SAEON Technical Steering Committee

The Technical Steering Committee advises the National Office and the NRF at scientific and operational levels. The specific terms of reference for the Advisory Board are to:

• develop the overall research framework and observation programme;
• advise on criteria and procedure for node development;
• advise on education outreach and education strategies, including national reporting;
• advise on IT requirements and data management policies;
• foster national and international collaborations;
• develop the science programme for the SAEON Summit;
• advise on policy with regard to the role of research performed and funded by individual SAEON partners; and
• appoint and task committees that are not necessarily composed of Technical Steering Committee members.

The Technical Steering Committee performs a three-year scientific and organisational review of the nodes.  It annually reviews each node’s progress report and work plan.

Members

Nikisi Lesufi

Environmental Advisor, Chamber of Mines

Wadzi Mandivenyi

Director: Biodiversity Management, Department of Environmental Affairs

Dr Hector Magome

Director: Conservation Services, SA National Parks

Dr Steven Mitchell

Director: Water-linked Ecosystems, Water Research Commission (WRC)

Dr Sylvester Mpandeli

Programme Manager: Climate Change, Agricultural Research Committee (ARC)

Moloko Matlala  

Water Information Systems, Department of Water Affairs

Dr Mike Rutherford

Deputy Director: Research and Ecology, South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI)

Gerhard Schulze

Senior Manager: Climate Systems, SA Weather Services (SAWS)

Prof Frank Shillington

Department of Oceanography, South African Network for Coastal and Oceanic Research (SANCOR)

Prof Paul Skelton

Managing Director: SA Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity (SAIAB)

Dr Wayne Twine

Manager: SUNRAE research programme , Wits Rural Facility, University of the Witwatersrand (Wits)

Dr Konrad Wessels

Head: Earth Observation, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)
 
Dr Peter Zawada

Executive Manager: Regional Geoscience and Mapping, Council for Geosciences

Leluma Matooane

Director: Climate Change, Department of Science and Technology