B Eng (Electronic) M Eng (Electronic) PhD (Electrial and Computer Engineering
Executive Director: Innovation and Commercialisation, University of Stellenbosch

• Obtained B Eng (Electronics) and M Eng (Electronics) degrees at University of Pretoria, both cum laude, was best first year student in B Eng (Electronics) in 1980, and received the LGI award for best final year student in B Eng (Electronics) in 1983.
• Studied for PhD at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh. PA, USA and obtained the qualification from the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering in 1989.
• Was appointed Associate Professor at the University of Pretoria in 1989, Professor in 1993 and received the Medal for Academic Achiever of Excellence from the Council of the University for two consecutive periods in 1995 and 1999.
• Appointed Manager: Innovation at the University of Stellenbosch in 2002 and Executive Director: Innovation and Commercialisation in March 2005.
• Founder of the Pattern Recognition Association of South Africa (PRASA) and member of the Association for University Technology Managers and the South African Research and Innovation Managers’ Association.
• Established and managed the Pattern Recognition Research Group in the Department of Electronic and Computer Engineering at UP and originated the “African Speech Technology” project which attracted a R9 million award from the Innovaton Fund of the Department of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology.
• Received recognition for contribution at Stellenbosch University by the university receiving the award for “Most Technologically Innovative Higher Education Institute in South Africa”.
• Non-executive director of VenFin, USB-ED and a number of technology companies.