Governing Council – ACTS | African Centre for Technology Studies https://acts-net.org African Centre for Technology Studies Tue, 22 Apr 2025 07:10:20 +0000 en-GB hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9 https://acts-net.org/wp-content/uploads/cropped-ACTS-Favicon-Dark-Green-32x32.webp Governing Council – ACTS | African Centre for Technology Studies https://acts-net.org 32 32 Dr. Sylvance Okoth https://acts-net.org/team/dr-sylvance-okoth/ Mon, 20 Jan 2025 05:21:13 +0000 https://acts-net.org/?post_type=team&p=3234 Chief Executive and Accounting Officer of the East African Science and Technology Commission ((EASTECO); provides leadership in the promotion and coordination of the development, management and application of Science, Technology and Innovation for socio-economic development and regional integration in the East African Community Partner States of Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, and Burundi, South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo; Responsible for the overall management of the EASTECO to fulfil its mandate as provided for in the EASTECO Protocol and EAC Treaty.

]]> Dr.-Ing Calvin Onyango https://acts-net.org/team/dr-ing-calvin-onyango/ Mon, 20 Jan 2025 05:20:08 +0000 https://acts-net.org/?post_type=team&p=3233 Dr.-Ing. Calvin Onyango is the Director-General of KIRDI (Kenya Industrial Research Development Institute). He holds a PhD in Bioprocess Engineering from Institute of Food Technology and Bioprocess Engineering, Technische Universitaet Dresden, Dresden, Germany; Masters and Bachelor’s Degrees in Food Science and Technology from the University of Nairobi, Kenya. Dr.-Ing. Onyango has expansive research experience. His expertise is in food science and technology. He has published widely in peer reviewed scientific journals and also contributed immensely in research conferences and workshops. He has fundraised extensively through bankable research proposals. His research work has been cited widely and he has also received numerous awards in appreciation of his contribution to the body of research in food science and technology.

]]> Prof. Shem Wandiga https://acts-net.org/team/prof-shem-wandiga/ Mon, 20 Jan 2025 05:17:48 +0000 https://acts-net.org/?post_type=team&p=3231
Prof Shem Wandiga is the Dean of the College of Scholars and a member of ACTS Governing Council. He obtained his BSc from Howard University in 1967, M.Sc. in January 1972 from the University of Maryland and PhD in June 1972 from the Case Western Reserve University (USA).
He is a Professor of Chemistry at the department of Chemistry, University of Nairobi and former Director, Institute for Climate Change and Adaptation (ICCA). Professor Wandiga’s research interests lie in studying sources and sinks of biogenic gases; persistent organochlorine pesticides in the tropics; trace metals concentration in various environmental media; complexes of Group VB metals with sulfur and oxygen binding ligands; and climate change and health.
His work revealed half-life’s DDT as much shorter in the Tropics than in the Temperate zones (3 months versus 10 years). He was Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the College of Biological and Physical Science at the University of Nairobi. He has been Senate Member Coordinator of Project Investment with the Ministry of Education, Chemistry Committee Coordinator for South and East Africa Chemistry Environment Network of the Association of Science Faculties of African Universities and Kenya Executive Board Representative at UNESCO.
He served as Chairman of the Department of Chemistry and Chairman Organizing Committee for the second international chemistry conference in Africa. He is member of the World Conference on Science International Organizing Committee and several others professional societies. He has 101 publications, national and international recognition and awards
]]> Dr. Christopher Onyango https://acts-net.org/team/dr-christopher-onyango/ Mon, 20 Jan 2025 05:09:05 +0000 https://acts-net.org/?post_type=team&p=3229 Dr. Christopher Onyango is the Director Trade and Customs at the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) at COMESA Secretariat, Lusaka, Zambia. He was previously a Deputy Director and Head of Trade and Foreign Policy Department at the Kenya Institute for Public Policy Research and Analysis (KIPPRA) in Nairobi, Kenya. He holds a PhD degree in Economics from the University of Nairobi. His research interests include international trade, regional economic integration and trade in services. He used the GTAP model in his PhD thesis entitled ” Effects of global food and fuel price shocks and welfare implications in Kenya: A Computable General Equilibrium Analysis”. Looks forward to further use of the GTAP in research and policy analysis.

]]> Mrs. Gift Kadzamira https://acts-net.org/team/mrs-gift-kadzamira/ Mon, 20 Jan 2025 05:08:00 +0000 https://acts-net.org/?post_type=team&p=3228
Gift A. Kadzamira is the Director of Documentation and Information services for the National Commission for Science and Technology since September, 2010 and is responsible for the management of STI information and knowledge through the acquisition, dissemination, utilization and archiving processes.
She holds an MSc Degree in Electronic Information Management from the Robert Gordon University; Scotland and also a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology and Demography from the University of Malawi: Chancellor College. She is also studying for an African Leadership Course in ICT (ALICT) to advance knowledge society development across ministries and organizations.
Prior to that she worked for the US Embassy in Malawi as an Information Resource Centre Director for four years. Gift has also worked for the University of Malawi Libraries in several capacities up to the College Librarian position. Gift sits on the governing Board for the National Library Service and is also a member of the Malawi Library Association.
]]> Prof. Aggrey Ambali https://acts-net.org/team/prof-aggrey-ambali/ Mon, 20 Jan 2025 05:05:48 +0000 https://acts-net.org/?post_type=team&p=3227 Professor Aggrey Ambali is a champion in Africa’s science and technology advancement and plays a key role in harnessing emerging technologies for development. He currently serves as Head of Science, Technology and Innovation Hub (NSTIH) at the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) Agency, where he oversees development and implementation of programmes in education, health, and science and technology.

]]> Dr. Mary Onsarigo https://acts-net.org/team/dr-mary-onsarigo/ Mon, 20 Jan 2025 05:03:06 +0000 https://acts-net.org/?post_type=team&p=3226 Dr. Yaya Sangare https://acts-net.org/team/dr-yaya-sangare/ Mon, 20 Jan 2025 05:01:29 +0000 https://acts-net.org/?post_type=team&p=3224

Dr. Sangare is the Executive Secretary of the Programme d’Appui Stratégique à la Recherche Scientifique (PASRES), one of the main structures for supporting research and innovation in Côte d’Ivoire.

Dr Sangare has expertise in two fields: materials science and organizational management. Following the completion of a doctorate in materials physics from Université de Montpellier (France) and graduate degrees from the Institut d’Administration des Entreprises de Poitiers (France), he taught at the l’Institut National Polytechnique in Yamoussoukro (Côte d’Ivoire) and later joined the Chamber of Commerce and Industry as the Director of training and development for executives. He then held various positions in the private sector in Côte d’Ivoire and Burkina Faso. This career path provided him with critical insight into the expectations of industry and allowed him to pursue efforts to build linkages with the research and innovation sectors.

Since May 2019, he is the Secretary General of the Science, Technology and Innovation Fund (FONSTI), a new funding body set up by the State of Côte d’Ivoire to help the Côte d ‘Ivory to build a knowledge-based economy.

]]> Prof. Catherine Muthuri https://acts-net.org/team/prof-catherine-muthuri/ Mon, 20 Jan 2025 04:58:46 +0000 https://acts-net.org/?post_type=team&p=3222

Catherine is the Country Director, Kenya and Regional Convener for East Africa at CIFOR-ICRAF. She holds a PhD in Plant Ecophysiology from the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT), Kenya, under a split-site scholarship at Nottingham University, UK, an MSc in Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, and a Bachelor of Education (Botany and Zoology) degree.

Catherine initially joined ICRAF in 2010 while on sabbatical from JKUAT. From there, she was recruited as a regular scientist under the Systems Theme. Prior to this, she was an Associate Professor at JKUAT and served for two terms as Chairperson of the Botany Department amongst other university roles.

Catherine initially joined ICRAF in 2010 while on sabbatical from JKUAT. From there, she was recruited as a regular scientist under the Systems Theme. Prior to this, she was an Associate Professor at JKUAT and served for two terms as Chairperson of the Botany Department among other university roles. She has been engaged in design, implementation and management of several projects notably the Trees for Food Security (T4FS) project funded by the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) for which she serves as the Project Manager. Catherine was also the Leader of the ‘Trees Supporting Sustainable Intensification’ research cluster within the Livelihood Systems Flagship of the CGIAR Research Program (CRP) on Forests, Trees and Agroforestry (FTA).

Catherine is a recipient of the Elder of the Order of the Burning Spear (EBS), a Presidential Award, in recognition of her distinguished service to Kenya. She has served on several boards including the Kenya National Trading Cooperation and St Francis Girls High School Mang’u, and is the Director General’s representative on the Governing Council of the African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS). She also served as the Chair of ICRAF Staff Association from 2016 to 2019.

]]> Prof. Tom Ogada https://acts-net.org/team/prof-tom-ogada/ Wed, 04 Dec 2024 06:15:28 +0000 https://acts-net.org/?post_type=team&p=2626

Prof. Ogada has enormous experience from senior management levels in research, university, public and private sector. Prof. Ogada holds an MSc in Mechanical Engineering from the Belarusian Polytechnic, Minsk, USSR (1987), PhD in Chemical Engineering from the Technical University Hamburg-Harburg, Germany (1995) and MBA in Strategic Management from Moi University, Kenya (2005).  He started his career in Moi University, where he worked for 18 years and rose to the position of Associate Professor of Energy and Environmental Engineering in 2000 where he helped to establish MSc and PhD programs in Energy Studies. He was Head of the Department of production engineering for six years (1996-2003) and founder Managing Director of Moi University Holding Limited, a technology transfer arm of the University (2003-2006). From 2006 to 2009, he was the Managing Director of the Kenya Industrial Research and Development Institute. Between 2009 and 2011, he joined the National Economic and Social Council, a Kenya government policy advisory body, as an UNDP funded research fellow where he was responsible for the manufacturing sector and the development of the Science, technology and Innovation policy. Parallel to this assignment he was also Advisor to the British Council on a DFID funded project – African Knowledge Transfer Partnership-. Between 2013 and 2017, he was County Minister responsible for Trade, Industrialization and Investment in Homa Bay County. From December 2017, he has been the Chairman of the Kenyan National Commission for Science, Technology and Innovation (NACOSTI).

Since 2000, Prof Ogada has been a consultant for the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) in the areas of national intellectual property (IP) policy and strategy, institutional IP Policy as well as commercialization of research results and technology transfer. A respected regional expert in this area, Prof Ogada has participated in development of national IP policy and strategy for Kenya, Tanzania, Zanzibar, Uganda, Ghana, Zambia. He developed three guidelines and tools to help developing countries in formulating national intellectual property policy and strategies. in addition he has also helped several universities in Africa to develop Institutional IP Policy and authored a guideline to support institutions. On technology transfer and commercialization of R&D results, Prof Ogada has been invited as a speaker in several forums globally. Apart from the above mentioned five countries, Prof Ogada has also shared his experience in Rwanda, Senegal, Morocco, Zimbabwe, Ethiopia, and Nigeria, as well as in South Korea, Malaysia, China, Vietnam and the Philippines. This wealth of experience will be critical as he steers the STI Agenda of ACTS
]]> Dr. Michael Ståhl https://acts-net.org/team/dr-michael-stahl/ Sat, 17 Aug 2024 21:15:09 +0000 https://acts-net.org/?post_type=team&p=1389 Dr. Ståhl was Director of the International Foundation for Science (IFS), a position which he held from 2002 until his retirement in September 2010. As IFS Director he led the work to transform the IFS research grant scheme to focus on supporting young researchers based in under-resourced institutions with vulnerable scientific infrastructure. This included development of capacity strengthening teaching modules (research project conceptualization, science communication, research project management) and the establishment of a regional office for Eastern Africa.

]]> Prof. G.B.A Okelo https://acts-net.org/team/prof-g-b-a-okelo/ Sat, 17 Aug 2024 21:06:38 +0000 https://acts-net.org/?post_type=team&p=1388 Prof. G.B.A. Okelo holds qualifications from the Universities of Delhi, Calcutta, Edinburgh Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene and the University of Nairobi. He is a Fellow of Royal College of Physicians the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, the African Academy of Sciences, the Third World Academy of Sciences, and a member of the Institute of Biology, London.
He is Senior Consultant Physician – specialist in infectious diseases and a global authority on Echinococcosis.  He has served as Chairman of the Department of Internal Medicine and Dean of the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Nairobi, and Director of Medical Services in the Government of Kenya.
He has been Executive Director and Secretary General of  the African Academy of Sciences (AAS),  Executive Secretary of the Network of African Scientific Organizations (NASO), and Secretary of the Network of African Academy of Science (NASAC). He is member of Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene of London and member of the Advisory Committee to the Editor (ACE) of the book Disease Control Priorities in Developing Countries. He has 100 peer reviewed papers and is an elected Fellow of TWAS.

]]> Prof. Alfred Oteng-Yeboah https://acts-net.org/team/prof-alfred-oteng-yeboah/ Sat, 17 Aug 2024 19:40:58 +0000 https://acts-net.org/?post_type=team&p=1385 Professor Alfred Oteng-Yeboah is a Professor in Plant Biology with special interest in taxonomy, systematics and vegetation studies and a strong advocate for the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity at the national and international levels.
He was educated both at the University of Ghana and University of Edinburgh, where he received a BS and PhD, respectively. His specialty is Plant Biology with primary interest in taxonomy, systematics and vegetation studies. He’s a strong advocate for the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity. To that end, Professor Oteng-Yeboah has written almost 200 articles and contributory chapters in books, scientific journals, conference proceedings and other popular information outlets.
His interest in biodiversity spans several decades of research and advocacy in various subject areas, including local and traditional knowledge systems in Ghana. He contributed to the development of the 2016 to 2030 United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and has published extensively on the Environment and Biodiversity for both local and international audiences. His outstanding contribution to international conservation was publicly recognized in 2020, when he received the John C. Phillips Memorial Medal, the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s highest conservation award.
He is a founding bureau member and a former Vice-Chair of Intergovernmental science policy Platform for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), representing Africa.  He’s a Fellow of the Linnaean Society of London, the Ghana Institute of Biology and the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences, and is a member of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.
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