​The Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) vision for South Africa, with an emphasis on a new digital future, requires extensive coordination and deep collaboration across various spheres and sectors.

Newly appointed: Advancement Advisory Board

As an institution that is committed to this vision and which recognises its role in supporting the transition of South Africa into 4IR, the University of Johannesburg (UJ) has appointed an Advancement Advisory Board to guide it on the advances that are catalysing this revolution.

The 12-member team consists of influential industry leaders, such as CEOs and advocates who are volunteering their time to improve the University’s global position in 4IR academia with emphasis on resource mobilisation.

“This Advancement Advisory Board has been constituted with the vision of assisting the institution to realise the goals it has set for itself to in leading 4IR conversations and change the face of society, economies, and industries,” says Professor Tshilidzi Marwala, UJ’s Vice-Chancellor and Principal. Prof Marwala also deputises for President Cyril Ramaphosa on South Africa’s Presidential Commission on the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

The members are:

• Mr Martin Kingston (CEO Rothschild SA);
• Mr Clifford Raphiri (Independent non-executive director at Nampak and previously a Chairman at Adcock Ingram Ltd and the Director-Strategic Capital Projects at SABMiller South Africa Ltd);
• Mr Johan Burger (UJ Alumnus and former CEO of FirstRand Limited);
• Dr Sizwe Nxasana ( founding partner of Nkonki Sizwe Ntsaluba, now called SizweNtsaluba Gobodo, which is the fifth largest audit firm in South Africa);
• Mr Herman Bosman (UJ Alumnus and Chief Executive and Financial Director of Rand Merchant Investment Holdings );
• Mr Len Wolman (UJ Alumnus and CEO of Waterford Group);
• Advocate of the High Court of South Africa, Adv. Sandile Khumalo (UJ Alumnus);
• Dr Mdu Gama (UJ Alumnus and Chief Executive of Safika Asset Finance (Pty) Ltd);
• Prof Tshilidzi Marwala (Vice-Chancellor, UJ);
• Prof Saurabh Sinha (Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Research and Internationalisation, UJ)
• Ms Nolwazi Mamorare (Chief Financial Officer, UJ); and
• Dr Nolitha Vukuza (Senior Executive Director within the Vice-Chancellor’s Office).

“Increased digitisation and globalisation are shifting business into greater interdependence and interconnection. 4IR brings about many exciting challenges and opportunities, but at the same time, it brings about fear and uncertainty for tomorrow. In pursuit of advanced technologies and the opportunities it brings, it is easy for leaders to lose sight of another critical aspect of the organisation – its people. It is as much about people as technology,” says Prof Marwala.

He concludes: “All the sectors are changing at an alarming speed due to 4IR. The education sector, finance, mining, manufacturing, automobile, health and practically every industry you can think of, are and be continue to be influenced by Industry 4.0.

“A key success factor during this global shift is the importance of skills and the agility to change. Through this Board opportunity is given to the members to share wisdom and insights to stimulate and facilitate an inclusive response to 4IR-related processes and dialogues to advance the institution together.”