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NRF Women in Leadership

The National Research Foundation (NRF) has come a long way since its establishment 25 years ago. As part of the NRF's celebrations, we would like to introduce you to some of the women who are leading the way at the organisation. In their various roles, they are contributing to the advancement of the NRF’s mandate and driving its vision in service for a better society.
Why Celebrate?
Women in leadership have the power to reshape the world in amazing ways. By highlighting their achievements, we honour their perseverance, dedication, and the unique perspectives they bring to the NRF, driving progress and fostering an inclusive environment where everyone can thrive.
To our Women Leaders
Your dedication and passion continues to propel the NRF forward, advancing our mission to foster a better society through research and innovation. Thank you for your inspiring leadership, resilience, and the positive impact you have on our community and beyond. Your efforts are deeply appreciated and celebrated today and every day.
Professor Teboho Moja, NRF Board Member
Professor Teboho Moja, NRF Board Member
As an NRF Board Member, I Chair the Remuneration and Human Resources Committee and serve on the Research Development Committee. I am a Professor of Higher Education at New York University and the Department Chair for Administration, Leadership, and Technology.
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Ms Funeka Khumalo, NRF Board Member
Ms Funeka Khumalo, NRF Board Member
I serve on the NRF Board’s Audit and Risk Committee and Board Procurement Committee. My job is to ensure accountability, proper governance in the organisation and assist the executives in execution of its strategy.
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Ms Lahlane Malema, NRF Board Member
Ms Lahlane Malema, NRF Board Member
I am the Chair of the NRF Board Procurement Committee, and a Member of the Audit and Risk Committee, providing strategic guidance and oversight primarily on legal advice, litigation, compliance, procurement, corporate governance, ethical and strategic matters.
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Professor Glenda Gray, NRF Board Member
Professor Glenda Gray, NRF Board Member
I serve on the Remuneration and Human Resources Committee and the Audit and Risk Committee of the NRF Board. My experience as the past CEO/President of the SAMRC has assisted in shared learnings and experience from a 3A entity that has a focus on research and funding.
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Dr Ntombi Mutshekwane, NRF Board Member
Dr Ntombi Mutshekwane, NRF Board Member
I serve on the NRF Board as a Member of the Audit and Risk Committee and was recently appointed a member of the Research and Development Committee. I am a medical doctor, entrepreneur, health technology consultant and skills development practitioner, and a coach for SMMEs.
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Professor Refilwe Phaswana- Mafuya, NRF Board Member
Professor Refilwe Phaswana- Mafuya, NRF Board Member
It is my second term as an NRF Board Member and I serve on the Research Development Committee. In this role, I have contributed to the governance of the organisation in the advancement of its mandate, and ensuring that it remains relevant and continues to occupy a significant space in the NSI sector towards a transformed research and innovation society that improves the quality of life for all.
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Professor Nadine Petersen, NRF Board Member
Professor Nadine Petersen, NRF Board Member
I serve on the NRF Board as a Member of the Board Procurement Committee and I am the Executive Dean of the Faculty of Education at the University of Johannesburg.
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Dr Thandi Mgwebi, NRF Group Executive: Business Advancement
Dr Thandi Mgwebi, NRF Group Executive: Business Advancement
I am responsible for spearheading the development and implementation of the NRF’s global partnerships, NRF’s influence, business advancement and funding mobilisation. My contributions to the organisation are multifaceted ...
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Dr Gugu Moche, NRF Group Executive: Digital Transformation
Dr Gugu Moche, NRF Group Executive: Digital Transformation
I am the Group Executive: Digital Transformation and also the Acting Deputy Chief Executive Officer for Research, Innovation, Impact Support and Advancement (RIISA).
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Ms Cheryl Yeni, NRF Director for Business Management & Systems: Infrastructure Platforms Division
Ms Cheryl Yeni, NRF Director for Business Management & Systems: Infrastructure Platforms Division
My current role is Director for Business Management and Systems in the National Research Infrastructure Platforms Division (NRIP) of the NRF. The role is primarily responsible for the provision of strategic business management support and analysis for NRIP at a corporate level.
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Dr Mary-Jane Bopape, Managing Director of NRF-SAEON
Dr Mary-Jane Bopape, Managing Director of NRF-SAEON
I am the Managing Director of the South African Environmental Observation Network (NRF-SAEON). NRF-SAEON is comprised of seven nodes: four terrestrial nodes located in Phalaborwa, Pietermaritzburg, Cape Town, and Kimberley; two marine nodes in Gqeberha and Cape Town; and an ICT and data node in Cape Town.
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Professor Zinhle Buthelezi, Senior Research Scientist at NRF-iThemba LABS
Professor Zinhle Buthelezi, Senior Research Scientist at NRF-iThemba LABS
As an experimental physicist working in high energy nuclear and particle physics at the iThemba Laboratories for Accelerator Based Science (NRF-iThemba LABS), my research entails studying the physics of strongly interacting matter at the highest energy densities, currently attainable in the laboratory, in which an extreme phase of matter called the quark-gluon plasma (QGP) is formed.
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Ms Kim Anthony, Head of Human Capital Development at NRF-SARAO
Ms Kim Anthony, Head of Human Capital Development at NRF-SARAO
I started working for the South African Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRF-SARAO) – then the South African SKA Project – in 2004 and have managed its Human Capital Development (HCD) portfolio more or less since then.
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Ms Pontsho Maruping, Managing Director of NRF-SARAO
Ms Pontsho Maruping, Managing Director of NRF-SARAO
I am responsible for leading the South African Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRF-SARAO) in the execution of its mandate. NRF-SARAO’s mission is to establish South Africa as a global leader in radio astronomy and associated technologies and disciplines by successfully hosting, and participating in the design and construction of the SKA telescope and other radio astronomy and geodesy facilities.
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Ms Lindiwe Nkwe, NRF Supply Chain Management Manager: Compliance and Reporting
Ms Lindiwe Nkwe, NRF Supply Chain Management Manager: Compliance and Reporting
My role includes ensuring that there is legislative compliance to our NRF-wide Supply Chain Management (SCM) processes and procedures, and concise and timeous reporting to both internal and external stakeholders.
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Dr Elena Lawrie, Senior Research Scientist at NRF-iThemba LABS
Dr Elena Lawrie, Senior Research Scientist at NRF-iThemba LABS
I perform nuclear structure research, studying the fine details of how the nuclei are built and how they transform when they absorb energy, at the iThemba Laboratories for Accelerator Based Science (NRF-iThemba LABS).
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Dr Mamoeletsi Mosia, Managing Director of NRF-SAASTA
Dr Mamoeletsi Mosia, Managing Director of NRF-SAASTA
I am the Managing Director of the South African Agency for Science and Technology Advancement (NRF-SAASTA). In this role, I strategically lead and position NRF-SAASTA as the primary science engagement and engaged research unit of the NRF.
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Dr Deidre Prince, Head of the Nuclear Medicine Department at NRF-iThemba LABS
Dr Deidre Prince, Head of the Nuclear Medicine Department at NRF-iThemba LABS
My role involves leading the department that manufactures and supplies radiopharmaceuticals and other radioisotopes to 83 nuclear medicine facilities nationally and nearly 100 clients globally.
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Dr Prudence Makhura, NRF Executive Director: International Grants and Partnerships
Dr Prudence Makhura, NRF Executive Director: International Grants and Partnerships
My main responsibility is to unlock international research and innovation funding opportunities and leverage additional funding for the South African National System of Innovation (NSI). I do this through the creation of the type of networks and partnerships that enable South Africa to engage in the global science system.
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Ms Nosisa Dube, NRF Director: Reviews and Evaluations
Ms Nosisa Dube, NRF Director: Reviews and Evaluations
I am a Director at the National Research Foundation with 21 years’ experience in the research and innovation sector – 14 in the management of research assessment practices, and seven in scientific research.
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Dr Rosalind Skelton, Acting Manager of NRF-SAAO
Dr Rosalind Skelton, Acting Manager of NRF-SAAO
My current role is to lead the South African Astronomical Observatory (NRF-SAAO) to achieve its vision to “Explore the Universe for the benefit of all society”. I have overall responsibility for our flagship facility, the Southern African Large Telescope (SALT), which is a collaborative international project, and numerous other telescopes that we own, operate, or host at our observing site near Sutherland in the Northern Cape.
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Professor Julie Coetzee, Principal Scientist at NRF-SAIAB
Professor Julie Coetzee, Principal Scientist at NRF-SAIAB
I am a Principal Scientist at the South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity (NRF-SAIAB) and hold a Tier 1 DSI-NRF South African Research Chair (SARChI) in the Ecology and Management of Aquatic Invasive Species. The Chair is co-hosted by Rhodes University where I am also the Deputy Director of the Centre for Biological Control, managing the Biological Control of Aquatic Invasive Plants programme.
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Ms Kelebogile Magano, NRF Head of People and Culture
Ms Kelebogile Magano, NRF Head of People and Culture
My role involves fostering a positive work environment, facilitating a strong organisational culture, and aligning HR practices with the company's objectives.
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Dr Encarni Romero Colmenero, NRF-SAAO Deputy Director: SALT
Dr Encarni Romero Colmenero, NRF-SAAO Deputy Director: SALT
I am the new South African Astronomical Observatory (NRF-SAAO) Deputy Director for the South African Large Telescope (SALT), which means that I am responsible for the overall operations of SALT, ensuring it reaches its full potential through the strategic development of new instrumentation, optimising operations, and maintaining and improving technical performance and scientific edge.
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Ms Puseletso Hlogoana, NRF Manager: Financial Reporting
Ms Puseletso Hlogoana, NRF Manager: Financial Reporting
My roles and responsibilities include the preparation of the annual financial reports; managing financial processes and activities; coordination of and managing the external audit process; compiling quarterly reports in compliance with legislation, and providing specialist advisory services to the NRF’s Business Units, amongst other things.
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Ms Moseme Matlala, NRF Head of Internal Audit
Ms Moseme Matlala, NRF Head of Internal Audit
My team and I are responsible for strengthening the NRF’s ability to create, protect and sustain value by providing the Board and Management with independent, risk-based and objective assurance, advice, insight and foresight. As Head of Internal Audit, I report functionally to the Audit and Risk Committee which is a committee of the NRF’s Board.
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Ms Carla Mitchell, NRF-SARAO Africa Programme Manager
Ms Carla Mitchell, NRF-SARAO Africa Programme Manager
I have been with the South African Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRF-SARAO) for over 11 years and have held a number of roles during this time. My current role is that of the NRF-SARAO Africa Programme Manager. I am responsible for planning, negotiating and implementing strategic and funding solutions for the Africa programme across the eight African Partner Countries (APCs), inclusive of the African VLBI Network (AVN) programme, the conceptualisation and implementation of the African Colocation Programme and associated activities.
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Ms Keitumetse Molamu, Head of Engineering and Technology Development at NRF-SARAO
Ms Keitumetse Molamu, Head of Engineering and Technology Development at NRF-SARAO
It's my responsibility to ensure that the South African Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRF-SARAO) has an environment that is conducive to great engineering work; we have the right people with the right skills to do that work; and the people we hire have all the resources they need.
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Ms Tandi Mapukata, NRF Head of Communications
Ms Tandi Mapukata, NRF Head of Communications
I am responsible for the visibility of the NRF brand as well as the management of the organisation’s reputation. We build and maintain platforms to showcase the societal impact of NRF-funded and NRF-conducted research.
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