer in the Department of Microbiology at UKZN under the Leadership and Equity Advancement Programme.

Mr Sean Moore
Sean Moore began his career as a research entomologist in 1990, with the Plant Protection Research Institute of the Agricultural Research Council (ARC) in Pretoria. He completed an MSc in Entomology in 1993 through Rhodes University. In 1995 he moved to Port Elizabeth, where he took up a position as a research entomologist in the citrus industry. In 1996 he developed an interest in the development and use of insect pathogens as microbial control agents for insect pests of agricultural crops. This led to his completion of a PhD in Biotechnology in 2002, also through Rhodes University. In 2004 he founded River Bioscience, as a spinoff company of Citrus Research International and a subsidiary of the Citrus Growers Association. For four and a half years he led the company, building it into one of the leading agri-biotech companies in the country, manufacturing and supplying biological and biorational products to the southern African agricultural industry. In 2006 River Bioscience received a Technology Top 100/Bio2Biz award for achievement in developing the biosciences, and a Bio2Biz award for most promising emerging enterprise. In the same year, Sean Moore was awarded with a Citrus Industry Technical Merit Award. He is now Programme Manager for Integrated Pest Management with Citrus Research International. He has multiple research collaborations with Stellenbosch and Rhodes Universities, focussing mainly on insect pathogens as biological control agents. He also serves at Technical Director on the board of River Bioscience.

Dr Ali R Esterghalian
Coming Soon

Ms. Aisha Mohamed Ali
Aisha Mahomed Ali is currently completing her MSc degree at the Center for Applied Mycological Studies, CAMS, situated in Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute, FABI, based at the University of Pretoria. CAMS focuses on various disciplines of mycology including industrial mycology that is of special interest to Aisha. Her research involves the use of fungi for the production of flavours and fragrances. One of the groups of aromas that is of interest to her is the pyrazines, particularly the methoxypyrazines responsible for a green pepper aroma. In 2008 to 2009 she was awarded the DST/NRF internship that was based at BioPAD, a Department of Science (DST) instrument, set-up to build the biotechnology industry in South Africa. During this period she also participated in a pilot programme at the LIFElab Bioprocessing Platform, where further research involving the use of solid-state fermentation processes for the production of methoxypyrazines by fungi was performed. She has five published abstracts and has received an award for the best poster presentation at the DST-NRF Internship Day.

Ms Chantal Arendse
Chantal Arendse is the Director for Biosafety in the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry where she is responsible for managing the biosafety regulatory framework through the administration of the Genetically Modified Organisms Act, 1997 (Act No. 15 of 1997). Her prior experience within the Department focused on plant improvement regulatory matters, specifically dealing with the quality of plant and propagating material for trade. She obtained her MSc in Plant Biotechnology from Tuskegee University, AL in 2001 where her research focus included tissue culture and genetic transformation of South African sweet potato lines for improved virus resistance.

Professor Don A Cowan
Don Cowan was educated in New Zealand at the University of Waikato and completed a period of Post Doctoral study there before moving to University College London as a Lecturer in 1985. After 15 years in London, he accepted the position at Professor of Microbiology in the Department of Biotechnology at the University of the Western Cape, Cape Town, where he is now a Senior Professor. In 2002 he established, and is Director of, the Institute Microbial Biotechnology and Metagenomics, a group currently comprising some 50 research and support staff.
Professor Cowan has published around 165 research papers, review articles and book chapters, and sits on the Editorial Boards of 13 international journals. His collaborators include researchers in New Zealand, Chile, Hong Kong, France, the UK, China, Spain, Germany, Sweden and Norway.
Prof Cowan also holds the post of Adjunct Professor at the University of Waikato, was elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society of South Africa in 2007 and a Member of the Academy of Sciences of South Africa in 2008. He was awarded an NRF B1 rating in 2007, and the UWC Vice-Rectors Award for Research Excellence in 2008.

Prof Cowan’s research activities encompass several disparate fields, but almost all linked by the theme of ‘environmental extremes’. Since his PhD studies, he has retained an interest in the ecology and enzymology of extreme thermophiles, organisms living at the temperature of boiling water. For the past decade he has worked at the other end of the temperature scale with New Zealand, Chinese and American scientists, studying the microbiology of the Dry Valleys of Eastern Antarctica. He collaborates with Ethiopian and Norwegian researchers to study organisms in the alkaline Rift Valley lakes, with South African and Spanish researchers on bacteria in high salt environments, and with French researchers on acidic environments. He leads a strong program of microbial genomic bioprospecting, and works closely with other Cape researchers on the structure and function of extremophilic enzymes.

Dr Bob Scholes
Dr Bob Scholes is a systems ecologist, employed by the South African Council for Scientific and Industrial Research. He has worked on various aspects of the ecology of African savannas since gaining his PhD from University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa, in 1988. His interest in elemental cycling in savannas led to research on the global carbon cycle, including leadership of the SAFARI 2000 regional campaign on emissions from African wildfires, two terms on the science steering committee of the Global Change and Terrestrial Ecosystems project of the IGBP, and co-authorship of several chapters in reports of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. An involvement with the design and promotion of Earth Observing systems included a term as chair of the Global Terrestrial Observing System and membership of the Implementation Task Team of the Global Earth Observing System of Systems. More recently, he led the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment working group on the condition and trend of global ecosystems, and the scientific assessment of elephant management in South Africa.

He has thirty years of field experience in many parts of Africa, and has published widely in the fields of savanna ecology and global change, including popular and scientific books.

Zoleka Ngcete
Zoleka Ngcete is the Programme Manager of the South African Malaria Initiative (SAMI), which is based at BioPAD, one of the Biotechnology Regional Innovation Agencies established by the Department of Science and Technology. Zoleka joined SAMI in November 2006 as a Project Coordinator, while it was hosted by the University of Pretoria. She holds an MSc in Biotechnology from Rhodes University, as well as diplomas in Project Management and Business Management.
Prior to joining SAMI Zoleka was involved in the National Drug Development Programme, which was funded by The Innovation Fund, and was responsible for the day-to-day supervision of a University of Cape Town student working on a project aimed at identifying novel anti-tuberculosis natural and synthetic compounds.
Zoleka’s main interests and strengths lie in the management of research aimed improving lives. As the SAMI Programme Manager, she contributes to the development of the strategy and is responsible for the implementation thereof.

Dr Kingstone Mashingaidze
Education
PhD in Plant Breeding and Genetics. 1987. Michigan State University (U.S.A.).

Positions Held
1/2006 - present
Agricultural Research Council (ARC), Programme Manager for Plant Breeding and Biotechnology.
Oversight of ARC-Grain Crops Institute’s breeding and biotechnology research activities involving 11 plant breeders, one plant physiologist and two biotechnologists working on eight summer grain crops including maize. Country coordinator on the Water Efficient Maize for Africa (WEMA) project. Conducting maize breeding projects on high quality protein maize and tolerance to drought and low soil nitrogen, in collaboration with CIMMYT-Zimbabwe and maize breeders in SADC countries. Involved in farmer-participatory on-farm trials and community-based seed production.

1/2004 - 5/2006
ARC, Senior Researcher (Maize Breeder).
All aspects of maize breeding, commercialisation, multiplication and maintenance of Breeder’s seed, farmer-participatory on-farm trials, community-based seed production, in collaboration with CIMMYT-Zimbabwe and maize breeders in SADC countries. Maize breeding emphasis was on high quality protein maize and tolerance to drought and low soil nitrogen.

8/1993 - 12/2003
Africa University, Zimbabwe.
Co-ordinating the day to day running of the Department of Crop Science, providing academic and research leadership to six academic staff and ten support staff, interacting with national and international organisations, strategic planning and implementation. Taught Genetics, Plant Breeding, Agricultural Botany, Biometry, Seed Science and Technology, Plant Biotechnology and Professional Ethics at undergraduate level and, Crop Improvement and Biostatistics at MSc level. Conducted research on maize breeding with emphasis on tolerance to drought and low soil nitrogen.

Representative Publications
Mashingaidze, K. 2006. Maize research and development. In: Rukuni, M., P.
Tawonezvi and C. K. Eicher (Eds). Zimbabwe's Agricultural Revolution Revisited. University of Zimbabwe Publications, Harare. Chapter 16, pages 363 – 378.

Mashingaidze, K and E.C. Chinhema. 2004. Effects of the brachytic-2 dwarfing gene
on maize (Zea mays) root systems and grain yield under moisture stress. In: Poland, D., M. Sawkins, J.M. Ribaut and D. Hoisington (Eds.). Resilient Crops for Water Limited Environments.
Mashingaidze, K. and D. Mataruka. 1992. Maize. In: Whingwiri, E.E., K.
Mashingaidze and M. Rukuni (Eds). Small-scale Agriculture in Zimbabwe. Book Two. Field Crop Production. Rockwood Publishers, Harare. Chapter 4, Pages 45 - 68.

Riaan Conradie
Riaan Conradie is active in the field of Computational Systems Biology and recently submitted his PhD thesis, in which he focuses on building and analyzing mathematical models of biological systems to better understand how these systems are controlled. To date Riaan has coauthored on a book chapter, authored and coauthored four international publications (with two additional papers currently in submission) and presented this work at three local and three international conferences. He is also part of the team working on JWS Online (http://jjj.biochem.sun.ac.za) - a repository and simulation environment for mathematical models of biological systems, headed by Prof. Jacky Snoep. Riaan is also an avid entrepreneur, and participated in the National Innovation Competition along with his colleague Franco du Preez, where they were awarded Top 10 business plans for the LifeQ: A device to measure metabolic rate using indirect calirometric means. The LifeQ team is currently participating in the current SA Bio Plan Competition and is in the process of commercializing their device.

Gina Schroeder
Gina is a chemical engineer with Enercheck Solutions (BSC. Chem Eng)

She has a background in petrochemical engineering where she worked for 10 years. She has spent the last 4 years working in the field of energy efficiency and renewable energy. Her special interest is anaerobic digestion of high solid material and the implementation of projects in the SADC region for the production of electricity. At present she performs financial analysis and conceptual engineering for potential anaerobic digestion projects. Her work focuses on creating a holistic solution for the production of electricity. The correct integration of various technology items improves the economic viability of the renewable energy projects, while reducing the impact of waste disposal.

Dr. Geofrey Arinaitwe
Dr. Arinaitwe is a professionally qualified Plant Biotechnologist (Plant Bioscience Engineer /Molecular Biologist) with nine (9) years experience in research, teaching and Agricultural Research/Project Coordination and Management.

Dr. Arinaitwe has been involved in the implementation of several research projects (Grand Challenges #9, Banana Biofortification; Agricultural Biotechnology Support Project II (ABSPII); NARO-INBAP Banana Biotechnology; IFS-NBRP and NARO-CIP IFAD supported FFS, Potato) in Crop Production and Biotechnological Research at NARO’s National Biotechnology Centre since 2000. He has worked as a researcher both at Makerere University and National Agricultural Research Organization for nine years to date. His research interest focuses on technology and product development, using modern biotechnological tools, and dissemination. He has published in the fields of Plant Cell and Tissue Culture /Plant physiology and biotechnology. Dr. Arinaitwe currently is pursuing Masters Degree in Management Science at Uganda Management Institute, holds a PhD. (Bioscience Engineering, KUL Belgium) and MSc. (Plant Cell and Tissue Culture, MUK Uganda) and BSc. (Crop Science, MUK Uganda).