Panelists and Guests

Meena D. Lysko has a rewarding career path from the opportunities of working between academia, industry and government. She was awarded an MSc (cum laude) from the University of Durban-Westville and a PhD in Measurements and Models of Solar Irradiance from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology in 2006. She works with the University of South Africa (UNISA) and her initiatives support the partnership between UNISA and the South African Weather Services (SAWS).

Mpho Mofokeng was born in the dusty streets of Soweto during the heightened tensions of Apartheid which oppressed and segregated people along their race and language. Despite the prevailing situation in the country, he studied towards a Computer Science qualification and has more than 10 years’ experience working in the public and private sector providing Information and Communication Technology (ICT) solutions. He is currently the Senior Manager: ICT at SAWS and is passionate about using “technology for good” to make a difference in the lives of ordinary people. Mpho Mofokeng is a member of a Non-Profit Organisation (www.neemalalela.co.za) that aims to do something about the struggle of young people in South Africa.

Brighton Mabasa is a research scientist in Renewable Energy Applications and Scientific consulting group SAWS. He completed his BSc degree in Meteorology in 2013 and his BSc (Hons) in Meteorology in 2014 both from the University of Pretoria. Research in Renewable energy and scientific consulting includes radiometric network monitoring and maintenance, data quality control, validation of satellite data sets, development and verification of empirical models using observation data, solar radiation sensor installation and calibration, and renewable energy product development.