Geekulcha Launches A Council of Advisors
Geekulcha is where the young, skilled, creative and ambitious tech minds meet to connect with each other, share knowledge, collaborate on projects, network with industry leaders, obtain training to further improve and enhance their skills and to put that newly acquired skill to work. The platform has over 9 400 students across Africa.
The organization saw a need to drive a Geek Culture of Sustainable Innovation and to achieve this mandate, a Geekulcha Council of Advisors was established consisting of a variety of industry leaders.
Through an application process and/or by invitation, a 12-member council of advisors has been called upon to help drive a foresight tech industry leadership in South Africa.
The following are the members on the council:
Jayshree Naidoo
CEO, Yiedi
She has developed several frameworks and models for Innovation and Incubation and has created several structured acceleration programmes for Start-ups and Growth Entrepreneurs as well as Leadership Programmes for Corporates.
Atenkosi “Ati” Ngubevana
Founder, GeekInU
She is the founder of Geek_in_U, which is a Non-Profit Organisation that teaches pre-adolescent children how to code and build robots. She is a current Wits Business School MBA student and aims to share her business skills to young, upcoming techpreneurs.
Keitumetsi Tsotetsi
Manager: Cyber Security, PwC/Geekulcha
She is a cyber security manager and specialises in security risk, strategy, governance and compliance. Her expertise include cyber maturity assessments, role based security awareness programmes, ISMS implementation, policy/standard development, programme assurance and privacy.
Lee Annamalai
Manager: SMART Systems Group, CSIR
He has assumed leadership and innovation management roles in the Electricity Distribution Restructuring of South Africa, Feasibility of projects in the National Space Programme, New applications and Commercial Solutions development in Earth Observation using Space Technologies, strategic equity partner at Aurecon and co-founded Optronics Africa.
Vincent Hoffman
Director, Inquisition
Vincent is the co-founder of Inquisition, SiGNL and The GoodWork Society. Inquisition is an employee experience design firm, which designs better ways for people to learn and create together.
Vukosi Marivate
Data Scientist, CSIR
Dr Vukosi Marivate leads a Data Science research team at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research(South Africa). He works to uncover insights from data and use them to inform and make an impact on society.
Faith Tembe
ED Manager, Standard Bank
Faith Tembe is a vibrant young professional with a passion for purpose driven work. She is currently an Entrepreneur Development Manager at Standard Bank focusing on providing support to ICT SMMEs. She has an Honours Degree in Industrial Psychology and currently doing a Masters of Management in Entrepreneurship and New Venture Creation.
Mike Barker
Engineer, SAEE
In the last 10 years he has worked extensively on sustainable building, including LEED Gold and Silver Projects in Nairobi and Johannesburg. He has trained overseas in the fine art of Energy Modelling and is a committee member of the International Building Performance Simulation Association.
Sphamandla Ngwenya
Software Engineer, DigiHelp
As an individual with great research skills, Siphamandla is always up to date with latest developments in the ICT industry and this has helped him develop new skills set. Siphamandla is always ready to give his skills back to the community whenever possible and to train aspiring software developers.
Rahab Matebane
CEO, Mapitsi Holdings
She is a philanthropist at heart and is also the Founder of a foundation that is involved in the mentorship of young girls. The Mapitsi foundation has adopted a school called Thagaetala Secondary school, located in Ga-Mphahlele, for which the conduct an annual career and sports day for the past 14 years.
Ali Rodolo
MD, Kakanyo Business Solutions
Has over 20 years experience in Software Development, Information Management, Project Management and Business Process Intelligence. He has worked extensively in Financial Services (Banking, Insurance, BankAssurance), Telecoms and all spheres of Government.
Charity Chirowamhangu
IT Security Manager, Banking Sector
She has a passion for information security and, over the years, has gained significant knowledge and experience in both the technical (operational) and management areas of Cyber security. Previous roles have included working in Dubai and India.
Council members will have quarterly meetings to assess and set strategies for the quarter of the Geek Culture drive in South Africa. There are 4 commissions set in place to drive focus for the ICT and SME to ensure an inclusive and sustainable growth.
Meet the new Geekulcha Council of Advisors, the 12 member council of industry leaders/personnel will work on setting path and help grow the Geek Culture in South Africa.
— Geekulcha 🇿🇦 💻 (@Geekulcha) February 13, 2018
Get to know them here: https://t.co/YDeSzfIkHg #GKCouncil @jayshnaidoo @vincenthofmann @vukosi @SANS10400 pic.twitter.com/lzOwzkxSxD
This is a 12-months span of the council and were selected on various factors including gender balance (6 males and 6 females), generational mix and industry experience. Creator of the programme, Tiyani Nghonyama says, “this is an exciting time in the ICT ecosystem and we have to make sure that we build a fertile and an inclusive ecosystem.”
Information Page: geekulcha.com/council
One of the council members, Vincent Hoffman’s intention to join the council was to “To help sustain the community by helping to ensure that its outputs are fit for the market and that it’s people have an opportunity to draw on my network for access to new opportunities to learn. ”
As Geekulcha hosts a variety of tech activities around the country, we need to ensure that an inclusive and sustainable socio-economic drive is realized. The 4th Industrial Revolution vision requires a mass Digital Literacy for the Smart Growing, no one must be left behind.