Dr Rachel Chikwamba is the CSIR Group Executive for the Advanced Chemistry and Life Sciences division, leading the implementation of the CSIR Strategy, collaborating with academia, as well as the public and private sectors, both locally and internationally, to foster innovation that contributes to enhancing sectoral competitiveness and economic performance.
Dr Chikwamba has spearheaded several strategic initiatives for the organisation, including the recent launch of CSIR C-Cubed (C3), a commercialisation initiative that brings together intellectual property (IP), entrepreneurs and financial resources to accelerate the pace at which CSIR IP is translated into products and services that enhance the economic competitiveness of industry and enable a capable state. Prior to this initiative, she led Project Synapse, an initiative that defined a renewed vision and mission of the organisation, strategic objectives, the programmatic focus areas, operating and business models, as well as the strategy implementation plan. This process culminated in the current organisational strategy.
Previously, Dr Chikwamba served as the Group Executive for Strategic Alliances and Communication, fostering organisational partnerships to leverage science, technology and innovation in advancing socioeconomic and industrial development.
Dr Chikwamba has served and continues to serve on several notable boards, including the Global Governing Board of ICRISAT, the Board of Directors of the Wits Health Consortium and the South African Medical Research Council. Additionally, she was recently appointed to the African Union (AU) Panel on Emerging Technologies, which is responsible for guiding the AU and its member states on the use of emerging technologies for economic development.
Dr Chikwamba holds a PhD in genetics from Iowa State University in the USA and a Master of Business Administration from the Gordon Institute of Business Science at the University of Pretoria in South Africa. She is a member of the Academy of Science of South Africa and has also held an Honorary Research Fellowship at St. George’s Hospital Medical School, University of London. Rachel joined the CSIR in December 2004, following her role as a postdoctoral research associate at Arizona State University, USA.
