STI Business Forum | Inaugural Public Lecture 2026

STI Public Lecture

"A University Public-Private Partnership Model for the Future"

South Africa's inaugural national gathering on science, technology, and innovation policy — convening government, academia, and industry to forge a new university model for the African century.

We cannot change the past. We can shape the Future.

Date

2026 — TBC

Time

17:00 – 20:00

Venue

City of Ekurhuleni

Format

In-Person + Live Stream

Governance

Board Leadership.
Working Group Chairs.

Explore the STI Business Forum leadership structure through the Board Members & Directors tab and the Chairperson of the Working Groups tab. The profiles below are drawn from the official leadership dossier you attached.

Chairperson

Tilson Mphathi Manyoni

Tilson Mphathi Manyoni is the Chief Executive Officer of VWCapital and the Chairperson of the National Advisory Council on Innovation (NACI). He is the founder of TUT's Institute for the Future of Work (IFOW) and serves as a member of the Board of Trustees for both Indlulamithi South Africa Scenarios 2030 and the SASOL Foundation. He also serves as a member of the Technical Advisory Group (TAG) for the ILO/Productivity SA Productivity Ecosystems for Decent Work Project.

Deputy Chairperson

Professor Glenda Gray

Professor Glenda Gray (MBBCh, FCPaeds (SA)) is an NRF A-rated scientist and one of South Africa's most distinguished medical researchers, holding honorary doctorates from three universities. She was the first female President and CEO of the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) and currently serves as its Chief Scientific Officer. Internationally renowned for her HIV vaccine research and work on preventing mother-to-child HIV transmission, she is a recipient of the Order of Mapungubwe, was named among Time's 100 Most Influential People in the World (2017), and ranked among Forbes' Top 50 Women in Africa (2020).

Chief Executive Officer

Dr Nomhle Ngwenya

Dr Nomhle Ngwenya is the Chief Executive Officer of the STI Business Forum, advancing South Africa's innovation ecosystem by bridging business, government, and academia. A PhD graduate of the University of the Witwatersrand — the youngest person and first Black woman to earn this distinction — she is also the founder of a boutique ESG advisory firm, having advised multinational, regional, and local companies on ESG integration. She serves as an Advisory Board Member of NACI, appointed by the Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, and as a member of the KwaZulu-Natal Climate Change and Sustainable Development Council, appointed by the Premier.

Treasurer

Bani Kgosana

Bani Kgosana is the Chief Revenue Officer and Head of Public Sector and Partnerships at Pragma Global, and holds an MBA from Henley Business School. He brings 25 years of experience in the IT and technology sectors, having held senior roles at organisations including NTT Data, Dimension Data, Deloitte, and BCX. He currently serves as a non-executive director on the boards of Hannover Reinsurance Group Africa and Compass Insure, where he is a member of the Audit and Risk Committees, the Social and Ethics Committee, and the Remuneration Committee.

Head of Policy

Veli Mazibuko ka Rubusana

Veli Mazibuko ka Rubusana is the founder of Cirha Holdings and Amagorha Consulting. He serves as Executive Director of the Duduza Resource Centre and as a Board Member of the Mamosa Educational Institute. He also lectures part-time at Regent Business School.

Board Member (Governance)

Max Bertschmann

Max Bertschmann is Senior Partner at Syndexis Sàrl and brings a rare combination of diplomatic service, private-sector leadership, non-profit management, and entrepreneurial experience. He holds an Executive MBA from Kalaidos University of Applied Sciences in Switzerland — an institution grounded in dual-education principles — as well as a trade apprenticeship, reflecting a lifelong commitment to work-integrated learning. He previously served as Counsellor for Trade and Head of the Swiss Business Hub Southern Africa at the Swiss Embassy in Pretoria, covering six countries, building ministerial-level relationships across the region, and leading Switzerland's inaugural bilateral business delegation to South Africa. He is co-founder of the Swiss Startup Summit, connecting Switzerland's innovation ecosystem to South African networks, and has held senior leadership roles at Right To Play Switzerland (Managing Director), BPN Foundation (Head of Fundraising and Marketing), and Switzerland Global Enterprise (Head of Sponsors and Partners). He holds dual Swiss-Ghanaian citizenship and is fluent in German, English, and French.

Board Member

Keshal Sookha

Keshal Sookha is the founder of Xante Investments (Pty) Ltd, an investment holding company with interests in education, compliance advisory, and financial advisory services. He serves as Managing Executive of Commercial Strategy at Telkom Business and as Chair of the Alumni Business Club at the Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS).

Board Member

Dr Ntsiki Tshiyangca-Mashiya

Dr Ntsiki Tshiyangca-Mashiya is a visionary leader, philanthropist, and distinguished health professional with over 25 years of experience spanning government, international development, academia, and the private sector. She is a public policy expert, strategist, and monitoring and evaluation specialist who previously served as Deputy Director-General in the Presidency of South Africa, where she provided expert counsel on health policy, monitoring and evaluation, and the national implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). She is the founder of the Iconic Leadership Network and the Holistic Health and Mental Wellness Lifestyle Clinics, and is a passionate advocate for women's leadership and integrative-holistic wellness. She is a former Chairperson of the NYDA, a council member of Tshwane University of Technology, and a board member of Just Righteousness Foundation. She currently serves as Managing Director at Hightowers Petroleum Africa.

Board Member

Tope Toogun

Tope Toogun is an innovation policy practitioner and the founder of Cognity Development Services Ltd. He has served as National Coordinator of the Government of Nigeria's Inter-ministerial Committee on Research and Innovation, Chief Negotiator of the European Union–Nigeria Bilateral STI Agreement, and member of the National Universities Commission's Strategy Advisory Committee (2019–2024). He is a member of the National Agenda 2050 Committee, a former adviser to GE Africa's Learning Advisory Board (2015–2018), and a founding member of the Princeton University Africa Innovation Council.

Chairperson: Work Integrated Learning Working Group

Teboho More

Teboho H. More is a human capital specialist, entrepreneur, and Founder of Sariel Human Capital Consultancy, delivering strategic HR advisory, coaching, and learning and development solutions. As Chairperson of the Work Integrated Learning Portfolio at the STI Business Forum, he leads initiatives that enhance graduate employability and deepen industry–academic collaboration. He holds an MPhil in Leadership from the University of Johannesburg and a Postgraduate Diploma in Labour Law, and is certified as an Assessor, Moderator, Skills Development Facilitator, and Coach.

Chairperson: Business Funding & R&D

Lindy Mkhize

Lindy Mkhize is an independent business management consultant specialising in global market research, analysis, and the development of ecosystem solutions for sustainability and profitability. She works with embassies, chambers of commerce, trade and investment agencies, corporate executives, SMEs, and skills development institutions to build sustainable business linkages and implement strategic commercialisation projects. As a country representative for various multinational corporations, social enterprises, and non-governmental organisations, she supports clients in packaging compelling value propositions, navigating complex regulatory environments, and developing structured growth roadmaps. She is known for fostering the bankability, credibility, and agility required to drive socioeconomic transformation — with a distinctly Afrocentric perspective informed by current market needs and economic trajectories.

Chairperson: AI & Emerging Technologies Working Group

Collet Ngobeni

Collet Ngobeni is the Chief Operating Officer of Alteram Solutions, with extensive experience in the IT industry. He has held senior leadership roles at the Department of Home Affairs and the South African Bureau of Standards (SABS). His key areas of focus include artificial intelligence, the call centre industry, and driving innovation in training, learning, and assessments.

STI Public Lecture