SANSA has appointed Humbulani Mudau as the new Chief Executive Officer  at the Agency from 1 April 2023. This is a significant day as the Agency also turns 12 years and is officially welcoming its third CEO following the resignation of previous CEO, Dr Val Munsami, in February 2022.

Humbulani Mudau joins SANSA after a year of Andiswa Mlisa filling the role of Acting CEO and ahead of an exciting period for SANSA with regards to progressing the Space Infrastructure Hub and Matjiesfontein Deep Space Network node development, amongst others. He brings with him the ability to lead diverse teams, build long-term stakeholder relations, and develop policies, strategies and implement programmes that will be an asset for the Agency.

He has over 20 years of technical and management experience in Space Science and Technology, particularly in Earth Observation systems, space technology development, as well as remote sensing, and geospatial applications. Mudau has vast experience in inter-governmental, interagency, regional, global and international space diplomacy while lobbying on policy issues and resource mobilisation for national and international projects.

Over the years, he has led at executive level, showcasing his robust and concrete capabilities in project designing, implementing and evaluating international projects with diverse stakeholders.

In his capacity as the senior scientific representative at GEO Secretariat in Geneva, Switzerland, he conceptualised the African Group on Earth Observations (AfriGEO) initiative. In his role at the Department he was responsible for the implementation of the Department of Science and Technology’s 10 year Innovation Plan – that included the National Space Strategy and South African Earth Observation Strategy (SAEOS) – as well as the establishment of the of the South African National Space Agency (SANSA) and the National Earth Observation and Space Secretariat, among many other initiatives.

Academically he holds a Masters in Satellite Remote Sensing from the University of Paris VI; a B.Sc. Honours in Environmental Management and Geospatial Sciences from University of Johannesburg; a Certificate in Remote Sensing from University of Johannesburg; and a B.Sc. Biological Sciences from University of Venda.

Mudau joins SANSA from his previous role as Chief Director Space Science & Technology at the Department of Science & Innovation, where he served for many years in various roles. He has played an instrumental role in engaging the Southern, Eastern and Western Africa regions as well as being on various African Union technical working groups and promises to contribute meaningfully to achieving SANSA’s mandate on the continent and globally.