Some Of Our Facilitators
Willie Smith is a highly experienced Electrical, Control & Instrumentation (EC&I) Engineer with over four decades of industry expertise across mining, petrochemical, data centre, and industrial automation environments. He holds a Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering (Process Control) and has built a career delivering large-scale engineering solutions, with a strong focus on operational efficiency, system reliability, and advanced control technologies. His extensive hands-on experience, combined with strategic project leadership, positions him as a seasoned expert in complex technical environments.
Throughout his career, Willie has played a critical role in the design, implementation, and optimization of electrical and control systems across diverse industries. He has worked on major infrastructure and industrial projects, including involvement in high-profile data centre developments, where he contributed to quality assurance, commissioning, and systems verification. His work consistently emphasizes safety, compliance, and performance, ensuring that systems operate at optimal levels while meeting stringent regulatory standards.
Key Experience & Leadership Roles:
- Consultant Engineer on major data centre projects, including involvement in Google Data Centre infrastructure
- Mine Engineer overseeing open-cast mining operations, production targets, and regulatory compliance
- EC&I Engineer and Systems Engineer across mining, petrochemical, construction, and industrial sectors
- Project and Field Support Manager delivering turnkey automation and control system solutions
- Extensive leadership in plant optimization, commissioning, and large-scale engineering project delivery
Technical Expertise & Specialisations:
- Electrical reticulation, process control, and industrial automation systems
- PLC, SCADA, and distributed control systems (DCS) across multiple platforms
- Design, commissioning, and optimization of control and instrumentation systems
- Data centre infrastructure systems, testing, and commissioning
- Industrial networking, data systems, and real-time reporting solutions
Achievements & Contributions:
- Over 40 years of continuous industry experience delivering high-impact engineering solutions
- Played a key role in the successful delivery and commissioning of complex industrial and data centre projects
- Led automation and optimization initiatives resulting in improved efficiency, reduced downtime, and cost savings
- Designed and implemented advanced control systems across mining, energy, and manufacturing environments
- Recognized for strong leadership in mentoring, coaching, and developing technical teams
With a practical, results-driven approach, Willie brings deep industry insight into training and facilitation. His experience in real-world engineering environments ensures that learners gain applied knowledge aligned with current industry standards, particularly in data centre operations, automation systems, and infrastructure reliability.
Prof. Tawanda Mushiri is a distinguished Professor of Artificial Intelligence and the Executive Director – Technical at the Scientific and Industrial Research and Development Centre (SIRDC) in Zimbabwe. He brings a rare combination of academic excellence, industry leadership, and large-scale project execution, with a strong focus on advancing digital infrastructure, intelligent systems, and engineering innovation across Africa. His work spans artificial intelligence, robotics, biomedical engineering, and data-driven systems, positioning him at the forefront of technology-driven transformation.
Over the course of his career, Prof. Mushiri has led and contributed to high-impact initiatives in both academia and industry, including the development of AI-powered systems, industrial automation solutions, and healthcare technologies. He has successfully managed multi-million-dollar projects and continues to play a strategic role in shaping national and institutional innovation agendas, including contributions to artificial intelligence strategy and ethics frameworks.
Key Experience & Leadership Roles:
- Executive Director – Technical at SIRDC, overseeing multiple national research institutes and innovation programs
- Former Associate Professor and Senior Lecturer at the University of Zimbabwe in Biomedical Engineering and Informatics
- Leadership roles including Faculty Research & Innovation Manager, Acting Deputy Dean, and Department Chair
- Industry experience as a Plant Manager and Automation Engineer, designing and implementing production systems
- International research collaborations and academic contributions across institutions in Africa and beyond
Research & Technical Expertise:
- Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning systems
- Medical Robotics and Biomedical Engineering
- Data Science and intelligent healthcare systems
- Industrial automation, manufacturing systems, and process optimization
- Digital innovation for infrastructure and engineering applications
Achievements & Contributions:
- Supervised over 500 undergraduate and postgraduate students, including Master’s and PhD candidates
- Published extensively, including books, journal papers, and conference proceedings in leading global platforms
- Developed patented innovations, including robotic and AI-based systems for real-world applications
- Recipient of multiple awards for research excellence, innovation, and academic contribution
- Active contributor to global engineering and research communities as a reviewer, mentor, and advisor
With a strong commitment to developing the next generation of digital and engineering professionals, Prof. Mushiri plays a key role in delivering industry-relevant training and executive education. His involvement in data centre and digital infrastructure programmes ensures that participants gain both theoretical depth and practical insight aligned with global best practices.
Patrick Mureya is an experienced Critical Environment and Data Centre Engineering professional with over a decade of expertise in facilities management, maintenance engineering, and mission-critical infrastructure operations. He specializes in data centre design, operations, and reliability engineering, with a strong focus on ensuring high availability, safety, and performance of complex electrical and mechanical systems. His career reflects a balance of technical depth, operational leadership, and strategic planning within high-demand environments.
Patrick has held senior engineering and leadership roles across major organisations, including Bidvest Facilities Management and Selmec, where he has managed large-scale data centre operations, engineering teams, and multimillion-rand infrastructure portfolios. His experience spans the full lifecycle of data centre environments—from design validation and commissioning to maintenance, optimisation, and risk management—ensuring compliance with global standards and best practices.
Key Experience & Leadership Roles:
- Chief Engineer overseeing critical data centre facilities operations and technical teams
- Principal Engineer (Critical Engineering) responsible for asset lifecycle and infrastructure reliability
- Technical Manager managing large-scale data centre operations, teams, and vendor ecosystems
- Extensive experience in facilities management across telecommunications and enterprise environments
- Leadership of engineering teams, contractors, and multi-site infrastructure portfolios
Technical Expertise & Specialisations:
- Data centre design, operations, and maintenance management
- Critical power and cooling systems (UPS, generators, HVAC, CRAC units, switchgear)
- Reliability engineering, root cause analysis, and condition-based maintenance
- PLC/DDC control systems, electrical distribution, and monitoring systems
- Capacity planning, energy efficiency, and infrastructure optimisation
Achievements & Contributions:
- Managed over 150 properties and large-scale data centre portfolios with budgets exceeding R100 million
- Led successful data centre consolidation and optimisation projects, improving efficiency and reducing costs
- Delivered engineering solutions that enhanced system reliability, uptime, and SLA performance
- Implemented innovative maintenance and energy efficiency strategies across critical environments
- Recognized for strong leadership in team development, vendor management, and operational excellence
Patrick brings a highly practical, operations-focused perspective to facilitation, equipping learners with real-world insights into data centre engineering, critical infrastructure management, and the standards required to operate and maintain high-performance digital environments.
Prof. Blessing Thuthuka Mbatha is a Full Professor specializing in Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) within organizational and societal contexts. His academic journey has been defined by a strong focus on research, postgraduate supervision, and the advancement of knowledge in areas such as new media studies, e-government, e-commerce, and e-learning. His elevation to Full Professorship in 2016 reflects his sustained contribution to high-impact research and academic excellence.
Prof. Mbatha has developed a well-established research niche, supported by a solid body of publications in both local and international accredited journals. His work explores the intersection of technology and society, with a particular emphasis on how digital systems influence communication, learning, governance, and business environments. His research continues to contribute to the evolving digital economy and knowledge systems.
Key Experience & Academic Focus:
- Full Professor with a strong focus on ICTs in organizational and societal contexts
- Extensive postgraduate supervision and research leadership
- Academic specialization in new media studies, e-government, e-commerce, and e-learning
- Active contributor to knowledge development in digital transformation and information systems
Research & Publication Footprint:
- Published in high-impact international journals, including the International Review of Research in Open and Distance Learning and Information Development
- Contributions to leading African journals such as the Journal for Communication Sciences in Southern Africa and The African Journal of Information Systems
- Broad publication record across multiple reputable academic platforms
- Author of numerous books and book chapters contributing to ICT and communication studies
Academic Contributions & Recognition:
- Elevated to Full Professorship in 2016 in recognition of research excellence
- Established a strong and traceable research footprint across high-impact journals
- Contributed extensively to scholarly discourse in ICT, digital media, and information systems
- Recognized for advancing research in technology-driven societal transformation
Prof. Mbatha brings deep academic insight and research-driven perspectives to his facilitation, ensuring that learners gain a strong understanding of the role of ICTs in modern organizations and the broader digital economy.
Prof. Malusi Sibiya is a Professor of Computer Science at UNISA and an AI specialist focused on intelligent systems, IoT-integrated AI solutions, and digital twin technologies. He is actively involved in advancing cutting-edge research and innovation, with a strong emphasis on applying artificial intelligence to real-world challenges such as smart agriculture, climate intelligence, and autonomous systems. His work bridges academia and industry, driving impactful digital transformation initiatives across Africa.
Prof. Sibiya combines academic leadership with entrepreneurial expertise as the founder of Intellibuild AI Consulting. He is also an NVIDIA Deep Learning Institute (DLI) Ambassador, contributing to the growth of AI skills development and knowledge transfer. Through his work, he plays a key role in shaping the future of AI adoption, education, and innovation within both academic and professional environments.
Key Experience & Leadership Roles:
Professor of Computer Science at UNISA
Founder of Intellibuild AI Consulting
NVIDIA DLI Ambassador supporting AI skills development
Leader in AI research, innovation, and industry collaboration across Africa
Technical Expertise & Specialisations:
Artificial Intelligence and intelligent systems
IoT-integrated AI solutions
Digital twin technologies and simulation systems
Smart agriculture and climate intelligence applications
Autonomous systems and advanced data-driven technologies
Achievements & Contributions:
Leading research in applied AI and emerging technologies
Driving innovation in agriculture, climate, and autonomous system solutions
Active contributor to AI education and capacity building initiatives
Facilitating collaboration between academia and industry in AI development
Prof. Sibiya brings a forward-thinking, innovation-driven approach to facilitation, equipping learners with practical and future-focused insights into artificial intelligence and its applications in modern digital infrastructure.
