Dr Luyolo Mabhali brings over 15 years of extensive experience in spearheading innovation within the manufacturing, research and academia domains. He holds a PhD in engineering, as well as a second PhD in business administration (thesis on innovation management) from the University of the Witwatersrand, along with a Master of Business Administration from Wits Business School. His expertise spans from theoretical training to practical application, equipping him to conceptualise, drive innovation and industrialise projects.
In his previous roles, Dr Mabhali served as the Research and Development Manager at the South African Mint Company, where he led a team dedicated to pioneering research in materials and processes crucial to the minting industry. He also served as a Research Group Leader at the then CSIR National Laser Centre, now known as the National Photonics Centre, focusing on laser additive manufacturing and surface engineering. Additionally, he worked as a senior engineer at ArcelorMittal South Africa, specialising in process modelling and coke production. Dr Mabhali has also contributed as a part-time lecturer at the Tshwane University of Technology, imparting knowledge in physical metallurgy.
His academic journey, coupled with professional experiences, has cultivated a diverse skill set encompassing strategy formulation, project management, International Organisation for Standardization certification processes, governance, risk and compliance frameworks, innovation management, implementation of sustainability initiatives and advanced manufacturing, among others.
