The NACI Secretariat

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.

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 a 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 supervises post-graduate students of the Department of Statistics at the University of Pretoria on a part-time basis.

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. Nozipho Buthelezi is a Chief Specialist: Policy Investigation at the NACI secretariat. She supports various committees at NACI constituted to provide expert advice to the Minister of Science and Technology. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Education degree from Vista University, a post graduate Diploma in Development Planning, a Master of Science in Development Planning degree, and various graduate certificates in Competition Law, Economics, and Finance & Accounting from Wits University.

Before her transfer to NACI, Ms. Buthelezi held various senior positions in government including as a Chief Director: Governance and Institutional Performance within the Department of Science and Technology, Chief Director: Entity Performance & Oversight Management at the Department of Social Development, and Director: Consumer & Competition Policy at the Department of Trade and Industry.

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.
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 Rudzani Maila joined the NACI Secretariat in October 2008 as a Specialist: Innovation Policy Analysis. Her responsibilities include the identification of innovation priorities, evaluation of relevant information and conversion into policy advice. Prior to joining NACI, Rudzani worked for the Centre for Environmental Economics and Policy in Africa (CEEPA), Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf), and the Council on Higher Education (CHE), where the bulk of her work centered around the management of research projects aimed at policy advice and also stakeholder relations. Ms Maila holds a BSc (Microbiology, Biochemistry, Botany) from the University of Venda, BSc (Medical) (Honours) in Microbiology from MEDUNSA and an MSc (Microbiology) from the University of Pretoria. Her MSc degree yielded a patent and co-authorship of two chapters in a microbiology textbook.

Mr Nyakallo Tsatsi is a Specialist Policy Investigations at the Secretariat, National Advisory Council on Innovation (NACI). His responsibilities are; Co-ordination and administration of projects, including financial control, project monitoring and quality control.
Prior joining NACI Mr. Tsatsi worked as a Specialist Corporate Governance at the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) responsible for Coordinating development and management of systems, policies and other relevant practices, Evaluating and Identifying weaknesses and opportunities for improvement in the Agency’s policy development process and provide recommendations to Management, and Conducting training for staff members at all levels on Corporate Governance Instruments. Prior to joining SASSA Mr Tsatsi worked as a Development Officer at the Western Cape Department of Social Development. He managed the development and implementation (in terms of the Design, Budgeting, Monitoring and Evaluation) of various departmental Social Development pilot programmes specifically in the fields of Gender and Early Childhood Development. He also participated nationally and provincially in drafting of new policies / Guidelines and in reviewing of old ones e.g. Guidelines for Early Childhood Development Services (2006), Provincial Integrated Strategy on Early Childhood Development (2005) and the Children’s Amendment Act 2007.
Mr Tsatsi holds a BSocSc Degree in Public Affairs and Administration and Industrial Sociology, BSocSc (Hons) in Social Policy and Management, and a MSocSc Degree in Social Policy and Management from the University of Cape Town (UCT).

Ms 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.

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's IT transversal system. His duties was coding and testing Report Builders and Transaction generators using various programming languages. 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)

Mr. Heino Martin Heyman is an Intern at NACI. He holds the BSc degree, with majors in Biochemistry and Chemistry from the University of Pretoria. He also holds a BSc. (Hon) degree at the University of Pretoria, in Plant Science with specialization in Medicinal Plants Science. His BSc (Hon) degree yielded a Publication in the journal Pharmaceutical Biology.

Ms. Katlego Mayekiso is an Intern at NACI. She holds a BSc degree majoring in Biochemistry and Physiology, BSc Honours in Biochemistry at the University of Limpopo (MEDUNSA campus); and is currently at the conclusion of her MSc degree in Phytomedicine (Paraclinical studies) at the University of Pretoria. She was an Acting Technical Officer at the Biochemistry department (University of Limpopo, MEDUNSA) before joining the NACI.