{"id":2718,"date":"2025-03-18T19:28:59","date_gmt":"2025-03-18T19:28:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/saci.co.za\/SACI2025\/?page_id=2718"},"modified":"2025-11-17T20:30:08","modified_gmt":"2025-11-17T20:30:08","slug":"saci-award-speakers","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/saci.co.za\/SACI2025\/saci-award-speakers\/","title":{"rendered":"SACI Award Speakers"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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SACI Award Speakers<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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Prof. Roger Hunter<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Professor Senior Research Scholar University of Cape Town, South Africa - Gold Medal 2023<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Professor Roger Hunter is a passionate synthetic organic chemist currently working as a Senior Research Scholar at the University of Cape Town (UCT), having retired from the Mally Chair at UCT at the end of 2019. He arrived in South Africa back in the heady days of 1983 as a Lecturer at Wits (Chemistry) following training at Imperial College, London and postdoctoral stints in Barcelona (Instituto Quimico de Sarria) and London (University College). His research interests lie rooted in organic synthesis methodology, and he has published around 150 papers in international journals. He won the SACI Gold Medal in 2023.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Prof. Kenneth Ikechukwu Ozoemena\n<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Research Professor \nUniversity of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa - Gold Medal 2024\n<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Kenneth Ozoemena is Research Professor at the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) where he heads the SARChI Chair (Tier 1) in Materials Electrochemistry and Materials Technologies (MEET). He is NRF\u2019s A-rated Scientist and recipient of the Gold Medal of the South African Chemical Institute (SACI). He is a Fellow of the Academy of Science of South Africa, Fellow of the African Academy of Sciences, member of the governing council and Vice-President of the African Academy of Sciences, Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry, and a Fellow of the Nigerian Academy of Science. He is the Editor-in-Chief of Electrochemistry Communications.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Prof. Egmont Rohwer\n\n<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Professor at the University of Pretoria, South Africa- Gold Medal 2025<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Prof Rohwer is a former Head of the Department of Chemistry at the University of Pretoria and his research at UP since 1983 focuses on chromatography and mass spectrometry for elucidating the chemical composition of complex mixtures. He has also initiated a long-term project aiming to convert sunlight and CO2 to liquid fuels, including the goal of off-grid sustainable development in Africa.\u00a0 His recent research covers the diagnosis of TB and Malaria from skin volatiles and more effective Malaria mosquito lures. He is the recipient of the Georg Forster award 2018 of the Alexander von Humboldt foundation and the SACI 2025 gold medallist.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Prof. Liliana Mammino <\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Professor emeritus at the University of Venda, South Africa - Chemical Education Medal 2024<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Liliana Mammino is currently a professor emeritus at the University of Venda (UNIVEN), where she has been since 1997. \u00a0She has initiated and developed research capacity in computational chemistry at UNIVEN. Her teaching experience comprise undergraduate and postgraduate physical chemistry, first year general chemistry, and process technology courses. Her research interests comprise theoretical\/computational chemistry (with particular interest in the study of biologically active molecules), chemistry education (with particular interest in conceptual understanding and in the roles of language), education for sustainable development, cross-disciplinarity between different chemistry areas, and multidisciplinarity among different disciplines. She has published extensively in all these areas.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Prof Maya Makatini<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Associate Professor at the University of Witwatersrand, South Africa - Raikes Medal 2024<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Prof Maya Makatini is an organic chemistry associate professor at the University of Witwatersrand and her current research interests include the design and synthesis of peptidomimetics that assist with the following: wound healing and disinfection of chronic wounds; the combating of tuberculosis and multidrug-resistant tuberculosis infections by targeting the mycobacterium caseinolytic protease; and the diagnosis of arsenic poisoning in urine. She also focuses on chromatographic techniques such as Liquid Chromatography Mass Spectrometry and its use as an early-stage biomarkers detection tool.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Dr. Malik Dilshad Khan <\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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University of Zululand, South Africa - Raikes Medal 2025<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Dr. Malik Dilshad Khan is an NRF-rated researcher specializing in the design of metal-organic precursors and functional nanomaterials for energy applications. He obtained his Ph.D. from the University of Zululand in 2018 and has conducted research at the University of Manchester, the Institute of Physical Chemistry in Poland, and IREC in Spain. A Marie Curie alumnus, his interests span 2D materials, multinary oxides, chalcogenides, intermetallic alloys, and compositionally tuned electrocatalysts for HER, OER, ORR, and supercapacitance. He has co-authored over 80 journal articles, 6 book chapters, a patent, and serves as editor of Nanosciences: Specialist Periodical Reports (RSC).<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Prof Lawrence Madikizela<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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University of South Africa, South Africa - Merck Medal 2025<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Professor Lawrence Madikizela is an Associate Professor of Analytical and Environmental Research at the University of South Africa\u2019s Institute for Nanotechnology and Water Sustainability (UNISA). His primary research focuses on analytical and environmental chemistry, specifically the detection and monitoring of pharmaceutical pollutants in South African water. He is also dedicated to developing advanced chromatographic and sample preparation methods. He has held significant leadership roles, including Thematic Area Leader at UNISA and Chairperson of the ChromSA (Chromatography Division of the South African Chemical Institute). Prof. Madikizela is also heavily involved in academic publishing, currently serving as a Subject Editor for the South African Journal of Chemistry and an Editorial Board Member for Forensic Science International \u2013 Animals and Environments. His distinguished career is marked by several awards, such as South African Chromatographer of the Year (2018) and the NRF Research Excellence Award for Emerging Researchers (2023).<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

SACI Award Speakers Prof. Roger Hunter Professor Senior Research Scholar University of Cape Town, South Africa – Gold Medal 2023 Professor Roger Hunter is a passionate synthetic organic chemist currently working as a Senior Research Scholar at the University of Cape Town (UCT), having retired from the Mally Chair at UCT at the end of 2019. He arrived in South Africa back in the heady days of 1983 as a Lecturer at Wits (Chemistry) following training at Imperial College, London and postdoctoral stints in Barcelona (Instituto Quimico de Sarria) and London (University College). His research interests lie rooted in organic synthesis methodology, and he has published around 150 papers in international journals. He won the SACI Gold Medal in 2023. Prof. Kenneth Ikechukwu Ozoemena Research Professor University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa – Gold Medal 2024 Kenneth Ozoemena is Research Professor at the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) where he heads the SARChI Chair (Tier 1) in Materials Electrochemistry and Materials Technologies (MEET). He is NRF\u2019s A-rated Scientist and recipient of the Gold Medal of the South African Chemical Institute (SACI). He is a Fellow of the Academy of Science of South Africa, Fellow of the African Academy of Sciences, member of the governing council and Vice-President of the African Academy of Sciences, Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry, and a Fellow of the Nigerian Academy of Science. He is the Editor-in-Chief of Electrochemistry Communications. Prof. Egmont Rohwer Professor at the University of Pretoria, South Africa- Gold Medal 2025 Prof Rohwer is a former Head of the Department of Chemistry at the University of Pretoria and his research at UP since 1983 focuses on chromatography and mass spectrometry for elucidating the chemical composition of complex mixtures. He has also initiated a long-term project aiming to convert sunlight and CO2 to liquid fuels, including the goal of off-grid sustainable development in Africa.\u00a0 His recent research covers the diagnosis of TB and Malaria from skin volatiles and more effective Malaria mosquito lures. He is the recipient of the Georg Forster award 2018 of the Alexander von Humboldt foundation and the SACI 2025 gold medallist. Prof. Liliana Mammino Professor emeritus at the University of Venda, South Africa – Chemical Education Medal 2024 Liliana Mammino is currently a professor emeritus at the University of Venda (UNIVEN), where she has been since 1997. \u00a0She has initiated and developed research capacity in computational chemistry at UNIVEN. Her teaching experience comprise undergraduate and postgraduate physical chemistry, first year general chemistry, and process technology courses. Her research interests comprise theoretical\/computational chemistry (with particular interest in the study of biologically active molecules), chemistry education (with particular interest in conceptual understanding and in the roles of language), education for sustainable development, cross-disciplinarity between different chemistry areas, and multidisciplinarity among different disciplines. She has published extensively in all these areas. Prof Maya Makatini Associate Professor at the University of Witwatersrand, South Africa – Raikes Medal 2024 Prof Maya Makatini is an organic chemistry associate professor at the University of Witwatersrand and her current research interests include the design and synthesis of peptidomimetics that assist with the following: wound healing and disinfection of chronic wounds; the combating of tuberculosis and multidrug-resistant tuberculosis infections by targeting the mycobacterium caseinolytic protease; and the diagnosis of arsenic poisoning in urine. She also focuses on chromatographic techniques such as Liquid Chromatography Mass Spectrometry and its use as an early-stage biomarkers detection tool. Dr. Malik Dilshad Khan University of Zululand, South Africa – Raikes Medal 2025 Dr. Malik Dilshad Khan is an NRF-rated researcher specializing in the design of metal-organic precursors and functional nanomaterials for energy applications. He obtained his Ph.D. from the University of Zululand in 2018 and has conducted research at the University of Manchester, the Institute of Physical Chemistry in Poland, and IREC in Spain. A Marie Curie alumnus, his interests span 2D materials, multinary oxides, chalcogenides, intermetallic alloys, and compositionally tuned electrocatalysts for HER, OER, ORR, and supercapacitance. He has co-authored over 80 journal articles, 6 book chapters, a patent, and serves as editor of Nanosciences: Specialist Periodical Reports (RSC). Prof Lawrence Madikizela University of South Africa, South Africa – Merck Medal 2025 Professor Lawrence Madikizela is an Associate Professor of Analytical and Environmental Research at the University of South Africa\u2019s Institute for Nanotechnology and Water Sustainability (UNISA). His primary research focuses on analytical and environmental chemistry, specifically the detection and monitoring of pharmaceutical pollutants in South African water. He is also dedicated to developing advanced chromatographic and sample preparation methods. He has held significant leadership roles, including Thematic Area Leader at UNISA and Chairperson of the ChromSA (Chromatography Division of the South African Chemical Institute). Prof. Madikizela is also heavily involved in academic publishing, currently serving as a Subject Editor for the South African Journal of Chemistry and an Editorial Board Member for Forensic Science International \u2013 Animals and Environments. His distinguished career is marked by several awards, such as South African Chromatographer of the Year (2018) and the NRF Research Excellence Award for Emerging Researchers (2023).<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"no-sidebar","site-content-layout":"page-builder","ast-site-content-layout":"full-width-container","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"disabled","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"disabled","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"disabled","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"set","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-2718","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/saci.co.za\/SACI2025\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2718","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/saci.co.za\/SACI2025\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/saci.co.za\/SACI2025\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/saci.co.za\/SACI2025\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/saci.co.za\/SACI2025\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2718"}],"version-history":[{"count":31,"href":"https:\/\/saci.co.za\/SACI2025\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2718\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3572,"href":"https:\/\/saci.co.za\/SACI2025\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2718\/revisions\/3572"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/saci.co.za\/SACI2025\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2718"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}