Dr Angus Paterson Appointed Deputy CEO: National Research Infrastructure Platforms at NRF

The National Research Foundation (NRF) is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr Angus Paterson as its new Deputy CEO: National Research Infrastructure Platforms (DCEO: NRIP), effective from 01 May 2024.

Dr Paterson has an extensive track record with the NRF. He served as the Acting DCEO: NRIP since August 2023. Prior to that, he served as Managing Director for the NRF-South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity (NRF-SAIAB), a position he held since 2011.

In 2006, Dr Paterson established the Coastal Node of the South African Environmental Observation Network (NRF-SAEON), after which he worked for five years as its Manager. Dr Paterson also has experience in the private sector, first as a Senior Consultant and later as Operational Director and Partner where he oversaw a number of projects across Africa in mining, water management, coastal management, power and energy, ports, marine transport and pollution.

He holds a BSc (Zoology), a BSc (hons) in Ichthyology, and a PhD in Estuarine Ecology, all from Rhodes University. He also studied Business Management at Rhodes. During his PhD studies, he was based at the JLB Smith Institute of Ichthyology, where he also worked as a Research Assistant and as a scientist.

Dr Paterson has served on the Committees and Boards of a number of research institutions, including the University of Cape Town MARE Institute; the Rhodes University Institute for Water Research; Stellenbosch University Centre for Invasion Biology (CIB); and Nelson Mandela University Institute for Coastal and Marine Research. He also served on the Board of the National Science Festival, among others. For the NRF, he has worked as a Team Leader for the South African Marine and Antarctic Research Plan and Director of the DSI-NRF African Coelacanth Ecosystem Programme (ACEP), the latter of which developed two highly effective transformation programmes, namely ACEP Phuhlisa and ACEP Joint Marine Laboratories. In addition, he has acted in an advisory capacity for the Department of Science and Innovation in terms of the rollout of the South African Research Infrastructure Road Map.

Says Dr Fulufhelo Nelwamondo, CEO of the NRF, “We are pleased to have Dr Paterson join the NRF’s Corporate Executive team as he brings with him an excellent track record of leadership and a proven capability to lead within a complex landscape. He provides a wealth of both research and business expertise which will serve as valuable assets in helping the NRF to deliver on its mandate.”