Southern African Young Water Professionals In alphabetical order: Dr Tobias Barnard tgbarnard TG obtained his Ph.D in Biochemistry from the University of the Free State in 2005. He was subsequently recruited as a Post-Doctoral Fellow at the Water and Health Research Unit of the University of Johannesburg for which he received a Department of Science and Technology Innovation Post-Doctoral Fellowship. Following his two years Post-Doctoral Fellowship he was employed in June 2007 by the University of Johannesburg as a Principal Researcher in the Water and Health Research Unit. Since June 2008 he was appointed the Head of the Water and Health Research Unit. Tobias is the African representative for the International Water Association's Young Water Professionals program as well as the vice-chair for the Southern African Young Water Professionals program. Tobias specialises in the use of molecular biology techniques for the detection of bacterial pathogens present in water, food and stool samples. The Water and Health Research Unit assisted the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry during various diarrhoeal outbreaks for the detection of bacterial pathogens in water, food and stool samples using PCR and real-time PCR methods. Dr Jo Burgessjburgess Jo works as a research manager at the WRC in Pretoria. She manages programmes of research in drinking water treatment technology and mine water treatment and management. Her background is in environmental biology; from a BSc (Hons) in the subject she progressed to an MRes (Master of Research) in Water Pollution Control Technology and then a PhD in Environmental Biotechnology, both at Cranfield University in England, and then moved to Rhodes University in Grahamstown. Jo was Head of Biotechnology at Rhodes until 2008, when she left to join the WRC. Jo is the 2008 holder of Rhodes University's Vice-Chancellor's Distinguished Research Award. She has 101 publications, of which 51 are journal papers. Jo hasn't got any hobbies except her Land Rover, because science never sleeps! Dr Inga Jacobsijacobs Inga is a very active founding member of the Gauteng working group. She is completing her PhD in International Relations from St. Andrews University (Scotland) and works at the CSIR on transboundary water co-operation. Inga has a Masters in political science and a Bachelors' in International relations. She is a founding member of the Forum for Young Scholars in Transboundary Water Governance (YSF). Inga has worked at the CSIR since February 2009, before this she has worked as a researcher at the HSRC, a lecturer at CPUT and a team leader at the Institute for Public Policy Research. Inga has 24 publications. Mr Alfred Mbeluambelu Alfred works as an operations manager for WSSA in the Eastern Cape. His main responsibility is coordinating and facilitating day to day business operations in all departments and liaison with Lukhanji Municipality on issues pertaining water and sanitation. Previously, he worked for Golder Associates Africa as a process technologist. He has had extensive experience in effluent monitoring and plant data analysis to review and upgrade wastewater treatment plant performance. He has had an exposure and was involved in process design of small to medium wastewater treatment plants in the municipal sector. His experience spans from concept development to the actual designs of the Wastewater Treatment plants with special emphasis on retrofitting, upgrading and expansion. He currently serves on WISA ASP Division and YWPSA management committees. He has presented two oral papers at previous WISA conferences. Ms Preshanthie Naickerpnaicker Preshanthie is a member of the International Golden Key Honour Society and WISA. Preshanthie has successfully completed a BSc Honours in Biological Sciences, Project Management program and a post-graduate certificate in Environmental Law and Enforcement at the University of South Africa (UNISA). Post her Honours degree she was employed at the KZN Department of Agriculture and Environmental Affairs as Senior Environmental Officer for the Impact Assessment component. However she has returned to fulltime study where she is currently conducting a MSc degree in Microbiology at the University of KwaZulu-Natal where she is investigating methods for onsite greywater management. Preshanthie's expertise and work experience covers various sectors such as environmental biotechnology, environmental impact assessment (EIA), pollution and waste management. Preshanthie is also coordinating the YWP chapter for the Kwa-Zulu Natal Province. Mr David Ntsowedntsowe David graduated from the University of Pretoria and is employed by the City of Tshwane as Deputy Director: Wastewater Treatment Operations. He also lectured at the Tshwane University of Technology and still moderates some of their exams. His areas of expertise include process optimization, operations and general management. Mr Manglin Pillay BSc Eng (Civil, Environmental), HDE (Education) ECSA, SAICE, WISA (YWP) mpillay Manglin is a Civil, Environmental Engineer working primarily in the municipal solid waste & mining waste management and engineering environment. His principal experiences also include business management, business strategy and marketing. He completed his Bachelors Degree in Civil, Environmental Engineering at the University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg in 2002 and is currently reading for his MBA at the Wits Business School. Manglin also holds a qualification in pedagogics from the University of Natal, Durban. Manglin serves on the YWP board as secretary and is employed by Stemele Bosch Africa's (SBA) since November 2009 as Assistant Business Unit Manager for SBA's National Solid Waste and Environmental Division. Prior to joining SBA, he worked at the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry, Bazisa Technical Waste Solutions and the Metago Engineering Services where he served as Director for four years. In his free time, he enjoys playing the guitar, cricket and spending time outdoors. Dr Henry Romanhroman Henry is a former student of the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (MSc Biochemistry) and Rhodes University (PhD Biotechnology), both in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. In 2005 he started a post-doc in the division Biosciences, CSIR, South Africa. He left the CSIR as a Projects Manager in 2008 to join Metago Engineering Services, an environmental consultancy as a Scientist. Henry has an active interest in the bioremediation of acid mine drainage, and the environmental health of South Africa's water resources. In 2007 he was elected Chairperson of WAYS Africa. He currently serves on the Management Committee of the Young Water Professionals of Southern Africa and is a registered professional scientist with SACNASP as well as an Associate Member of WISA. Ms Maronel Steynmsteyn Ms Renay Van Wyk rvwyk Renay lectures in Environmental Health at the University of Johannesburg, specializing in Environmental Pollution - water quality, sanitation, waste management and air quality. She obtained Baccalaureus degrees in both Environmental Health (2001) and Public Management (2002) from Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT). Renay previously did sanitation skills training and health and hygiene research at the Community Water Supply and Sanitation Unit (CPUT). In 2008 she obtained a Masters Degree in Environmental Health through the CWSS (research and development) Unit (CPUT). Currently she is doing her doctoral research, focusing on the effect of total sanitation service delivery on the environment and public health, in Environmental Health at the Tshwane University of Technology. Her aim is to contribute new knowledge to the field of environmental health through innovative research and scholarly publications. Ms Bernelle Verster bverster Bernelle believes an integrated approach to education, waste management and profitability is achievable. Her company (Merah Mas Industrial Biotech) aims to combine adventure sport (starting with Orienteering) and tourism to educate both tourists and the local public about science, while making it fun. She believes wastewater treatment can be used to aesthetic effect in a landscaping application while educating about biotechnology and contributing to service delivery. So far, the most useful approach has been to work with existing companies and groups and bring people and projects together to achieve this, and it is one steep learning curve. Ultimately, she would like to see the development of valuable (bio)products, specifically biopolymers, from wastewater in the near future. Bernelle is part of Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE), part of Team Rural Rocks, and enjoys orienteering, some mountain biking, canoeing, hiking, sewing, generally being a crazy person. Bernelle holds an MRes in Functional Genomics (University of York), BSc (Hons) Chemistry (University of Pretoria) and BSc (Hons) Biochemistry (University of Pretoria). Last updated: 25 May 2010