Khotso Mokhele Former 1st President National Research Foundation, South Africa "What Will It Take for the Developing World to Extricate Itself from Under-development?"
Video

Curriculum Vitae:

PERSONAL DETAILS

Name: Khotso Mokhele
Date of Birth: 12 September 1955
Place of Birth: Bloemfontein
Nationality: South African
Postal Address: P.O. Box  76391, Wendywood 2144
Tel./Fax: +27 11 656 1557
E-mail: mokhele@gmail.com

EDUCATION

• PhD Microbiology – University of California, Davis, California, USA (1986)
• MSc Food Science – University of California, Davis, California, USA (1981)
• BSc Agriculture – University of Fort Hare, Alice, South Africa (1979)
• Matriculation – Moroka High School, Thaba-Nchu, South Africa (1973)

SPECIALITY COURSES

Standford Executive Programme – Graduate School of Business, Stanford University, Palo Alto, California, USA (1995)

CURRENT POSITIONS

• Chairman of the Board of Directors, Mittal Steel South Africa
• Vice President for Scientific Planning and Review, International Council for Science (ICSU)

CURRENT NON EXECUTIVE BOARD APPOINTMENTS

• African Oxygen Limited (Afrox)
• Hans Merensky Foundation
• Impala Platinum Holdings Limited (Implats)
• Zimbabwe Platinum Holdings Limited (Zimplats)

OTHER CURRENT APPOINTMENTS

• Convener: CHE Task Team on Higher Education, Institutional
  Autonomy and Academic Freedom (2005-2007)
• Member of Selection Committee: Rhodes Scholarship in Southern Africa-at-Large (1995-2007)
• ICSU Committee on Scientific Planning and Review (CSPR) (2003-2008) 

HONOURS/AWARDS

Honorary Doctorates

• Honorary Doctorate (Humane Letters): Rutgers University, New Jersey, USA (2005)
• Honorary Doctorate (Higher Education): University of the Free State   (2004)
• Honorary Doctorate (Science): University of the Western Cape (2003)
• Honorary Doctorate (Technology): Technikon Free State (2003)
• Honorary Doctorate (Science): University of Fort Hare (2002)
• Honorary Doctorate (Technology): Technikon Pretoria (2002)
• Honorary Doctorate (Technology): Port Elizabeth Technikon (2002)

Special Award

Awarded Legion of Honour (Chevalier) by the President of the Republic of France (2000)

Other Awards for outstanding contribution to Science and Technology

• National Science and Technology Forum Award (2005)
• Tribute Achievers Award (2000)

PREVIOUSLY HELD POSITIONS AND SERVICES RENDERED

POSITION IN THE NATIONAL RESEARCH FOUNDATION (NRF)

Founder President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), National Research Foundation (NRF) (1999–2006)

POSITIONS IN THE FOUNDATION FOR RESEARCH DEVELOPMENT (FRD)

• President and Chief Executive Officer (1996–1999)
• Vice-President (1992–1996)

POSITION IN THE ACADEMY OF SCIENCE OF SOUTH AFRICA

Founder President (1996–1998)

NATIONAL REPRESENTATIVE SERVICE

South Africa’s Representative on the Executive Board of UNESCO (1997–2001)

TEACHING POSITIONS

• Lecturer, Department of Microbiology, University of Cape Town (1990–1992)
• Temporary Lecturer/Senior Lecturer, Department of Biochemistry and
  and Microbiology, University of Fort Hare, Alice, South Africa (1987 & 1989)
• Teaching Assistant, Department of Bacteriology, University of California, Davis, California, USA (1982–1985)
• Instructor, Mathematics and Physical Science, Goroyane Secondary School, Thaba-Nchu (1977)

RESEARCH POSITIONS

• Visiting Research Fellow, Department of Microbiology, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA (1990–1991)
• CSIR-FRD Research Fellow, Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology,
  University of Fort Hare, Alice, South Africa (1988–1989)
• Post-doctoral Fellow in the laboratory of Nobel Prize-winner, Dr Hamilton O Smith, Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA  (1986–1987)

SERVICE IN HIGHER EDUCATIONAL BODIES AND COUNCILS

• Member: Council for Higher Education (CHE) (1998–2003)
• Deputy Convener: CHE Task Force on Reconfiguration of Shape
  and Size of Higher Education (2000–date)
• Member: Council of University of the North-West (1995–1999)
• Member: Council of University of Pretoria (1994–1998)
• Member: Council of University of Durban-Westville (1994–1996)

MEMBERSHIP OF INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATIONS

Board of Directors: Salzburg Seminar Selection Committee (1999–2004)

MEMBERSHIP OF PRIVATE SECTOR BOARDS OF DIRECTORS

• Specialised Protein Products Limited (2002–2004)
• Denel Limited (2001–2004)
• SALT Foundation Limited (2000–2006)
• Genbel SA Limited (1998–2002)

MEMBERSHIP OF PUBLIC SECTOR BOARDS / COUNCILS

• Chairperson: National Skills Authority (Dept. of Labour) (2005 –2007)
• Chairperson: Free State Province’s Premier’s Economic Advisory Council (2001–2004)
• Free State Development Corporation (1999–2001)

SPECIAL TASKS

Chairperson, Salzburg Seminar on Scientific Development and the Democratic
Process, held at Schloss Leopoldskron, Salzburg, Austria                                     (1999)

Appointed by the Minister of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology,
Dr Ben Ngubane, to serve on the Task  Team to write the Green Paper
on Science and Technology (1995)

OTHER HONOURS AND COMMENDATIONS

• Recipient of Fulbright-Hays Scholarship (University of California, Davis)    (1979–1986)
• Recipient of Massey-Fergusson Award for best student in Agriculture,
  University of Fort , Alice, South Africa (1979)

Responsible for this page: Nina Drinkovic
Last updated: 18 Dec 2007