Mr Patrick Ndlovu is an Aerospace Executive with over 22 years of experience in the Aeronautics and Space Sectors, having worked at Armscor SOC, Denel SOC, ATNS SOC. He has served as the General Manager for Spaceteq, Executive Manager for Missiles, UAV and Space at Denel Dynamics. Patrick also served in the DSI Task Team on Space Launch Capability Feasibility Study and is currently serving as the Co-Chair of the Satellite Communication & Navigation CoP in NEOSS.

Ms Jessie Ndaba co-founded Astrofica and is Co-chair for the SatComms and Navigation Community of Practice at NEOSS. She has worked as part of the technical team that developed the Aerospace, Space and Defense Masterplan for the Department of Public Enterprises as well as the team that worked on the Industry Development Policy Framework for the dtic.

Ms Ndaba is a member of the Space Generation Advisory Council (SGAC) and the African Space Leadership Youth Forum.

Advocate Ndziba holds extensive executive and board experience spanning over 23 years in the public and regulatory sectors. She brings to the SANSA board her expertise in strategic decision-making, board governance, law, risk management and human resources, including remuneration, talent/people management, performance management, employment equity and change management.

Mr Benjamin Francois Denner is the Director and Owner of The Enceladus Group, a strategic consulting company focused on industrial development and trade facilitation challenges. He serves as a Director on ZASPACE. Mr Denner has provided technical advisory services to the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), and the Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB, a Federal Institute of Germany) in various trade capacity development programmes (ref. Malawi, Mozambique, Ghana, SADC Member States, COMESA Member State) and is a member of various boards and advisory committees.

Mr Tlou Ramaru is the Chief Director for Climate Change and Adaptation (sustainable development) and represents the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment. Mr Ramaru has approximately 18 years of institutional knowledge and served as a senior management service (SMS) member for approximately 11 years. He has chaired the sixth committee of Food Security and Sustainable Development under the auspices of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa and coordinated South Africa’s engagement in the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20), attended by Heads of State, among other accolades.

Professor Azwinndini Muronga completed his BSc in Physics and Mathematics at the University of Venda, a MSc in Physics at the University of Cape Town as well as a PhD in Physics from the University of Minnesota, USA. He was previously a senior lecturer at the University of Cape Town, an Associate professor of Physics and Director of the Science Centre at the University of Johannesburg. He is currently the Immediate Past President of the South African Institute of Physics and represents South Africa and Africa on the International Union of Pure and Applied Physics (IUPAP) C11 Commission on Particles and Fields, as well as serving as Chair of the judging panel for Mathematics and Physics category of the Global Undergraduates Awards (UA). He reviews of academic programmes, exams, theses and dissertations, project proposals and journal articles. He is currently the Executive Dean of Science at the Nelson Mandela University and through this position, he continues to play a leading role in science teaching, learning, research, and engagement.

Ms Charlotte Segage is a qualified chartered accountant who is a member of the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants. She has over 12 years’ experience in public sector auditing from the Auditor-General of South Africa. She completed her articles at the Auditor-General of South Africa, where she proceeded to become an assistant manager and went through the ranks to become a senior manager.

Ms Nomfuneko Majaja has, over her 30-year career, gained experience in Public Administration & Management, academia, industry development and advisory, as well as international partnerships, amongst others.  She has experience in national economic policy development and strategy processes, specifically in the aerospace, outer space and electro-technical sectors. Ms Majaja has led the development of the National Space Policy, which provides guidelines to all space stakeholders as well as the domestication of the UN Liability & Registration Conventions. Ms Majaja together with her DSI counterpart, led the development of the aerospace sector and the establishment of the Joint Aerospace Sector Committee. She has led and implemented several industry interventions for the advanced manufacturing sectors in support of industrial growth and competitiveness.

She is currently the Chief Director of Space Affairs at the Department of Trade and Industry (the dti). She has represented the dti and served as a vice-chairperson of the South African Council for Space Affairs since 2008 and is a member of the ad hoc committee for the review of the Space Affairs Act No. 84 of 1993, as well as a member of the Policy & Legal Committee of the Council. Ms Majaja holds a Master’s degree in Development Economics from Williams College in Massachusetts (MA) USA, a Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) degree (B. Com Hons) in Economics from the University of South Africa (UNISA) and a B. Com degree majoring in Industrial Psychology and Economics.

Mr Nkhangweni Rambau is the director and founder of Big Idea Corporate Training and Consulting Services (Pty) Ltd (BankSETA accredited) and a qualified business executive with international experience and demonstrated ability to engage stakeholders across the value chain. He is experienced in the following fields: ICT (data analytics, ICT contracting and supplier relations, assets management, ICT infrastructure management), biodegradable chemicals, renewable energy (solar), education and training, agriculture (primary agriculture) and agro-processing, industrial symbiosis researcher, material flow analysis (MFA) and deal-making (capital raising). Mr Rambau is the director and founder of Tenacity Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Foundation NPO and Mukhuthu Arts and Cultural Foundation NPO. He obtained the following qualifications: Executive Development Program – EDP (WBS), Masters in Information Technology (UP), Masters in Business Leadership (Unisa SBL), Bachelor of Arts and University Education Diploma (UNIVEN), Diploma in IT (UJ), The Expert Negotiator (GIBS) and Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (Microsoft).

Ms Keitumetse Lebaka holds a B-Comm in Management Science from the University of South Africa, a Professional Certificate in Programme and Project Management and a Professional Certificate in Public and Development Management from Wits University, Management Development Programme from the University of Pretoria, a Global Executive Development Programme from Gordon Institute of Business Science, Master of Business Administration and Doctor in Business Administration from Henley Business School Africa. She is currently the Chief Executive Officer of the Gauteng Film Commission. Ms Lebaka is an Executive Committee Member of the Southern Africa Society for Cooperative Education (SASCE), a Growth and Profitability Committee Member of the Southern African Society for Cooperative Education (SASCE), Chairperson of the Covid -19 Adjudication Sports Panel, Chairperson of the Sports for Social Change Network Africa, Chairperson of the African Leadership Transformation Foundation and Council Member of the Arts and Culture.

Adv Lufuno Tokyo Nevondwe is a Senior Lecturer at the University of Limpopo and has supervised more than 40 dissertations. Lufono is an external examiner for LLM dissertations for the University of South Africa (Unisa) and Wits University. Lufono has served as a member of numerous boards, advisory committees and audit & risk committees.

Mr Joseph Komape holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Financial Accounting) from Wits University and an MCom (SA & International Tax) from the University of Johannesburg. Mr Komape is a Chartered Accountant (Registered with the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA) and a tax Practitioner (registered with the Institute of Tax Practitioners (SAITP).

As a Systems Engineer, Mr Molawa Ngoetjana currently holds the key position of Mission Systems Engineer for SanDock Austral Shipyards.  He is a registered candidate Electronic Engineer with the Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA) specialising in Systems Engineering (SE) and an active member of the International Council on System Engineering (INCOSE).

As INCOSE SA Programmes Officer, he is intimately involved in promoting SE to young people and practices SE on a daily basis.

Mr Fortune Mkhabela holds degrees in Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting) from Wits University, Bachelor of Commerce Honours (Auditing) from UNISA, Certification in Control Self-Assessment (CCSA) and Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) from Institute of the Internal Auditors South Africa (IIASA), Advanced Management Accounting, Internal Auditing Practice and Internal Auditing Applications and Operational Risk Management from UNISA, Diploma in Management from University of Reading-Henley Business School and Certificate in Risk Management from National Treasury. Mr Mkhabela is Group Chief Risk Officer (CRO) at the South African Nuclear Energy Corporation (NECSA), Vice president of the Institute of Risk Management South Africa (IRMSA), Chairperson of the Audit and Risk Committee at the Media Development and Diversity Agency (MDDA); and is a member of the Finance committee(FINCO), Wits University Central Finance, member of the Students Forum at Wits University, member of Senate at Wits University (Wits University Institutional Committee), member of the University Forum (Wits University Institutional Committee), Deputy President of the Students Representative Council (Wits University), Treasurer of the Students Representative Council, Flexible MBA Course Representative Council (University of Reading, Henley Business School) Non-Executive Director at MAFF International (Pty) Ltd, Executive Committee Member at the Institute of Internal Auditors South Africa (IIASA).

Mr Linden Petzer holds National Higher Diploma: (Electrical Engineering – Light Current) and a National Higher Diploma in Management Practice from University of Johannesburg (Witwatersrand Technikon). Electromagnetic Capability from Wits University (Centre for Continuing Engineering Education), VHF / UHF propagation, Antenna Fundamentals; and Course on Air, Space & Telecommunications Law from University of Pretoria. Mr Petzer is the founder and owner of Linden Petzer Consulting, an independent consultancy specialising in spectrum management and ICT regulatory affairs and currently an advisor to the Global Satellite Operators Association (GSOA), as well as a European satellite operator in preparing positions on satellite issues for the 2023 International Telecommunication Union (ITU) World Radiocommunication Conference.

Ms Nompumelelo Nzimande holds an LLB and an LLM (Maritime Law) degree from the University of  KwaZulu-Natal as well as an Advanced Master of Laws (LLM) in Air and Space Law from Leiden University, Netherlands. She is currently a Legal Advisor for a multinational financial services company. Ms Nzimande is an admitted Attorney of the High Court of South Africa (2017) and a member of the Space Generation Advisory Council (SGAC) and the SGAC Policy Division (2023).