Advisory Board

Advisory Board / ExCo

Our Advisory Board / ExCo is drawn from multiple domains and passionate about the adoption of responsible AI. They are all are AI practitioners or AI community builders in their own right, tackling key issues like education, inclusion, training, regulation, ethics, policy, strategy, startups and investment. They are supported by 9x Provincial Ambassadors across South Africa who drive local and regional engagement. They are all un-paid volunteers sharing their time to help grow and run the association. We hold quarterly meetings to which they all contribute their valuable time, expertise and knowledge.

Nick Bradshaw
Founder & Chairman SA AI Association

Mandisa Mbele
Head: Office Of the Deputy Minister - Presidency of South Africa

Sipho Mtombeni
Government Affairs and Public Policy Manager - Google

Barbara Glover
Program Manager – Integrated Vector Management of African Union Development Agency – NEPAD

Ntsibane Ntlatlapa
BRICS Liaison Link Centre Wits University

Odilile Ayodele
Senior Research Specialist - HSRC (Human Sciences Research Council)

Anish Kurien
Acting Director - TUT Hub of AI-ISA: Tshwane University of Technology

Aalia Manie
Head of LegalTech and Solutions: Webber Wentzel

Tim Parle
Chief Director: Digital Economy: Western Cape Government

Ravi Naidoo
Chief Executive Officer: Youth Employment Service (YES) South Africa

Dr Moses Khanyile CD(SA)
Director: Centre for Military Studies (CEMIS) & Defence Artificial Intelligence Research Unit (DAIRU)

Deshni Govender
Country Focal Point: FAIR Forward - AI for All: GIZ

Krish Chetty
Head: Learning, Innovation & Digital Strategy - Allan & Gill Gray Philanthropies South Africa

Ilse Karg
4IR: Future Production Technologies Ministry of Trade, Industry & Competition, South Africa

Nanjun Zhang
CTO of Huawei South Africa Enterprise Business: Huawei South Africa(PTY) Limited

Tapiwa Chiwewe
Principal Artificial Intelligence Specialist - CSIR

Prof Jonathan Shock
Interim Director of the UCT AI Initiative - University of Cape Town

Peter Ing
Director of Development, Africa: EDGE AI FOUNDATION

Francesco Petruccione
Director National Institute for Theoretical and Computational Sciences (NITheCS)

Prof Elisha Markus, SMIEEE
Professor & AI consultant - Central University of Technology, Free State

Gabriella Razzano
Executive Director of OpenUp

Provincial Ambassadors

Our 9x Provincial Ambassadors drive all our regional activity via the local Ambassador network. Like the Advisory Board / ExCo members they are all un-paid volunteers sharing their time and expertise to help grow and run the association via grass-roots activations and events.