Day 1

08:30 – 09:00

Arrival and refreshments

Foyer: Senate Hall

09:00

Symposium Opening

Prof Les Labuschagne

09:00 – 09:25

Welcome

Prof Puleng LenkaBula (virtual) 

Principal and Vice-Chancellor, Unisa

09:25 –09:35

In Context

Prof Thenjiwe Meyiwa, Vice-Principal, Research, Innovation, Postgraduate Studies and Commercialisation Portfolio , Unisa

09:35 - 10:20

Keynote Speaker

Adv Thembelihle Mapipa
Executive Manager: Corporate Service and Strategic Partnerships
Moses Kotane Research Institute
and Executive Manager
Marketing and Communication Portfolio
Association of Women Managers in the Maritime Sector in Eastern and Southern Africa (WOMESA)

10:20 -10:40

Q&A

10:40 - 11:10

Refreshments

(Delegates select and move to parallel sessions)

11:10 – 12:10

CNA 2

Aviation and Aeronautical Studies

Workforce Development, Regulatory Oversight and the Role of Law in Advancing African Aviation 

Venue: Senate Hall

Session Chair

Prof Angelo Dube
College of Law
Unisa

 
Panellists

Dr Brian Suckling
Retired Capt. (SAA)
Board of Advisors, Flying Jurist Team

Ms Nandi Sitsha
Pilot
Aviation Development Africa

Mr Bwanika Lwanga/Ms Bonolo Matjila
Dentons
South Africa

CNA 1

Marine Studies

Harnessing Technology and IKS for Sustainable Ocean Observation and Coastal Resilience

Venue: Dr Miriam Makeba Concert Hall

Session Chair

Prof Godwell Nhamo
Acting Head: Institute for Corporate Citizenship College of Economic and Management Sciences Unisa

Panellists

Ms Thandeka Mbambo
Department of Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment 

Ms Lebogang Makgati
Senior Manager, Marine: SA Weather Services

Prof Juliet Hermes
Manager: South African Environmental Observation Network (SAEON) Egagasini Node

12:10 – 12:30

Q&A

Q&A

12:30 - 13:15

Lunch

Venue: Exam Halls 1 and 2

(Delegates select and move to parallel sessions)

Parallel Sessions

13:15 – 14:15

CNA 4

Energy

Venue: Senate Hall

 Session Chair:

Professor Charles Mbohwa

Distinguished Professor for Sustainability Engineering and Future Technologies, Unisa

 
Panellists

Ms Popi Njapha
Chief Engineer, National Transmission Company
South Africa

Ms Nancy Maluleke
Acting Director: Energy
Environment and Infrastructure Service Department
City of Joburg

Ms Witness Mokwana
Director: Green Economy
Department of Economic Development (Gauteng Province)

CNA 3

Automotive

New-energy Vehicles and the Changing Global Automotive Economy: Sustaining the Local Automotive Industry

 

Venue: Dr Miriam Makeba Concert Hall

Session Chair:

Dr Christopher Thomas
College of Human Sciences
Unisa

Panellists

Prof Igor Gorlach
Distinguished Professor, Automotive, Unisa (virtual)

Prof Anthony Black (virtual) 
Emeritus Professor
School of Economics, UCT

Ms Shivani Singh
Chief Projects Officer
National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of South Africa (Naamsa)

Mr Kobus Sauer
Senior Specialist, Automotive & Transport Equipment
Industrial Development Corporation (IDC)

Components Industry Specialist (TBC)

14:15 – 14:35

Q&A

Q&A

Parallel Sessions

14:35 – 15:35

CNA 6

Fourth Industrial Revolution and Digitalisation

Driving Digital Transformation for Sustainable Epistemic Access

Venue: Senate Hall

Session Chair

Prof Thulile Shandu-Phetla
College of Human Sciences
Unisa

 

Panellists

Dr Jacob Medupe
Content Advisor for Portfolio Committee on Communications and Digital Technologies
Nelson Mandela University (NMU)

Mr Phila Sithole
Head of Industry Research
Association of Comms and Technology (ACTforSA)

Mr Baxolile Mabinya
Co-Founder & Executive Director of Deviare

CNA 5

Space Study and Square Kilometer Area

Down-to-Earth Approaches

Venue: Dr Miriam Makeba Concert Hall

Session Chair

Prof Catherine Cress
College of Science, Engineering and Technology
Unisa

Panellists

Ms Shamila Goedhart
SKA-Mid Head of Science Operations at Square Kilometer Array Observatory

Ms Eleanor Muller
Marketing Executive, Transfrontier Park Destinations

Ms Palesa Nombula
Data Scientist, Sasol

15:35 – 15:55

Q&A Session

Q&A Session

15:55

End of Day 1