InnovateHER Project: A guide for future STEM leaders

Reabetswe Molapo

MC

Miss Molapo is a Speaker, Mindset Architect, Facilitator, and Entrepreneur. She is also the Founding Director of Yung Heirz, which provides business support services and advice for SME start-ups and scale-ups. With her expertise and strategic networks, she aims to build sustainable businesses that contribute to economic growth and job creation in Africa.

Passionate about People Management and Human Development, Reabetswe focuses on leadership and entrepreneurship to drive innovation and social progress. She is a Board Member of the SEP at the African Leadership Academy and a Committee Member of the Inclusive Diversity Board of the Directors Association. Reabetswe is an alumna of GIBS (Gordon’s Institute of Business Science) and Henley Business School.

 Gugulethu Zwane 

Organisation:  The Department of Science, Technology and Innovation  

Keynote Speaker

Ms. Zwane is the acting Director-General for the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation, previously serving as the Deputy Director-General for Institutional Planning and Support. Her branch manages governance, planning, policy formulation, monitoring, communication, risk management, and support for the Director-General.

With over 20 years of experience spanning government, state-owned entities, and the private sector, she began her career as a microbiologist. She's worked with institutions including the Agricultural Research Council and the South African Forestry Company. 

Her expertise lies in strategy formulation, policy development, and business development, with additional experience in communication, project management, and corporate social investment.

Ms. Zwane holds a Master's in Business Leadership from the University of South Africa, a BTech in Biotechnology from Durban University of Technology, and an Advanced Management Development Programme Certificate from the Gordon Institute of Business Science.

 Dr. Mamoeletsi Mosia

Organisation:  NRF-SAASTA 

Keynote Speaker 

Dr Mamoeletsi Mosia is the Managing Director at the South African Agency for Science and Technology Advancement, a National Research Foundation business unit (NRF-SAASTA). Before joining NRF-SAASTA, she worked at the CSIR as a senior manager in different roles, including Human Capital Development, Research Management, and Operations Management. Before then, she was a scientist at Sasol, where she grew within the ranks to Principal Scientist level. Throughout her career, she has been involved in the development of STEM professionals in one way or the other, a role she is very passionate about.

Mamoeletsi earned her BSc (Hons) and MSc in Chemistry from the University of Natal, and her PhD in Chemistry from the Technical University of Eindhoven, The Netherlands. She also completed a MCom degree in leadership studies from the University of KwaZulu-Natal as well as a BA(Hons) in Psychology from UNISA.

Dr. Judy Dlamini  

Organisation:  Mbekani Group

Keynote Speaker

Dr. Judy Dlamini is a medical doctor, academic, businesswoman, author, and philanthropist. She is the Founder and Executive Chairman of Mbekani Group, which has been operating for 25 years. Additionally, she serves as Chancellor of Wits University and co-founded the Mkhiwa Trust, focusing on rural development, health, and education. Dr. Dlamini also founded the Female Academic Leaders Fellowship NPC to develop black women leaders in academia.

Her Doctoral thesis explored the intersection of race, gender, and social class in the career progression of women CEOs. She is a former Chairman of Aspen Pharmacare, and has held board positions at Anglo-American, Discovery Holdings, Woolworths, and Northam Platinum. A published author of "Equal but Different," "The Other Story," and "Grow to be Great," she has received numerous awards, including the African Economy Builder Lifetime Achiever Award in 2016 and the UNISA Leadership In Practice Award in 2018.

Dr. Dlamini holds honorary Doctorates in Business from Nelson Mandela University and in Economics from the University of Kwa-Zulu Natal. Her published articles include contributions to the South African Journal of Psychology and Critical Psychology, addressing topics such as social justice and gender-based violence.

 Nozibusiso Gumede  

Organisation:  ScienceCEO Academy

Partner

 Nozibusiso is a trailblazer in STEM education and industry, hailing from Mandini Township in Northern KwaZulu-Natal. As the Chief Executive Officer of ScienceCEO Academy, she leads a dedicated team focused on enhancing education in South Africa’s Department of Basic Education and empowering recent STEM graduates. Under her leadership, the Academy has positively impacted over 31,000 learners and trained more than 250 educators. A recently certified Board Director, Nozibusiso is also recognized for her participation in the U.S. TechWomen Mentorship Program, where she gained expertise in bioengineering and entrepreneurship. Previously, she was a Bioprocessing Laboratories Leader at the Technology Innovation Agency, overseeing innovative biotechnology projects. She holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Business Administration from Wits, a BTech in Biotechnology from DUT, and an Advanced Diploma in Project Management from UCT, along with various certifications in mentorship and project management. A firm believer in education as a means of self-empowerment, she emphasizes the value of lifelong learning and making a meaningful impact. 

 Boitumelo Lekhoe 

Panelist  

Boitumelo Lekhoe is a biomedical engineer with over 5 years of experience in medical technology, holding a Bachelor's degree in Biomedical Engineering from Bahçeşehir University in Turkey and a Master's in Medical Imaging from the University of Aberdeen in Scotland. Currently, she specializes in surgical robotics, contributing to the installation, maintenance, and repair of surgical robots, and previously worked with diagnostic imaging systems, including CT and MRI scanners. 

Passionate about empowering women in STEM, Boitumelo advocates for closing the gender gap in engineering and champions inclusivity through her social media platforms. She believes in the responsibility of those who have succeeded to support others. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, running, reading, and swimming, continuously seeking to learn new skills.

 Luyanda Khumbuza

Moderator  

 Luyanda Khumbuza is passionate about shaping careers and empowering professionals, specializing in career strategy, talent acquisition, and HR thought leadership. As a moderator and speaker, she facilitates engaging discussions on workplace trends, leadership, and career growth. Through The Enlightened Podcast, Luyanda connects with industry leaders to explore the evolving world of work, covering topics from recruitment trends to personal branding and professional success. She welcomes opportunities to discuss career transformation, workplace insights, and leadership strategies. 

 Tebogo Mashifana 

Panelist   

Tebogo Mashifana is an accomplished individual currently serving as an Associate Professor of Circular Economy, having previously been the Head of the Department of Chemical Engineering from 2021 to 2024. A dedicated NRF-rated researcher, she has published over 60 journal articles, conference papers, and book chapters, and is a member of the South African Young Academy of Science. 

As an innovator and entrepreneur, she is committed to inspiring youth, particularly young women and girls, to pursue careers in STEM fields. She is a founding member of the Dr. Tebogo Mashifana & Partners Foundation, which focuses on community upliftment and youth empowerment, and a Co-Founder of Advocates for Green Environment. A mother of three, Prof. Mashifana dedicates her time to mentoring young girls and believes in the importance of helping others as one rises. 

Throughout her career, she has received numerous awards for her contributions as a researcher, innovator, and role model.

 Khanyisile Masemola 

Panelist   

 Khanyisile is an interdisciplinary researcher, writer, and PhD candidate in Electrical Engineering at the University of the Witwatersrand, focusing on renewable energy systems, energy transition, and digital innovation. She has presented at national conferences and published articles with IEEE. 

In 2024, she received the GoldenKey award for her research, was recognized as one of South Africa’s GradStar Top 100 most employable graduates, and named a Top 10 future leader. 

Khanyisile is dedicated to leadership and STEM advocacy, serving as a student member of the South African Institute of Electrical Engineers (SAIEE) and participating in Cigre Southern Africa and Cigre Women in Energy. She engages in initiatives like the Sasol Energy Innovation Challenge to empower students, particularly young women, in science and engineering. Additionally, she is an Ambassador of the South African AI Association, which hosts the annual AI Expo Africa conference. Khanyisile is also a committed Christian, believing in Jesus Christ as her Lord and Saviour.

 Dr Moleboheng Ramulumo 

Panelist   

 Dr Moleboheng Ramulumo is a mother and a Senior Lecturer at North-West University. She has a BSc in Plant Pathology, an Honours degree in Microbiology, and an MSc in Life Science Education (cum laude). Her education journey was shaped by her two sons, Wavhudi and Rivhavhudi, who had speech delays as toddlers. This led her to explore digital educational games to help them, sparking her interest in early science and math education and inspiring her to pursue a PhD in early STEM education. Currently, Dr. Ramulumo studies how AI can be used in early childhood education, especially to support self-directed learning and climate change understanding. She is passionate about making education inclusive and integrating indigenous knowledge into STEM education. Her project, Renewable Rangers, is a digital game for children aged 4 to 6 that teaches about renewable energy in a fun way, using South African languages and cultures. The game is designed to be accessible to all children, including those with disabilities, with special features for kids with hearing and visual impairments. 

  Puseletso Manyaka-Lesofe 

Panelist   

   Puseletso Manyaka-Lesofe is a Medical Biological Scientist at North-West University with over nine years of experience in academia, diagnostic laboratories, clinical trials, and scientific project management. Specializing in infectious diseases and metabolomics, she is dedicated to advancing diagnostics and research. A HPCSA-registered scientist, involved in clinical trials in HIV, COVID-19, and TB vaccine research and contributed to molecular PCR testing during South Africa’s Listeria and SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks. Her work includes peer-reviewed publications in Microbiology and Molecular Diagnostics and mentoring emerging BSc graduates and scientists. In 2024, she was recognized as one of The Feature Magazine’s Top 50 Most Memorable Women, featured in Mail & Guardian’s Power of Women in STEMI, and selected to be part of the 2025 Forbes Africa Over 30 under 50 list. As co-founder of the African Institute of Medical Scientists (AIMS) and an executive director at Shadow A Scientist, both NPC's, she is passionate about guiding aspiring medical scientists toward research, career growth, and leadership opportunities 

Pabalelo Banks

Panelist     

Pabalelo Banks is an experienced Operational Director at Spaza Eats, having previously co-founded AnalyticsX, where she served for nearly five years. She also held roles as Chief Financial Officer at Analytics Advertising and briefly as Chief Executive Officer, focusing on data science, artificial intelligence, and business management. With expertise in financial accounting, data analysis, and operational management, she has effectively driven client execution and revenue optimization. 

Pabalelo’s earlier experience includes working as an Analyst in Advanced Analytics at Absa and as a Pricing and Promotion Analyst at Pick n Pay. She holds an Honours BSc in Business Mathematics and Informatics (Quantitative Risk Management) and a Bachelor's Degree in Data Mining from North-West University, where she also served as a SASCO Branch Executive Member. 

Beyond her professional achievements, Pabalelo has volunteered as a youth counselor, demonstrating her commitment to community development.