Board of
Directors.

Prof. Fulufhelo Nemavhola is a South African-born Professor of Mechanical Engineering and currently serves as the Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research, Innovation and Engagement at the Durban University of Technology (DUT).

He previously held the position of Executive Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment at DUT.

A rated scholar by the National Research Foundation of South Africa, Prof. Nemavhola has held several leadership roles in academia.

Before joining DUT, he was Director of the School of Engineering at the University of South Africa (UNISA), having previously served as Head of Department and later as Associate Chair in the Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering.

In recognition of his professional standing, he is registered as a Professional Engineer (PrEng) with the Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA) and as a Chartered Engineer (CEng) with the Engineering Council of the United Kingdom (ECUK). He was also selected as a member of the South African Young Academy of Science (SAYAS) in 2018.

Prof. Nemavhola completed his BSc and MSc in Mechanical Engineering at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg. His passion for research led him to pursue a PhD in Cardiothoracic Surgery at the University of Cape Town, where his work bridged engineering and medical science.

His current research interests lie in mechanobiology, soft tissue mechanics, computational biomechanics and engineering education, with a particular focus on e-learning.

Prof. Nemavhola began his career at Spoornet (now Transnet Freight Rail) as a Candidate Engineer and went on to serve as a Senior Engineer and Design Engineer in both private and parastatal companies before moving into academia.

An accomplished researcher, he has authored and co-authored more than 70 papers presented at both national and international platforms, contributing extensively to advancing knowledge in his field.

Dr. Ntola is the Interim Director of Technology Transfer and Innovation at the Durban University of Technology, and a researcher in the Department of Chemistry within the Faculty of Applied Sciences. She obtained her PhD in Chemistry in 2021.

Dr. Ntola began her career as a trainee chemist at Anglo American in 2008 before joining DUT as a junior lecturer through the university’s Grow Your Own Timber programme in 2010.

Her research focuses on heterogeneous catalysis, materials science and advanced characterization of metal oxide catalysts using techniques such as electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction, with applications in hydrocarbon conversion and carbon dioxide mitigation.

Dr. Ntola drives the university’s technology transfer agenda, including intellectual property management, commercialization of research outputs, industry partnerships and innovation capacity development.

She has been instrumental in advancing entrepreneurship initiatives, supporting startup incubation, facilitating collaborative research with industry and government stakeholders, and strengthening innovation ecosystems aligned with regional and national development priorities.

Mr. Shabalala is the Chief Financial Officer at DUT and qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 2001 at KPMG. He went on to obtain extensive public and private sector experience in Financial Management and Corporate Governance matters.

He has served as a Financial Executive for various companies over the years, further exposing him to a general executive role and well-rounded board experience at public and private sector level.

He has been consulting in Auditing, Financial Management and Corporate Governance for more than 10 years, especially in the public sector, with a good understanding of the latest legislative requirements.

He briefly served as the Interim Chief Financial Officer (CFO) at DUT in 2021/22 before assuming the role on a full-time basis in 2025.

Prof. Dobbelstein is a Professor of Market Research and Market Analysis at the Baden-Württemberg Cooperative State University (DHBW) in Ravensburg, Germany.

He combines academic and business expertise in an exceptional way by linking scientific research with practical market analysis and innovation projects.

In addition to his teaching at DHBW, he regularly lectures at several international universities, including institutions in South Africa, where he contributes to courses in market research, consumer behaviour and quantitative analysis.

He is the Director of the Market Research Institute Customer Research 42, through which more than 150 market and customer analysis projects have been conducted in Germany, South Africa and other international markets. This work provides companies and institutions with empirically grounded insights for strategic decision-making.

Prof. Dobbelstein is also an Honorary Research Professor at the Durban University of Technology in the KwaZulu-Natal province, South Africa. Through more than two decades of academic and research engagement in the country, he has developed extensive international and South African expertise in consumer research and market development.

His academic output includes more than 130 publications, around 180 conference presentations and over 50 teaching-integrated research projects conducted with universities and industry partners.

Mr. Zulu previously worked as a Human Resources professional for over 18 years at Robertson's, Anglo Alpha and Umgeni Water before moving into management consulting at Sabalala Consulting.

He later served as the Registrar and CEO of the Council for the Built Environment, and as a Senior Advisor: Leadership Development at the Eskom Leadership Institute.

He has also assumed the role of Executive Director at Ikusasa LeAfrika Foundation, and he currently serves as the Managing Director at Emvela Holdings (Pty) Ltd.

Mr. Zulu holds a BA (Hons) Business Studies from De Montfort University, a Post Graduate Certificate in International Management from Carl Duisburg Gesselschaft / University of Hamburg and a Certificate in Corporate Renewal from the IMD Business School.

Ms. Puukka has over 25 years of experience in higher education policy analysis and development, with a focus on entrepreneurship, innovation and regional development.

After working in the biomedical industry in Finland, she moved to the higher education sector to serve in different management, expert and advisory positions.

In 2005 she was invited to the prestigious Paris-based Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) to support the Institutional Management of Higher Education programme that brought together higher education ministries and institutions in OECD countries and beyond.

Along with her other duties, she led the flagship review of higher education in regional and city development in over 30 countries, including South Africa, with the aim of providing evidence-based support for enhancing university-industry-government collaboration.

Since 2013 she has supported a range of organisations at international, national and institutional level, including as a long-standing senior expert for the European Commission’s higher education working group that brings together ministries and stakeholders across the European Union.

She also regularly supports the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), which drives knowledge-based innovation and entrepreneurship in Europe through support for entrepreneurship training, start-ups and innovations. Ms. Puukka is an advisory board member of individual higher education institutions and their alliances, notably two European Universities alliances, EU4DUAL and EUDRES, which focus on entrepreneurial and innovation activities.

Her experience in South Africa spans over a decade, first through leading the OECD review of higher education in regional and city development in the Free State province in 2010–2012, and later supporting the CUT in the evaluation and strategy development for global and local partnerships, entrepreneurship and regional development in 2014–2015.

From 2018 to 2020, she worked intensely with DUT on evaluation, strategy development and implementation for global and local partnerships and entrepreneurship, helping DUT build global connections with higher education institutions with strong profiles in entrepreneurship, innovation and regional engagement. In 2026, Ms. Puukka was selected to serve on the innobiz DUT Advisory Board.

Dr. Quwe is a well-rounded executive and board member with a demonstrated track record of working in diverse manufacturing industries, including cable tapes, textiles, chemicals, paint, coatings and automotive for leading global, international and local companies.

He boasts strong leadership, commercial and technical skills coupled with a research and development background.

Dr. Quwe is skilled in business strategy, sales strategy development, business development, customer acquisitions, sales management and relationship management, while he also has extensive knowledge in identifying, appointing and developing new sales channel partners and distributors.

He possesses vast regional know-how within the Sub-Saharan African region and holds a Doctor of Business Administration, MCOM in Marketing, MBA and Diploma in Analytical Chemistry.

Ms. Mkhize is a board member with vast experience in senior leadership, currently serving as the Board Deputy Chairperson of the uMngeni-uThukela Water Board.

She is a Henley Global Executive MBA Candidate, Mail & Guardian Power of Women Award Winner: Politics & Government and a Built Environment & Infrastructure Leader.

Ms. Mkhize is rooted in the belief that there is a difference between being present and being impactful, and she has always been intentional about choosing impact.

She brings a grounded yet strategic approach to leadership, anchored in discipline, clarity and thoughtful execution. Her work is shaped by resilience and a deep commitment to excellence that remains steady regardless of the environment or challenge at hand.

With years of experience across the construction and business space, Ms. Mkhize has developed a strong appreciation for structure, accountability and delivering results that are not only measurable, but sustainable.

She is particularly skilled at bringing clarity to complexity and translating vision into practical, executable outcomes.

She is well regarded for contributing to spaces by elevating standards, strengthening direction and ensuring that ideas move forward with purpose and precision. Her presence is intentional, and her focus is always on meaningful progress.

As she continues her upward trajectory in leadership, Ms. Mkhize is increasingly drawn to conversations, platforms and collaborations that centre on leadership, growth and building with long-term impact in mind.

She values spaces where insight is shared, perspectives are challenged and excellence is the common language. She remains open to opportunities that allow her to contribute to impactful dialogue, forward-thinking initiatives and environments committed to building what truly lasts.

Mr. Kubheka is an executive with extensive experience in strategic finance and governance and currently serves as the Deputy Director: Finance, GCF Climate Programme. He is also a well-renowned innovation and commercialization leader.

He is a Strategic Finance and Governance Executive with over 20 years of leadership experience across public institutions, higher education, innovation entities and climate-funded development programmes.

Mr. Kubheka currently serves as Deputy Director: Finance for a USD $40 million Green Climate Fund (GCF)-supported Ecosystem-based Disaster Risk Reduction programme at the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI), where he provides financial oversight, fiduciary assurance and compliance leadership within a complex, multi-stakeholder environment.

His career spans senior roles in SETAs, municipal infrastructure programmes, consulting and university commercialization entities.

As Chief Financial Officer of a university-owned innovation subsidiary, he led financial governance, enterprise risk management and commercial sustainability initiatives, delivering five consecutive clean audits and strengthening board confidence.

In addition to executive leadership, Mr. Kubheka serves as a Non-Executive Board Member at innobiz DUT Centre for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, the Durban University of Technology’s entrepreneurship, innovation and incubation wing, contributing to governance oversight, funding sustainability and strategic growth.

Mr. Kubheka’s work sits at the intersection of Public Financial Management (PFMA, MFMA, Treasury Regulations, GRAP), Climate & Development Finance Governance, Innovation & Commercialization Funding Models, Enterprise Risk & Internal Control Systems, and Board Advisory and Institutional Strengthening.

He is passionate about building financially sound institutions that create long-term public and economic value. His focus is on governance, strategic oversight and development-impact finance as part of a progressive portfolio career.