Professor Mmaki Jantjies, one of the leading South African computer scientists specialising in technology for development, has been included in the World Economic Forum (WEF) 2022 Young Global Leaders (YGL) list.
She is one of only 120 young leaders who have made the cut from thousands of nominations from around the world. She joins a YGL alumni of 1 400 global members who have since 2004, included Grammy Award and Nobel Prize recipients, UN Goodwill Ambassadors, heads of governments and Fortune 500 companies.
She has greatly contributed to the advancement of technology for development, having conducted studies on mobile digital systems design and adoption in education, health as well as in the small businesses sector. Prof Jantjies was also part of a University of the Western Cape (UWC) team that launched one of the first Postgraduate Diplomas in e-Skills Development in Africa. The UWC programme equips students with skills in immersive technologies like augmented and virtual reality, supporting the technology development of AR/VR applications applied across various sectors.
Prof Jantjies is currently the Group Executive Head of Innovation for Telkom South Africa and an adjunct associate professor. She holds a PhD in computer Science from the University of Warwick, an MSC in Computing from the University of Oxford Brookes, an Honours Degree from the University of Pretoria and a degree from North West University. She is also a National Research Foundation-rated scientist and a member of the South African Association of Young Scientists (SAYAS).
“I am incredibly humbled to be named a Young Global Leader for 2022. It is an amazing honour and I credit my parents for their influence as they were passionate about mathematics and science and there was never an option for me not to make a positive impact in the South African technology sector. I am also incredibly fortunate to have great mentors who continue to support and inspire my leadership in the technology sector journey,” she says.
“My membership to YGL is consistent with the work I do in communities by leveraging technology as a key enabler across fields in countries like South Africa and beyond. I look forward to working with the rest of the YGL Class of 2022 to find sustainable solutions to global challenges.”
* A brief CV, Portfolio and images are attached. For interviews contact Gasant Abarder on 0832946097.
