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Alumni in the news May 2020

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Witsies pack a punch

Be inspired by the contributions, ideas, awards and achievements of alumni during May 2020.

 

COMMERCE, LAW AND MANAGEMENT

Luyanda Gidini (BComm 2010) shares the changing face of accounting.

Gray Maguire (MSc 2016) writes how Nedbank sees the writing on the wall for dirty business.

Professor Christopher Malikane (BSc 1999, BEconScHons 2000 MCom 2003) Associate Professor in the School of Economics and Finance at Wits writes arguments against quantitative easing no longer valid.

Former student Ashleigh Machete profiled on his rooftop garden.

Mahlogonolo Mahapa (BComm 2019, BA 2018) profiled in Mzansi’s storytellers in print, broadcast and arts.

Anthony T Ngcezula, who holds postgraduate qualifications from the Wits School of Governance, was appointed as chief executive of JDA.

Erwin Pon (BCom 1999) profiled on his roots in Johannesburg and being Chinese South African.

Alan Rootenberg (BComm 1975) A2Z Technologies Canada Corporation – a pioneer in military robotics, services and innovation, appointed to board of directors. He served as Chief Financial Officer of a number of public traded companies listed on the TSX, TSXV, OTCBB and CSE. These include companies in the technology, mineral exploration and mining sectors and the cannabis industry.

Professor Jannie Rossouw, interim head of Wits Business School, writes inflation rate under lockdown comes at the price of accuracy.

  • It’s likely that the government was losing R1bn in tax revenue as a result of the cigarette ban.

Abel Sithole (MBA 1997) appointed as new head of Public Investment Corporation, the largest asset manager in Africa.

Garth Towell (BComm 1991, LLB 1994) appointed to the board of the Racing Association. 

 

ENGINEERING AND BUILT ENVIRONMENT

Gavin Mallard (BArch 1996) remembers the influence of his lecturer Jo Noero which helped to inspire the design of this new church.

Professor Estelle Trengove (BSc 1990, MSc 2001, PhD 2012, PGDiph 2016) Head of School in Electrical and Information Engineering, in conversation with Witsie Aspasia Karras (BA 1994, PDM 1995, MM 1999). She shares the joys of her current job and why Wits is great place to work.

Professor Sarah Wurz, from the School of Geography, Archeology and Environment Studies and Jerome Reynard (MSc 2011, PhD 2011), lecturer in Osteoarchaelology co-author an article that reveals what a bone arrowhead reveals about ancient human cognition.

 

MEDICINE

Dr Arnold Mervyn Friedman (BDS 1957, MSc Med 1982) decides to retire at the age of 87 after years of service as a dentist.

Dr Mark J Harbott Associate Professor of anesthesiology at Baylor College of Medicine, was named Designated Institutional Official and senior associate dean for Baylor College of Medicine’s School of Medicine effective 1 July 2020.

Dr Lauren Hutton (MBBCh 2010) has been awarded the prestigious 2019 Tim Quan Medal by the Senate of the College of Medicine South Africa (CMSA). The medal is awarded to candidates who achieve outstanding results in the Fellowship examination of the College of Family Physicians of South Africa.

Joseph McIntosh (BSc 1994, MBBCh 1998) appointed chief medical officer. With 16 years of drug development including more than a decade in rare disease, he will oversee clinical development at Aruvant, a biopharmaceutical company for treatment of severe blood disorders such as thalassemia and sickle cell aneamia.

Dr Caroline Popper (MBBCh 1983) is co-founder of Popper and Company with Ken Walz who joins Eaton Square Biotech team. She has managed a wide spectrum of diagnostics, device and drug discovery businesses in both Fortune 500 and start-up settings, at amongst others, Becton Dickinson, bioMerieux, and MDS.

May edition of South African Psychiatry pays tribute to the life and work of Dr Bernard Janse van Rensburg (DTM&H 1987, PhD 2010, PGDip 2018) who passed away on 12 April 2020. Read a tribute to him.

Dr Stephanie Wrottesley (PhD 2018) is a postdoctoral research at the SAMRC/Wits Developmental Pathways for Health Research Unit. writes about study of women from Soweto and recorded their dietary patterns during pregnancy.

 

HUMANITIES

Jacklyn Cock Professor Emerita in Sociology and Honorary Research Professor in SWOP at Wits, co-authors with Julia Wells to argue the arrival of the British settlers 200 years ago continues to cast a shadow over South Africa.

Anton Harber, Adjunct Professor in Department of Journalism and Media Studies writes journalists’ skills are in higher demand, yet they have to adjust to a changing market.

Adam Habib, Vice Chancellor argues that the presence of political parties on campus is a hugely destructive force.

Professor William Gumede (MA 2003) book review Upside Down World available to children across the continent.

Patrick Kadima currently pursuing an interdisciplinary Master’s degree with the Public Affairs Research Institute, writes a better and united Africa is possible.

Lebo Mashile (BA 2000) Shares some of the racist situations she’s found herself in.

Dr Desné Masie from Wits School of Governance, writes that there is stronger argument now for basic income that is affordable and essential.

  • Hosts podcast with Lord Peter Hain, who has had an eminent career in politics and is a world-leading expert on governance.
  • Hosts podcast with Dr Leila Fourie, CEO of Johannesburg Stock Exchange.

Professor Achille Mbembe, Research Professor at Wits Institute for Social and Economic Research, writes about the struggle against racism in an age of techno-fascism and destruction of the planet. He writes in his capacity as a board member of the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation as the foundation’s tribute to Africa Day.

Tumelo Ntsewa, a third-year law student, is a model who after one Tweet was signed with Zone Models in London a few days later.

Srila Roy, Associate Professor in Department of Sociology at Wits, writes there’s a problem measuring all women, with or without children against patriarchal standards.

Professor Roger Southall, Emeritus Professor in Sociology at Wits, writes about the hurdles which Lesotho’s new leader faces.

Carolyn Steyn (BA DA 1982) becomes new board member for the Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra. Steyn is a philanthropist, actress, radio personality and patron of the arts brings with her over four decades of experience in the arts industry.

Yandiswa Xhakaza (BEd 2010, PGDipMan 2017), former principal and founder of Arrow Academy Private School, appointed as top position at Nal’bali organisation. She outlines her new mission to embed a reading culture for children in their home languages.

Edward Webster Distinguished Research Professor, Southern Centre for Inequality Studies. He is the founder of the Society, Work and Development Institute (SWOP) at the Wits, writes here why economic policy remains hotly contested.

 

SCIENCE

Professor Quarraisha Abdool Karim (BSc Hons 1984) awarded prestigious Christophe Merieux Prize for work done at Centre for the AIDS Programme Research in South Africa (Caprisa). 

Professor Lee Berger explores the use of absolute age of fossils and understanding human evolution. 

  • Is there any evidence in the fossil record that giants lived on Earth in the past? 
  • He asks does the fossil sample for Australopithecus africanus only represent one species. 
  • Gladysvale is known for its impact on dating of cave sites in Africa and has produced some of most spectacular faunal remains of extinct animals. 
  • Asks whether the fossil sample for Australopithecus africanus only represent on species.

Dr Samatha Chauhan (PhD 2015) profiled here as an immigrant professional in Canada unable to work in her field.

Professor Sinead Delany-Moretlwe, Director of Research at Wits RHI, research tells about breakthrough study that finds injection every eight weeks offers higher level of protection against the HIV virus and answering a research question and much earlier than anticipated. It now offers a range of HIV treatment options. 

Professor Lizette Koekemoer (PhD 1999), co-director of Wits Institute for Malaria in the School of Pathology receives Kwame Nkrumah Award for Scientific Excellence. The award is in recognition for her contribution to the field of malaria vector control.

Dr Dalia Saad (MSc 2011, PhD 2013 ) awarded the prestigious FLAIR fellowship. 

Fatima Vawda (BSc 1993, BSc Hon 1994, MSc 1995, HdipCompSc 1997) has more than two decades of experience in financial sector. She shares her career journey with Aspasia Karras (BA 1994, PDM 1995, MM 1999).

 

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