The NACI Secretariat

Dr Hermi Boraine is a Senior Specialist: Science, Technology and Innovation measurement and analysis. She joined NACI in April 2006. Her responsibilities include advice development on all aspects regarding measurement and analysis of the national system of innovation. Before joining NACI, she was a senior lecturer in Statistics at the University of Pretoria. Hermi started her career as computer programmer at ESKOM. She holds a BSc (Computer Science), BSc Honours, MSc and a PhD all in Mathematical Statistics from the University of Pretoria. She is Vice President of SARIMA, a committee member of the South African Statistical Association and acts as supervisor of post-graduate students at the Department of Statistics at UP on a part-time basis.

Mr Simon Mpele is a Portfolio Manager: Policy Investigations at the Secretariat, National Advisory Council on Innovation (NACI). He holds MBA degree with the University of Potchestroom, MA degree in Economics with the University of Nottingham (United Kingdom) and a BSC degree with the University of Limpopo. He has received several training on Financial, IT and Project Management. Prior to his transfer from the Department of Science and Technology (DST) to NACI Secretariat, June 1999 to August 2003, he worked as a Deputy Director, managing bilateral relation between South Africa and various other countries (E.g. Japan, South Korea, Germany) including all NEPAD countries. Mr Mpele also worked for Policy Unit at the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) from January 1996 to June 1999. During that period, he contributed towards the process of developing and implementing the two economic models (IDCGEM and the Econometric Model) by IDC on behalf of DTI. Both models were later used in evaluating the performance of DTI policies. Before joining DTI, he worked for a World Bank Project 'The project for statistics on living standards and development in SA'. his project was based at the South African Labour Development and Research Unit (SADRU), an economic research unit at UCT.

Mr Thiambi Netshiluvhi joined the National Advisory Council on Innovation (NACI) in December 2007. He is working as a Senior Specialist: Innovation Policy Analysis. His key role is to interpret the national needs that relate to innovation and related policies, continously monitor and evaluate local and international developments within the innovation policy landscape, and prepare policy and strategic advice. Mr Netshiluvhi holds the MSc degree (Horticulture of some indigenous medicinal trees) and BSc Honours degree both with the University of KwaZulu-Natal (the then University of Natal, Durban), and BSc degree (majoring with Zoology and Botany/ethnobotany) with the university of Venda in Limpopo. He has received several training in various aspects that include Project Management, Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) and Community Based Agricultural Management.
Mr Netshiluvhi has served on the ProLinnova National Steering Committee as a vice-chairperson from 2006 to 2007 and injected energy both at this level and across the entire programme. He was instrumental in forging strong relationship with the ARC by facilitating meetings and organising the MoU between ProLinnova and the ARC SRL Programme
Before joining the NACI Secretariat, Mr Netshiluvhi worked for the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and Agricultural Research Council (ARC). At the ARC, he held positions of a Coordinator of technology transfer for the Horticulture Division as well as a Senior Researcher for the Crop Science Unit between the period 2002 and 2007. At the CSIR, he worked as both the Resource Ecologist and Rural Development Specialist within the Environmentek Division between the period of 1997 and 2002. He has contributed considerably in several reports and scientific publications covering areas such valuation of indigenous resources (influencing policy on use and management of indigenous resources), ecology, horticulture, community development and so forth. He is, currently, a registered part-time PhD student with the University of Pretoria (Phytomedicine Programme, Parachlinical Sciences). His PhD sets to evaluate the influence of some environmental factors on the medicinal properties of some indigenous plants.

Ms Nicci Earle is a Specialist: Policy Investigation. Responsibility within this role includes: undertaking background research and feasibility studies towards the outsourcing of identified research priorities requiring evidence-based inputs; managing the process of calls for proposals and service provider identification; providing necessary assistance to research service providers in respect of access to relevant information; managing the process of service provider feedback and project process reporting; and contributing towards the conversion of evidence-based research findings into ministerial advice.
Prior to starting at NACI, Nicci worked as a Senior Researcher for the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) within the Education, Science and Skills Development (ESSD) programme with research conducted in the agriculture, automotive, SET and tourism sectors and in the social work profession. Research was focused on the determination of sectoral and professional skills requirements, with policy recommendations the ultimate output. This research work followed earlier employment with Benchmarking and Manufacturing Analysts (BMA) as an industrial development facilitator, manager of the South African Automotive Benchmarking Club, and coordinator of the human resources development programme of the Durban Automotive Cluster. Nicci holds a B.Sc in Physiotherapy from the University of Stellenbosch (a profession in whish she worked full time for 6 years) and a Masters of Development Studies from the University of Natal (now the University of KwaZulu-Natal).

Mr Lindile Adons is a Specialist: Science, Technology and Innovation measurement at the National Advisory Council on Innovation (NACI). In this capacity, Mr Adons is responsible for developing, evaluating and analysing science, technology, innovation and related indicators, monitoring quality of commissioned indicator projects, performing indicator based policy analysis and evaluation as well as preparing policy inputs on empirically established indicators. Prior to joining NACI in October 2007, Mr Adons was a Projects Officer at Basotho Enterprises Development Corporation (BEDCO) in Lesotho, where his responsibilities included counseling entrepreneurs, conducting feasibility studies, appraising and monitoring projects.
Mr Adons received a B.A in economics from the National University of Lesotho and an M.A in economics from the University of Stellenbosch. As part of a Masters degree, he completed a dissertation that evaluated the performance of South Africa’s National System of Innovation using science, technology and innovation indicators.

Ms Masete Mavis Masia is an Administrative Officer at the National Advisory Council on Innovation (NACI). She graduated with a Bachelors degree in Science (B.Sc) at the University of Limpopo formerly the University of the North majored in Biochemistry and Physiology (2003). She joined NACI in 2005 as an intern for twelve months. Before joining NACI she did voluntary work at Sekgosese Community Building Project as a member.

Mr Thabo Cassim Mosenthal is the Administrative Officer for NACI. Before joing NACI he was an intern for the North West Provincial Government IT section. He holds the BSc degree, with majors in Computer Science and Electronics, from the Univeristy of North West now called North West University (MMabatho Campus)

Miss Charlotte Ntombi Mzolo is the Senior Secretary to the NACI Executive Director. Before joining NACI she was working with the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry. She holds a Diploma in Office Administration and a Certificate in Travel and Tourism.