OPENNING SESSION
Mr. Stein Ostaman Mkandawire
Mr. Stein Ostaman Mkandawire is an Information Technology (I.T.) professional with over ten years of work experience in planning, designing, development, leading, managing I.T. teams, managing I.T. projects and maintenance of computer information systems. He possesses strong analytical and managerial skills, project management skills and project negotiation skills. He also has immense experience in end-user/customer support/help desk designing activities and experience in various software/application installations and maintenance. He prefers open door and participatory types of management styles. He started his career as a metallurgical technologist in 1996 with Zambia Consolidated Copper Mines (ZCCM) Ltd and switched to I.T. in 1999, joined KCM Plc in 2002, moved to the Copperbelt University (CBU) in 2003 up to September 2012. He is currently working as the Chief Executive Officer for the Zambia Research and Education Network (ZAMREN). He is the author of a book titled "Managing spam through mapping anti-spam software to e-mail policy." He holds an MSc in Data Communications & Software Engineering, BSc in Computer Science and a Diploma in Mining Metallurgy.
Prof. Madara Ogot
Prof. Madara Ogot holds a BSE in Mechanical Engineering from Princeton University, PhD in Mechanical Engineering from Penn State University, MBA (Strategic Management) from Rutgers University and a PhD in Business Administration (Strategic Management) from the University of Nairobi. Prof. Ogot has published widely in refereed journals and has mentored and supervised post-graduate students both in Mechanical Engineering (with a focus on stochastic design optimization, transportation and engineering education) and strategic management (with a focus on small and medium enterprises). Ogot was a faculty member in the Depts. of Mechanical Engineering at Rutgers University (1991-2003), the Pennsylvania State University (2003-2006), before returning to Kenya and joining the Dept. of Mech. and Manufacturing Engineering at the University of Nairobi in 2006. He has served as the Managing Director for University of Nairobi Enterprises and Services Ltd, (2006-2011), Deputy Vice-Chancellor Academic Affairs at Maseno University (2011-2014), Director of Research University of Nairobi (2016-2019), and Deputy Vice-Chancellor Research, Innovation and Enterprise, University of Nairobi (2018-2021). He is currently the President of the East African Research and Innovation Management Association (EARIMA).
SESSION 1
Yared Abera Ergu
Mr. Yared Abera Ergu, Dean of School of Technology and Informatics at Ambo University, Woliso Campus and Lecturer, in Information Systems Department at Ambo University (Ethiopia).He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from Wollega University and a Master’s degree in Information Technology from University of Gondar. His current work focuses on Natural Language Processing and Case Based Reasoning Applications Systems for Ethiopian Higher Education Institutions. He is an active member of the Carpentries Ethiopia Team, an internationally certified instructor of The Carpentries as well as a member of the Library Carpentry Advisory Group and Instructor Development Committee (IDC) member at The Carpentries
Dr. Nchimunya Chaamwe
He taught at the Copperbelt University for 5 years before he went to pursue his PhD in Information and Communication Engineering at the Huazhong University of Science and Technology in China, he graduated in 2011. He has been working in a University environment for over 19 years now, having risen through the various ranks that the University can offer, including that of Dean of a School of Information and Communication Technology as the founding Dean. He has also served as an acting Director in the Directorate of ICT at CBU for 2 years and 3 months. He was later offered a substantive appointment as Director in the same Directorate but could not take up the appointment. He is currently working as Senior Lecturer and Researcher in the School of ICT. He has published over 20 papers in peer reviewed journals and conference proceedings. He is also an author of two books.
Mohammed Abdirahman Warsame
Mr. Mohamed Abdirahman Warsame Holds MSc in Computer Application from Amity University, MBA of Kampala University, Bachelor of Computer Science, Bachelor of Business Administration from East Africa University, Diploma in Business Administration from PIDAM institute. Mr. Mohamed is the currently lecturer and ICT director in East Africa University Puntland Somalia, he is also ICT experts of different public and private projects. He brings for over 10 years of experience working on information technology sector: technologies, computer-based education and learning, and information technologies in education.
Hazael Phiri
Hazael Phiri is a Lecturer of Computer Science in the School of Information and Communication Technology at The Copperbelt University in Kitwe Zambia. Hazael holds a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Computer Science, he additionally holds a diploma in Technical and Vocational Teaching. His research interests are in ICT for Development, Internet of Things, Computers in Agriculture and Programming. He is currently collaborating on projects in technology in education, cost effective precision fish farming and mobile health for under-five children. As an academician besides undertaking research activities he is currently teaching Introduction to Programming, Web Development and Object Oriented Programming at undergraduate level. Finally, as a Tech enthusiast Hazael is passionate about new technology that improves livelihood of people especially the youth in developing countries.
Chmanga Kashale
My name is Chimanga Kashale, I am Lecturer and Researcher at under the Copperbelt University at Kapasa Makasa University. I hold a BSc in IT, MSc Computer Science, and currently a PhD scholar at the Copperbelt University. My area of research include AI and IoTs among others
Dr. Goodiel C. Moshi
Digital development specialist with ten years of experience in academic research and consultancy in the ICT/telecommunications economics, policy, and regulation. He has worked as a researcher and technical expert different international projects in the African ICT/telecommunication markets. He has worked with GFA Consulting in facilitating digital and data policy dialogues within the African Union; and other ICT consulting firms such as Research ICT Africa (RIA) - South Africa, LIRNE Asia - Sri Lanka, Singapore Internet Research Center (SiRC) - Singapore, and KDI based in South Korea. His research interest is on digital and telecommunication markets, emerging technologies, and adoption and utilization of digital technologies. He is also the Director of ICT at the University of Dodoma, one of the largest universities in the country with about 30,000 students.
SESSION 2
Erik Huizer
Since July 2017 Erik Huizer is the CEO for GÉANT, Europe's leading collaboration on e-infrastructure and services for research and education. Before that he was CTO at SURFnet, the Dutch national academic and research network. From 2008 - 2012 Erik Huizer was Managing Director (Algemeen Directeur) for the Information Sciences and Space technology division at TNO (The Netherlands organization for applied scientific research). From 1988 - 2000 Erik also worked at SURFnet and he chaired various RARE (later Terena) WGs. He was a member of the Terena technical committee. From 2000 - 2015 he was a part time Professor Internet Applications. Most recently at Utrecht University and before that at the faculty of computer science of the University Twente. He remains a research associate at Utrecht University
Yousef Torman
For around thirty years, I worked in ICT at highly reputable institutions in the higher education and scientific research sector. During my work, my main focus was to make use of technology, mainly ICT, for the developments and enhancing the life of people in my community and beyond through better use of new technologies in education and scientific research
Tom Fryer
Tom Fryer joined GÉANT as a member of the International Relations Team in 2008. In his current role as Head of International Relations, since March 2019, he leads a team of five that support GÉANT’s relationships with R&E networking partners in other world regions and manage EU-funded regional development projects, including AfricaConnect3. Tom supports dialogue with global R&E network partners together with his International Relations Team colleagues. He also leads GÉANT’s involvement in the BELLA programme, which is strengthening connectivity between Europe and Latin America. Tom has a degree in modern languages and linguistics from the University of Essex
Zainab Mzungu
Zeinab Mzungu is an instructional designer and an eLearning expert with over four years of experience working alongside the capacity building team at Kenya Education Network-KENET. Zeinab specializes in research and educational technology and is responsible for educating KENET member institutions on using progressive systems and applications, including eLearning platforms, web conference solutions, interactive content creation procedures and general capacity building strategies. Zeinab has been the lead trainer during the COVID-19 pandemic in training faculty from various institutions in Kenya on education technologies including use of BigBlueButton and Moodle. Zeinab is a powerful force in the workplace and uses her positive attitude and tireless energy to impact change to the education sector in Kenya through KENET. Zeinab holds a bachelor’s degree in Education (Science) and a master’s degree in research and Public Policy both from Egerton University-Kenya.
SESSION 3
Enos Phiri
Enos Phiri is a Lecturer in Management Studies Division (MSD) at the National Institute of Public Administration (NIPA) with five years of work experience. Enos has a BA-Public Administration (University of Zambia) and MA-Public Administration (University of Zambia). Enos also has a Postgraduate Diploma in Teaching Methodology from the University of Lusaka (UNILUS). Enos specializes in Public Administration and is responsible for courses like Organizational Behavior, Public Policy Analysis, Local Government Administration and Strategic Management. Enos has also taught at Zambian Open University (ZAOU) and Zambia Centre for Accountancy Studies (ZCAS) University. He has also taught at the University of Zambia under Extension Studies and University of Africa.
David Heyns
Dave is the project director for OCRE (www.ocre-project.eu) on behalf of the European Commission. OCRE has constructed frameworks supporting the consumption of commercial Cloud and related Digital Services by the European R&E community (10,000+ institutes). OCRE will also stimulate this consumption by funding strategic research projects with regards cloud services.
Mainford Mutandavari
Mainford is an expert in white collar crimes with more than 10 years’ experience of police investigations. He holds an MTech in Strategy and Innovation form Harare Institute of Technology 2021. A holder of MTech in Computer Science from Jawarlal Nehru Technology University, Hyderabad, India in 2014 and BSc (hons) degree in Computer Science from Midlands State University, MSU, Zimbabwe, 2010. ). He has more than 10 years’ university experience in Teaching, Research and Administration. He is presently lecturer in Software Engineering Department at School of Information Science and Technology, HIT Harare. He has worked as an IT expert in the ministry of Home Affairs for 7 years prior to joining HIT. He has written several research papers in the areas of cloud computing. His areas of interest are cloud computing, Big Data Analytics, Emerging Technologies, Mobile Computing and Information security.
Eyob Mulualem
Eyob is a Cloud Engineer with 3+ years of successful experience in one of the National Education and Research Network located in Ethiopia. With Educational background of Bsc in Software Engineering , Eyob specializes in Cloud computing technologies and supports Higher education institutes such as providing High level services for the institutions (Education) ,capacity building training and so on. A strong believer in the power of positive thinking in the workplace.
Caroline Nomuddu
Caroline Namuddu is part of the Networks Operation department at the Research and Education Network for Uganda (RENU) with her role titled Networks Engineer where he has been for 3 years. Among others, she is interested in MPLS, and other networking technologies.
SESSION 4
Pamela Chogo
Ms Pamela Chogo is a Lecturer and researcher in Information Technology from the Institute of Accountancy Arusha, Tanzania. She has more than 10 years’ experience facilitating various Information Technology, community development and management courses. Apart from that, Ms Pamela is an innovation enthusiast, coaching various technological and business startups. Currently, Ms. Pamela is a PhD candidate at the Nelson Mandela African Institute of Science and Technology where her area of study is Information and Communication Science Engineering. Her PhD research is focused on the application of Artificial Intelligence in learning. In volunteering for technology growth in Tanzania, Ms. Pamela is the general secretary for the Internet society Tanzania chapter and she uses her free time to mentor girls in STEMi. Further, Ms. Pamela has managed to publish various articles in local and international journals. Academically, Ms. Pamela holds Advanced Diploma in Information Technology from the Institute of Accountancy Arusha, Masters of science in Information Technology and Management from Avinashiligham Deemed University, India and also Masters of community economic development from the Open University of Tanzania.
Sarah Muyoma Ndume
Between 2011 and 2018 she served as a secondary teacher at Mwense Secondary School in Mwense District. In 2016 she was enrolled to pursue masters’ degree in education with special education. Whilst at the University of Zambia she worked as a tutor in the Department of Educational Psychology, Sociology and Special Education from 2017 to 2018. In March 2019 she obtained a master’s degree in education with special education. From 2018 to date she has worked as a senior lecturer at Malcolm Moffat College of Education. She has presented papers at academic fora including Zambia Association of Public Universities and Colleges in 2020 and Zambia’s Development, Experiences, Propects and Challenges since Mulungushi Reforms of 1968 in 2021.
Lloyd Ssentogo
Lloyd Ssentongo is a senior security and network infrastructure engineer with 20 years’ experience working at Research Data and Communication Technologies Uganda (RDCT-Uganda) and the Information Technology head at the NIH ICER Uganda and Rakai Health Sciences Program for the last 15 years. In addition, he chairs the RENU (Research and Education Network Uganda) ICT Directors forum for the last 5 years. He has been a regular participant and presenter at Ubuntunet Connect, WACREN, GEANT and Internet2 for several years. He is a Certified Information Systems Auditor (Silver) and ITIL certified.
Ivan Frank Nsimbi
Ivan Frank Nsimbi is a Systems Engineer with Research Data and Communication Technologies Uganda (RDCT-Uganda). As the technical lead on identity and single-sign-on solutions, he supports the NIH ICER Uganda / Rakai Health Sciences Program and the NIH ICER Mali in West Africa where he deploys, configures, manages and integrates Federated Identity and Access Management systems enabling secure Single Sign-On (SSO) access to global collaboration tools for Researchers.Ivan holds a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from Makerere University, Kampala Uganda.
Serah Mbewe
Serah Mbewe is a Computer Scientist with 17 years of experience who did my BSC in Computer Science at Copperbelt University (CBU), then became a Staff Development Fellow in the School of Technology at CBU. She proceeded to do my MSc in Advanced Computer Science at Lancaster University and was employed as Lecturer-ICT at CBU upon completion. She was then employed as an ICT Consultant at ZCAS and was later promoted to Senior ICT Consultant and eLearning Coordinator. She is currently the Assistant Dean in the School of Open, Distance and eLearning and Lecturer – ICT at ZCAS University and a DBA student in Information Technology (with a focus on Strategic Adoption of Green ICTs in Institutions) at Binary University.
As an academician her areas of interest are Financial Modelling and Forecasting, Big Data Analytics, Web and Mobile App Development, IT and the Environment, Distributed Data Management, Strategic IT Management and Project Management. She has published 7 in peer reviewed journals. She is also a ZICTA mentor for Girls in ICTs and Asikana Network.
Lily Edinam Botsyoe
Lily currently works as a front-end developer. As an aspiring Tech Policy Analyst, she speaks widely on issues related to the internet with a particular interest in Women and Youth Inclusion, Accessibility, and Cybersecurity. She also coordinates the Ghana Youth Internet Governance Forum and a member of the steering committee for the West African YouthInternet Governance Forum. Outside the above listed, she hosts a weekly podcast called Pointers in 10 which shares nuggets on tech and career.
Ben Ruhinda
Ben Ruhinda has been Senior Systems Officer since August 2016 of the Inter-University Council of East Africa. He is in charge of planning and coordination formulation and implementation of ICT systems, policy and strategies at Inter-University Council for East Africa. He is a holder of a Bachelor of Computer Science and Masters of Computer Science from National University of Rwanda. Ben has participated in the establishment of the Regional Centre of Excellence for ICT in East Africa (CENIT@EA). And He is currently the Focal person for the CENIT@EA. He is the member of the continental initiative for Policy Data Unit (PDU) for African higher education. Ben has more than 14 years of ICT hands-on experience which includes 8+ years of broad-based management in Systems Design and Development, Implementation and Support Strategically and cost-effectively utilize technology in alignment with High Learning institutions’ goal.
Eng. Dr. Dorothy Okello
Eng. Dr. Dorothy Okello is Director of Innovation at ResilientAfrica Network (RAN) hosted by Makerere University School of Public Health. Supported by USAID, RAN is a partnership of 18 Sub-Saharan African universities that seeks to identify, develop and scale innovative solutions that will strengthen the resilience of African communities afflicted by natural as well as man-made shocks and stresses by applying science, technology, innovation and partnerships, and using evidence-based approaches. Dr. Okello is a Senior Lecturer with the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the College of Engineering, Design, Art and Technology (CEDAT) - Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda; and a Researcher with netLabs!UG, a research centre within the Department whose model is to strive for a balanced critical mass of basic research, applied research, innovation and commercialisation in the area of telecommunications and networking.
