BIOGRAPHY

Dr Jabu Mtsweni is the Head of Information and Cyber Security Centre and Chief Researcher at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), NRF-Rated Researcher (C2), and a Certified Cybersecurity Manager, Research Fellow at the Stellenbosch University, IITPSA Professional Member, and Technical Leader of the National Policy Data Observatory, a Department of Science and Innovation initiative to support data-driven decision making and policy formulation in government. Dr Jabu Mtsweni is an accomplished researcher and technology expert in the field of Computer Science, particularly in the areas of Cyber and Information Security. He holds a PhD degree in Computer Science from the University of South Africa and various leadership certificates from various institutions. He has recently been honoured as one of the Top 50 Cybersecurity Professionals in South Africa, NTSF-South32 Management Award winner (“Science Oscar”), and has also received several awards during his 20+ years career as an ICT technician, lecturer, researcher, software engineer, cybersecurity specialist, and security leader. He is also a member of the International Telecommunication Standards (ITU) on Study Group 7 dealing with issues relating to cyber security and AI security. A member of an international non-profit organization called Charter of Trust that promotes security principles across multi-national organisations. He is also a National Representative on Technical Committee (TC9) in the International Federation for Information Processing (IFIP) dealing with ICT and Society. He is also a member of the Digital Equity Committee in IFIP. Furthermore, he has participated in a few international collaborations with experts across the globe. He is an author, speaker, teacher, mentor, and motivator and has published over 90 peer-reviewed conference and journal articles over the years in different forums focusing on ICT4development, Socially Relevant Computing, Information and Cybersecurity, and Data science. He regularly speaks as an invited speaker at local, international cybersecurity conferences, radio and tv programs. He has worked with both the public and private sector partners in large and complex ICT projects. Mostly important, Dr Jabu Mtsweni is a child of God, a husband to Martha Mtsweni and a father to two children Ziyanda and Anelisa. He comes from family of 7, being the only boy. He has completed four Comrades Marathons (90kms) and his life motto is: “I struggle Not”.