{"id":779,"date":"2025-01-20T13:55:04","date_gmt":"2025-01-20T13:55:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/saci2025.bisdesign.co.za\/?page_id=779"},"modified":"2025-08-08T09:45:03","modified_gmt":"2025-08-08T09:45:03","slug":"keynote-speakers","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/saci.co.za\/SACI2025\/keynote-speakers\/","title":{"rendered":"Keynote Speakers"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-page\" data-elementor-id=\"779\" class=\"elementor elementor-779\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0a45968 e-flex e-con-boxed wpr-particle-no wpr-jarallax-no wpr-parallax-no wpr-sticky-section-no e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"0a45968\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5f921b1 e-con-full e-flex wpr-particle-no wpr-jarallax-no wpr-parallax-no wpr-sticky-section-no e-con e-child\" data-id=\"5f921b1\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-907035c elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"907035c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Keynote 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<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7bcb688 e-flex e-con-boxed wpr-particle-no wpr-jarallax-no wpr-parallax-no wpr-sticky-section-no e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"7bcb688\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-17467ed elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"17467ed\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\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<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4f9223e e-flex e-con-boxed wpr-particle-no wpr-jarallax-no wpr-parallax-no wpr-sticky-section-no e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"4f9223e\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-40e7185 e-con-full e-flex wpr-particle-no wpr-jarallax-no wpr-parallax-no wpr-sticky-section-no e-con e-child\" data-id=\"40e7185\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d7479fb elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"d7479fb\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Dr. David H. Fine <br>\nEntrepreneur Keynote<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6b53a7f elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"6b53a7f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Founder: CyTerra | Vero-Biotech<br>\nAuthor: Nooshin Erfani-Ghadimi<br>\n(Wits BSc Hons 1964, Leeds PhD 1967)<br>\nWits University, South Africa<br>\nLeeds University, England<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ee73cca elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"ee73cca\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Dr. David H. Fine, retired, studied Chemistry at Wits and received his PhD from Leeds University. His post-doctoral work was in the UK and Canada, before joining MIT in 1969. In 1972, he joined Thermo Electron, staying for 28 years. He then founded CyTerra where he developed a handheld detector for buried land mines and Vero-Biotech, a pharmaceutical company, where his nitric oxide delivery technology was approved by the FDA. His other inventions include detection of carcinogenic N-nitrosamines, explosives and narcotics, as well as instruments used in the beverage industry. He has published several hundred scientific papers and is an inventor on121 US Patents.<\/p><p><script src=\"moz-extension:\/\/c73d5027-cc44-4dc6-9971-60776230df3e\/js\/app.js\" type=\"text\/javascript\"><\/script><\/p><p><script src=\"moz-extension:\/\/c73d5027-cc44-4dc6-9971-60776230df3e\/js\/app.js\" type=\"text\/javascript\"><\/script><\/p><p><script src=\"moz-extension:\/\/c73d5027-cc44-4dc6-9971-60776230df3e\/js\/app.js\" type=\"text\/javascript\"><\/script><\/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<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e11fecc e-con-full e-flex wpr-particle-no wpr-jarallax-no wpr-parallax-no wpr-sticky-section-no e-con e-child\" data-id=\"e11fecc\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8fb98d0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"8fb98d0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"244\" height=\"367\" src=\"https:\/\/saci.co.za\/SACI2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/2.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-3034\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/saci.co.za\/SACI2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/2.jpg 244w, https:\/\/saci.co.za\/SACI2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/2-199x300.jpg 199w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 244px) 100vw, 244px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\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<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a75e8be e-flex e-con-boxed wpr-particle-no wpr-jarallax-no wpr-parallax-no wpr-sticky-section-no e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"a75e8be\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ec02eed e-con-full e-flex wpr-particle-no wpr-jarallax-no wpr-parallax-no wpr-sticky-section-no e-con e-child\" data-id=\"ec02eed\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-53af083 elementor-hidden-mobile elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"53af083\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"244\" height=\"367\" src=\"https:\/\/saci.co.za\/SACI2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Xolani-1.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-3019\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/saci.co.za\/SACI2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Xolani-1.jpg 244w, https:\/\/saci.co.za\/SACI2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Xolani-1-199x300.jpg 199w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 244px) 100vw, 244px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-623e63b e-con-full e-flex wpr-particle-no wpr-jarallax-no wpr-parallax-no wpr-sticky-section-no e-con e-child\" data-id=\"623e63b\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-fd913b9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"fd913b9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Dr Xolani Nocanda<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-907c101 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"907c101\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Senior Researcher: CSIR, South Africa<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-eb26450 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"eb26450\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Dr Xolani completed a PhD in Organic Chemistry at Rhodes University in 2001.<\/p><p>In 2011 he completed an MBA degree at Stellenbosch Business School.<\/p><p>He has over 20 years\u2019 work experience in private and public chemical companies.<\/p><p>He currently works at CSIR as Senior Researcher in Water and has worked for the following companies:<\/p><ul><li>Ethekwini Municipality, Water and Sanitation as Principal Scientists and Acting Manager for SANAS accredited Chemistry laboratory.\u00a0<\/li><li>Industrial Oleochemical Products, a member of AECI group of chemical companies as Business Development Chemist.<\/li><li>Sappi Saiccor, producer of Chemical Cellulose as a Scientist.\u00a0<\/li><li>Fine Chemicals Corporation, a pharmaceutical company as Research &amp; Development Chemist.\u00a0<\/li><\/ul><p>He is a registered Professional Natural Scientist with SACNASP, in the field of practice: Chemical Science.<\/p><p>Chair of South African Chemical Institute &#8211; Industrial Division<\/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<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e1ea4b8 e-flex e-con-boxed wpr-particle-no wpr-jarallax-no wpr-parallax-no wpr-sticky-section-no e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"e1ea4b8\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8d9ea8d e-con-full e-flex wpr-particle-no wpr-jarallax-no wpr-parallax-no wpr-sticky-section-no e-con e-child\" data-id=\"8d9ea8d\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4995c64 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"4995c64\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Prof Vincent O. Nyamori<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-116fb3a elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"116fb3a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Professor University of KwaZulu-Natal (Durban), South Africa<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b108a5d elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"b108a5d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Prof Vincent O. Nyamori is a Professor at the School of Chemistry and Physics, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa.\u00a0 He is a Fellow of the South African Chemical Institute (FSACI), a Fellow of the Royal Society of South Africa (FRSSAf) and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry (FRSC).\u00a0 Currently, he is South Africa\u2019s Representative to the Commonwealth Chemistry Federation and a former SACI President.\u00a0 Prof Nyamori is an Associate Editor for the RSC Sustainability journal, United Kingdom.\u00a0 His research interests include Sustainable Chemistry, Nanotechnology and Materials Science.\u00a0 His NanoChemistry Research Group is interested in advancing carbon-based nanomaterials, particularly for the fabrication of solar energy devices.<\/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<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a679480 e-con-full e-flex wpr-particle-no wpr-jarallax-no wpr-parallax-no wpr-sticky-section-no e-con e-child\" data-id=\"a679480\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-76ce6ec elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"76ce6ec\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"244\" height=\"367\" src=\"https:\/\/saci.co.za\/SACI2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Picture1.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-3020\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/saci.co.za\/SACI2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Picture1.jpg 244w, https:\/\/saci.co.za\/SACI2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Picture1-199x300.jpg 199w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 244px) 100vw, 244px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\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<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a1402bc e-flex e-con-boxed wpr-particle-no wpr-jarallax-no wpr-parallax-no wpr-sticky-section-no e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"a1402bc\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c6995c4 e-con-full e-flex wpr-particle-no wpr-jarallax-no wpr-parallax-no wpr-sticky-section-no e-con e-child\" data-id=\"c6995c4\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-aedf319 elementor-hidden-mobile elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"aedf319\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"244\" height=\"367\" src=\"https:\/\/saci.co.za\/SACI2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/TUM.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-3021\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/saci.co.za\/SACI2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/TUM.jpg 244w, https:\/\/saci.co.za\/SACI2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/TUM-199x300.jpg 199w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 244px) 100vw, 244px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-347eacb e-con-full e-flex wpr-particle-no wpr-jarallax-no wpr-parallax-no wpr-sticky-section-no e-con e-child\" data-id=\"347eacb\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cdaf18a elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"cdaf18a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Prof Dr Ron M.A. Heeren<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7093a51 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"7093a51\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Distinguished Professor and Limburg Chair at Maastricht University, Netherlands<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-298d3d2 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"298d3d2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Prof. Dr. Ron M.A. Heeren obtained a PhD degree in technical physics in 1992 at the University of Amsterdam on plasma-surface interactions. He started to work on molecular imaging instrumentation and its application as a research group leader at FOM-AMOLF, Amsterdam. In 2001, he became professor at the chemistry faculty of Utrecht University lecturing on the physical aspects of biomolecular mass spectrometry. In 2014 was appointed as distinguished professor and Limburg Chair at Maastricht University. He is the founder and scientific director of M4I, the Maastricht MultiModal Molecular Imaging institute on the Brightlands Maastricht Health campus. He was awarded the prestigious 2019 Physics Valorization prize by the Dutch organization for scientific Research, NWO and the 2020 Thomson medal of the international mass spectrometry foundation. In 2021 he was elected as a member of the Royal Dutch Academy of Sciences, KNAW. He is the current president of the International Mass Spectrometry Foundation where he actively focusses on strengthening the international MS community. He established a focus group on imaging immune metabolism at the Technical University Munich as a Hans Fischer Senior fellow and was named TUM ambassador in 2024 for his academic and collaborative accomplishments. His academic research interests are mass spectrometry based personalized medicine, translational molecular imaging and \u201comics\u201d research, high-throughput bioinformatics and the development and validation of innovative molecular analytical imaging techniques across the scientific disciplines.<\/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<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6a725a2 e-flex e-con-boxed wpr-particle-no wpr-jarallax-no wpr-parallax-no wpr-sticky-section-no e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"6a725a2\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0b3f45b e-con-full e-flex wpr-particle-no wpr-jarallax-no wpr-parallax-no wpr-sticky-section-no e-con e-child\" data-id=\"0b3f45b\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8428b9c elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"8428b9c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Dr Martin Brits<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9dab2c2 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"9dab2c2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Technical Specialist (Southern African Grain Laboratory NPC)<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-fe9f7fc elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"fe9f7fc\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Martin Brits is a Technical Specialist at the Southern African Grain Laboratory (SAGL), where he oversees laboratory operations. Prior to his current role, he held a three year postdoctoral research position at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, contributing to the analysis of micro and nanoplastics to assess their potential health risks. He previously worked at the National Metrology Institute of South Africa developing methods to monitor persistent organic pollutants and emerging contaminants. He earned his joint Ph.D. in Chemistry from Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam and the University of Pretoria, supported by the prestigious NRF Desmond Tutu doctoral scholarship.<\/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<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f93e2f3 e-con-full e-flex wpr-particle-no wpr-jarallax-no wpr-parallax-no wpr-sticky-section-no e-con e-child\" data-id=\"f93e2f3\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3918f87 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"3918f87\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"244\" height=\"367\" src=\"https:\/\/saci.co.za\/SACI2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Martin.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-3022\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/saci.co.za\/SACI2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Martin.jpg 244w, https:\/\/saci.co.za\/SACI2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Martin-199x300.jpg 199w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 244px) 100vw, 244px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\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<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-fb97a58 e-flex e-con-boxed wpr-particle-no wpr-jarallax-no wpr-parallax-no wpr-sticky-section-no e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"fb97a58\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-75519be e-con-full e-flex wpr-particle-no wpr-jarallax-no wpr-parallax-no wpr-sticky-section-no e-con e-child\" data-id=\"75519be\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-65aaa3d elementor-hidden-mobile elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"65aaa3d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"244\" height=\"367\" src=\"https:\/\/saci.co.za\/SACI2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Marietjie.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-3056\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/saci.co.za\/SACI2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Marietjie.jpg 244w, https:\/\/saci.co.za\/SACI2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Marietjie-199x300.jpg 199w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 244px) 100vw, 244px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5de6fa9 e-con-full e-flex wpr-particle-no wpr-jarallax-no wpr-parallax-no wpr-sticky-section-no e-con e-child\" data-id=\"5de6fa9\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9a1f154 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"9a1f154\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Prof. Marietjie Potgieter<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7695756 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"7695756\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Professor Emeritus University of Pretoria, South Africa<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f0644e3 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"f0644e3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Marietjie Potgieter is Professor Emerita of Chemistry and former Deputy Dean: Teaching and Learning at the University of Pretoria. She holds a PhD in bio-organic chemistry (University of Illinois, 1983) and transitioned to chemistry education research in 2002. She received the SACI Chemical Education Medal (2008) and a national commendation for Excellence in Teaching and Learning from HELTASA (2011). She served on the IUPAC Committee on Chemistry Education (since 2016) and is its current chair (2022\u20132026). Her research focuses on effective instruction and student success in tertiary science, with recent work on integrating systems thinking into chemistry education.<\/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<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-fc342d0 e-flex e-con-boxed wpr-particle-no wpr-jarallax-no wpr-parallax-no wpr-sticky-section-no e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"fc342d0\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f5c8991 e-con-full e-flex wpr-particle-no wpr-jarallax-no wpr-parallax-no wpr-sticky-section-no e-con e-child\" data-id=\"f5c8991\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d47155b elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"d47155b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Prof Cornelia GCE van Sittert<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-050ece4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"050ece4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Professor North-West University, South Africa<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-bf5e4ed elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"bf5e4ed\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Prof. Cornelia GCE van Sittert obtained her PhD in Chemistry (1999) from the Potchefstroom University for CHE and a second MSc in Molecular Modelling (2004) from Cardiff University, Wales, UK. She is promoted to Professor at North-West University (2023) and leads the Laboratory for Applied Molecular Modelling. Her research focuses on the computational study of materials and catalysis, with 60 publications and the supervision of 30 postgraduate students. She had leadership roles in CATSA, the SA Journal of Chemistry, and several national scientific committees. She is a member of SAAWK, serves on the advisory board for the Water Research Council, and was appointed honorary professor at the University of KwaZulu Natal&#8217;s School of Engineering in October 2024.<\/p><p><script src=\"moz-extension:\/\/c73d5027-cc44-4dc6-9971-60776230df3e\/js\/app.js\" type=\"text\/javascript\"><\/script><\/p><p><script src=\"moz-extension:\/\/c73d5027-cc44-4dc6-9971-60776230df3e\/js\/app.js\" type=\"text\/javascript\"><\/script><\/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<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-07f75f7 e-con-full e-flex wpr-particle-no wpr-jarallax-no wpr-parallax-no wpr-sticky-section-no e-con e-child\" data-id=\"07f75f7\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4077e5f elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"4077e5f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"244\" height=\"367\" src=\"https:\/\/saci.co.za\/SACI2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/CGCEvS.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-2980\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/saci.co.za\/SACI2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/CGCEvS.jpg 244w, https:\/\/saci.co.za\/SACI2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/CGCEvS-199x300.jpg 199w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 244px) 100vw, 244px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\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<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-877de5e e-flex e-con-boxed wpr-particle-no wpr-jarallax-no wpr-parallax-no wpr-sticky-section-no e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"877de5e\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b1e3742 e-con-full e-flex wpr-particle-no wpr-jarallax-no wpr-parallax-no wpr-sticky-section-no e-con e-child\" data-id=\"b1e3742\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-28c9543 elementor-hidden-mobile elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"28c9543\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"244\" height=\"367\" src=\"https:\/\/saci.co.za\/SACI2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/AzovV_headshot.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-3026\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/saci.co.za\/SACI2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/AzovV_headshot.jpg 244w, https:\/\/saci.co.za\/SACI2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/AzovV_headshot-199x300.jpg 199w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 244px) 100vw, 244px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2d1a676 e-con-full e-flex wpr-particle-no wpr-jarallax-no wpr-parallax-no wpr-sticky-section-no e-con e-child\" data-id=\"2d1a676\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d0bdc5a elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"d0bdc5a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Prof Vladimir Azov <\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-55ec121 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"55ec121\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Professor University of the Free State, South Africa<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9d7e4e1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"9d7e4e1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Vladimir Azov is a Professor of Organic Chemistry at the University of the Free State, South Africa. He earned his PhD from Emory University, followed by postdoctoral research at ETH Zurich and LMU Munich. He later led a research group at the University of Bremen, where he completed his Habilitation (<em>venia legendi<\/em>). His research focuses on supramolecular chemistry and molecular self-organization, including the synthesis of molecular receptors, redox-active materials, and non-canonical amino acids for peptide-based systems. He also applies mass spectrometry to investigate molecular and supramolecular processes, bridging synthetic, analytical, and physical chemistry in interdisciplinary collaborations.<\/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<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e73d96d e-flex e-con-boxed wpr-particle-no wpr-jarallax-no wpr-parallax-no wpr-sticky-section-no e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"e73d96d\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ad4cb96 e-con-full e-flex wpr-particle-no wpr-jarallax-no wpr-parallax-no wpr-sticky-section-no e-con e-child\" data-id=\"ad4cb96\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-25537ed elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"25537ed\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Prof Perdita Barran<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-bd97f06 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"bd97f06\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Professor University of Manchester, UK<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3aa5854 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"3aa5854\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Perdita Barran holds a Chair of Mass Spectrometry in the Department of Chemistry, is Associate Dean for Research Facilities and Director of the Michael Barber Centre for Collaborative Mass Spectrometry at the Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, The University of Manchester, UK. She develops and applies ion-mobility spectrometry\u2013mass spectrometry to the study of molecule structure and is searching for biomarkers for Parkinson&#8217;s disease. She is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry and was awarded the 2009 Joseph Black award and the Theophilus Redwood Award from the RSC in 2019, Researcher of the Year 2020 from the University of Manchester and the ACS Measurement Science Lectureship 2021. In 2020 she initiated the COVID-19 Mass Spectrometry Coalition and was appointed as Chief Advisor to the UK Government on Mass Spectrometry as part of their pandemic response. Perdita has authored over 160 publications in peer reviewed journals. In 2021 Perdita founded the company Sebomix Ltd. to exploit sebum as a diagnostic biofluid with a focus on Parkinson\u2019s Disease<\/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<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b56c1c6 e-con-full e-flex wpr-particle-no wpr-jarallax-no wpr-parallax-no wpr-sticky-section-no e-con e-child\" data-id=\"b56c1c6\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b4154a7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"b4154a7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"244\" height=\"367\" src=\"https:\/\/saci.co.za\/SACI2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Barran.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-3265\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/saci.co.za\/SACI2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Barran.jpg 244w, https:\/\/saci.co.za\/SACI2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Barran-199x300.jpg 199w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 244px) 100vw, 244px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\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<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9840e76 e-flex e-con-boxed wpr-particle-no wpr-jarallax-no wpr-parallax-no wpr-sticky-section-no e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"9840e76\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-97f533a e-con-full e-flex wpr-particle-no wpr-jarallax-no wpr-parallax-no wpr-sticky-section-no e-con e-child\" data-id=\"97f533a\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-28225a4 elementor-hidden-mobile elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"28225a4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"244\" height=\"367\" src=\"https:\/\/saci.co.za\/SACI2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/20240205_JvK_Moniek-Tromp_107-1.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-3140\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/saci.co.za\/SACI2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/20240205_JvK_Moniek-Tromp_107-1.jpg 244w, https:\/\/saci.co.za\/SACI2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/20240205_JvK_Moniek-Tromp_107-1-199x300.jpg 199w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 244px) 100vw, 244px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0b256b6 e-con-full e-flex wpr-particle-no wpr-jarallax-no wpr-parallax-no wpr-sticky-section-no e-con e-child\" data-id=\"0b256b6\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-38dc703 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"38dc703\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Prof. Dr. Moniek Tromp<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-03f52a6 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"03f52a6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Chair of Materials Chemistry at the Zernike Institute at the University of Groningen, Netherlands<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2cb7aa2 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"2cb7aa2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Moniek Tromp obtained her PhD at the University of Utrecht. She held positions in the UK and Germany, and from July 2018 she has taken up the Chair of Materials Chemistry at the Zernike Institute at the University of Groningen, where, from January 2023, she is also the research director.\u00a0 Moniek currently is the Captain of Science of the Topsector Chemistry, an advisory role the government. She has been and is leading many large collaborative research grants, and active in many national and international roles related to science advice and policy, as well as diversity and inclusion. She has been awarded prestigious awards and has published over 125 papers in high profile journals and given over 80 invited lectures worldwide. Her research focusses on the development and application of operando spectroscopy techniques in catalysis and materials research, incl. fuel cells, batteries, photochemistry, as well as arts, with a focus on X-ray spectroscopy techniques.<\/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<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-fb51b8b e-flex e-con-boxed wpr-particle-no wpr-jarallax-no wpr-parallax-no wpr-sticky-section-no e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"fb51b8b\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6a7d7c4 e-con-full e-flex wpr-particle-no wpr-jarallax-no wpr-parallax-no wpr-sticky-section-no e-con e-child\" data-id=\"6a7d7c4\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e7d9cce elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"e7d9cce\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Prof. Anne Stark<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a2a7be5 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"a2a7be5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">SMRI\/DSTI\/NRF SARChI Research Chair in Sugarcane Biorefining in South Africa at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa\u00a0<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7c04e67 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"7c04e67\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Anne Stark holds the SMRI\/DSTI\/NRF SARChI Research Chair in Sugarcane Biorefining in South Africa at the University of KwaZulu-Natal. She received her PhD in Chemistry from The Queen\u2019s University in Belfast in 2001.\u00a0 After a two-year SASOL-funded postdoctoral research stay at the University of Stellenbosch, she completed her habilitation at the Friedrich- Schiller University Jena in 2010, followed by independent research at the universities of Leipzig and Darmstadt. In 2015, she joined the University of KwaZulu-Natal a Research Chair in Chemical Engineering. The Chair\u2019s research is interdisciplinary: it seeks to device strategies and to conduct research promoting South African Sugarcane Biorefinery Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) on the cross-section of chemical engineering, chemistry, material science and economics.<\/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<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-612d0d7 e-con-full e-flex wpr-particle-no wpr-jarallax-no wpr-parallax-no wpr-sticky-section-no e-con e-child\" data-id=\"612d0d7\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0595e83 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"0595e83\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"244\" height=\"367\" src=\"https:\/\/saci.co.za\/SACI2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Stark.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-3289\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/saci.co.za\/SACI2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Stark.jpg 244w, https:\/\/saci.co.za\/SACI2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Stark-199x300.jpg 199w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 244px) 100vw, 244px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\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<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-82802a4 e-flex e-con-boxed wpr-particle-no wpr-jarallax-no wpr-parallax-no wpr-sticky-section-no e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"82802a4\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0ccdf2e e-con-full e-flex wpr-particle-no wpr-jarallax-no wpr-parallax-no wpr-sticky-section-no e-con e-child\" data-id=\"0ccdf2e\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1537f93 elementor-hidden-mobile elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"1537f93\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"244\" height=\"367\" src=\"https:\/\/saci.co.za\/SACI2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Baker.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-3294\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/saci.co.za\/SACI2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Baker.jpg 244w, https:\/\/saci.co.za\/SACI2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Baker-199x300.jpg 199w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 244px) 100vw, 244px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-49f8e4a e-con-full e-flex wpr-particle-no wpr-jarallax-no wpr-parallax-no wpr-sticky-section-no e-con e-child\" data-id=\"49f8e4a\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1bbc928 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"1bbc928\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Prof. Priscilla Baker<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ce464d3 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"ce464d3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">2025 winner of the L\u2019Oreal-UNESCO For Women in Science International Award.  Professor University of Western Cape, South Africa  <\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-108c118 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"108c118\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Professor Baker, a distinguished Senior Professor in Chemistry and the South African Research Chair in Analytical Systems and Processes for Priority and Emerging Contaminants (ASPPEC) at the University of the Western Cape (UWC), has been awarded the 2025 L\u2019Or\u00e9al-UNESCO For Women in Science International Award as the Laureate for Africa and the Arab States. Baker also directs the Electrochemical Sensors node of South Africa&#8217;s Nano-microfabrication Facility and co-directs the first International Associated Laboratory between France and South Africa. Her extensive career includes leadership roles in the International Society of Electrochemistry and the South African Chemical Institute. Her research primarily focuses on developing electrochemical early warning systems for detecting trace contaminants in environmental and health contexts. She will showcase her work on monitoring small organic molecules in health and well-being during her keynote presentation.<\/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":"<p>Keynote Speakers Dr. David H. Fine Entrepreneur Keynote Founder: CyTerra | Vero-Biotech Author: Nooshin Erfani-Ghadimi (Wits BSc Hons 1964, Leeds PhD 1967) Wits University, South Africa Leeds University, England Dr. David H. Fine, retired, studied Chemistry at Wits and received his PhD from Leeds University. His post-doctoral work was in the UK and Canada, before joining MIT in 1969. In 1972, he joined Thermo Electron, staying for 28 years. He then founded CyTerra where he developed a handheld detector for buried land mines and Vero-Biotech, a pharmaceutical company, where his nitric oxide delivery technology was approved by the FDA. His other inventions include detection of carcinogenic N-nitrosamines, explosives and narcotics, as well as instruments used in the beverage industry. He has published several hundred scientific papers and is an inventor on121 US Patents. Dr Xolani Nocanda Senior Researcher: CSIR, South Africa Dr Xolani completed a PhD in Organic Chemistry at Rhodes University in 2001. In 2011 he completed an MBA degree at Stellenbosch Business School. He has over 20 years\u2019 work experience in private and public chemical companies. He currently works at CSIR as Senior Researcher in Water and has worked for the following companies: Ethekwini Municipality, Water and Sanitation as Principal Scientists and Acting Manager for SANAS accredited Chemistry laboratory.\u00a0 Industrial Oleochemical Products, a member of AECI group of chemical companies as Business Development Chemist. Sappi Saiccor, producer of Chemical Cellulose as a Scientist.\u00a0 Fine Chemicals Corporation, a pharmaceutical company as Research &amp; Development Chemist.\u00a0 He is a registered Professional Natural Scientist with SACNASP, in the field of practice: Chemical Science. Chair of South African Chemical Institute &#8211; Industrial Division Prof Vincent O. Nyamori Professor University of KwaZulu-Natal (Durban), South Africa Prof Vincent O. Nyamori is a Professor at the School of Chemistry and Physics, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa.\u00a0 He is a Fellow of the South African Chemical Institute (FSACI), a Fellow of the Royal Society of South Africa (FRSSAf) and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry (FRSC).\u00a0 Currently, he is South Africa\u2019s Representative to the Commonwealth Chemistry Federation and a former SACI President.\u00a0 Prof Nyamori is an Associate Editor for the RSC Sustainability journal, United Kingdom.\u00a0 His research interests include Sustainable Chemistry, Nanotechnology and Materials Science.\u00a0 His NanoChemistry Research Group is interested in advancing carbon-based nanomaterials, particularly for the fabrication of solar energy devices. Prof Dr Ron M.A. Heeren Distinguished Professor and Limburg Chair at Maastricht University, Netherlands Prof. Dr. Ron M.A. Heeren obtained a PhD degree in technical physics in 1992 at the University of Amsterdam on plasma-surface interactions. He started to work on molecular imaging instrumentation and its application as a research group leader at FOM-AMOLF, Amsterdam. In 2001, he became professor at the chemistry faculty of Utrecht University lecturing on the physical aspects of biomolecular mass spectrometry. In 2014 was appointed as distinguished professor and Limburg Chair at Maastricht University. He is the founder and scientific director of M4I, the Maastricht MultiModal Molecular Imaging institute on the Brightlands Maastricht Health campus. He was awarded the prestigious 2019 Physics Valorization prize by the Dutch organization for scientific Research, NWO and the 2020 Thomson medal of the international mass spectrometry foundation. In 2021 he was elected as a member of the Royal Dutch Academy of Sciences, KNAW. He is the current president of the International Mass Spectrometry Foundation where he actively focusses on strengthening the international MS community. He established a focus group on imaging immune metabolism at the Technical University Munich as a Hans Fischer Senior fellow and was named TUM ambassador in 2024 for his academic and collaborative accomplishments. His academic research interests are mass spectrometry based personalized medicine, translational molecular imaging and \u201comics\u201d research, high-throughput bioinformatics and the development and validation of innovative molecular analytical imaging techniques across the scientific disciplines. Dr Martin Brits Technical Specialist (Southern African Grain Laboratory NPC) Martin Brits is a Technical Specialist at the Southern African Grain Laboratory (SAGL), where he oversees laboratory operations. Prior to his current role, he held a three year postdoctoral research position at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, contributing to the analysis of micro and nanoplastics to assess their potential health risks. He previously worked at the National Metrology Institute of South Africa developing methods to monitor persistent organic pollutants and emerging contaminants. He earned his joint Ph.D. in Chemistry from Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam and the University of Pretoria, supported by the prestigious NRF Desmond Tutu doctoral scholarship. Prof. Marietjie Potgieter Professor Emeritus University of Pretoria, South Africa Marietjie Potgieter is Professor Emerita of Chemistry and former Deputy Dean: Teaching and Learning at the University of Pretoria. She holds a PhD in bio-organic chemistry (University of Illinois, 1983) and transitioned to chemistry education research in 2002. She received the SACI Chemical Education Medal (2008) and a national commendation for Excellence in Teaching and Learning from HELTASA (2011). She served on the IUPAC Committee on Chemistry Education (since 2016) and is its current chair (2022\u20132026). Her research focuses on effective instruction and student success in tertiary science, with recent work on integrating systems thinking into chemistry education. Prof Cornelia GCE van Sittert Professor North-West University, South Africa Prof. Cornelia GCE van Sittert obtained her PhD in Chemistry (1999) from the Potchefstroom University for CHE and a second MSc in Molecular Modelling (2004) from Cardiff University, Wales, UK. She is promoted to Professor at North-West University (2023) and leads the Laboratory for Applied Molecular Modelling. Her research focuses on the computational study of materials and catalysis, with 60 publications and the supervision of 30 postgraduate students. She had leadership roles in CATSA, the SA Journal of Chemistry, and several national scientific committees. She is a member of SAAWK, serves on the advisory board for the Water Research Council, and was appointed honorary professor at the University of KwaZulu Natal&#8217;s School of Engineering in October 2024. Prof Vladimir Azov Professor University of the Free State, South Africa Vladimir Azov is a Professor of Organic Chemistry at the University of the Free State, South<\/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-779","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/saci.co.za\/SACI2025\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/779","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=779"}],"version-history":[{"count":84,"href":"https:\/\/saci.co.za\/SACI2025\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/779\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3301,"href":"https:\/\/saci.co.za\/SACI2025\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/779\/revisions\/3301"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/saci.co.za\/SACI2025\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=779"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}