Takalani Nemaungani

Takalani Nemaungani

Ex-officio (DSI Representative)

Takalani Nemaungani is currently the Chief Director for the Astronomy portfolio at the Department of Science and Innovation (DSI) in South Africa – Astronomy is a flagship project receiving the single largest investment in the budget of the DSI. He has played pivotal role in the development of Astronomy in Africa and beyond as highlighted through the following work. He was part of a team that successfully lobbied in bringing the SKA project to Africa in his role as the central lobbying campaign coordinator working travelling to many countries in the world to promote the African SKA bid. He was instrumental in reviving the African Astronomical Society (AfAS) and providing strategic and funding support to have its secretariat based in South Africa.

Having been involved in every step from the beginning in providing support for submitting South Africa’s bid to host the General Assembly until we were awarded the rights to host it in 2018 in Vienna, it fulfilling to see this coming to reality.