Meet the speakers

Professor Daniel N. Wilke is currently the Head of the School of Mechanical, Industrial and Aeronautical Engineering at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg. His research advances gradient-only optimisation for discontinuous loss functions, multi-fidelity surrogate modelling, and interpretable latent variable methods for causal insight. He founded the Emerging Engineering Technologies Laboratory at the University of Pretoria, promoting computational and data-driven engineering innovation.

Prof. Wilke has served as President of the South African Association for Theoretical and Applied Mechanics (SAAM), Chairman of the National Committee for the International Union of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics (IUTAM), and is currently serving as an Advisory Board Member to the President of the South African Institution of Mechanical Engineering (SAIMechE).

Thivash Moodley is the Founder and Director of TMI Simulation Solutions and Drivio, organisations specialising in simulation and training for the aerospace, defence, logistics, and maritime sectors. He holds an Honours in Aeronautical Engineering from the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology and a Master’s in Project Management from GIBS.

Moodley has extensive experience in aeronautical engineering and project management, having worked with global aerospace and defence companies active in the South African defence sector.

Professor Claudia Polese is an Associate Professor in Aerospace Manufacturing and Design at the School of Mechanical, Industrial and Aeronautical Engineering at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa, and the Advisory Aerospace Research Director of the National Aerospace Centre. A National Research Foundation-rated researcher from 2011 and a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society, Prof. Polese is currently the Head of the Aeronautical Engineering Stream and the Deputy Director of the ARUA Centre of Excellence in Materials, Energy and Nanotechnology.

Prof. Polese has significantly strengthened South African research in the area of cutting-edge technologies in collaboration with the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, Airbus, and several international institutions. In recognition of her role in fostering industrial and scientific cooperation between Italy and South Africa, she received the Knight of the Order of the Star of Italy and the NSTF-South32 Science Oscar for advancing research, infrastructure, and human capital in advanced manufacturing.

Professor Rodney Genga is an Associate Professor of Materials Science and Manufacturing Engineering with over 15 years of research advancing Africa’s sustainable manufacturing future. His work bridges materials science, industrial applications, and digital innovation, focusing on developing advanced carbides, cermets, and metallic alloys for the automotive, aerospace, and mining industries.

His research integrates additive manufacturing, laser surface modification, and data-driven modelling to create next-generation industrial tools that promote circular and sustainable manufacturing. As the inaugural Assistant Dean for Strategic Projects in the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment at Wits, he leads interdisciplinary initiatives in energy transition, water management, and digital transformation.

Prof. Genga also directs the Academic Development Unit, pioneering inclusive, data-informed systems that enhance teaching and learning. President of the Microscopy Society of Southern Africa and co-founder of the Africa Inclusive Microscopy Network, he is a recipient of the Wits Vice-Chancellor’s Teaching Award.

Tandokazi Nquma-Moyo is a published scientist with an MSc in Biochemical Engineering and a PhD candidate in Industrial Engineering at Stellenbosch University, focusing on sustainable port ecosystems and alternative energy innovation. She has extensive experience across the public and private sectors, holding leadership roles at the Coega Development Corporation, South African Nuclear Energy Corporation, Department of Science and Innovation, North-West University, and Transnet National Ports Authority.

Currently, she is the General Manager for Strategic Partnerships, Business Development, and Stakeholder Relations at the Technology Innovation Agency, where she leads national innovation initiatives. A former Non-Executive Director at Methano Group, she also chaired its Strategy and Investment Committee.

Nquma-Moyo has been recognized as a trailblazing young public sector manager by GCIS and is a recipient of the Ministerial Excellence Award in Innovation Management.