Keynote Speakers

Venancio Massingue was born in 1960 in Chibuto district, Mozambique. In 1968 he left the district to complete his schooling in the capital Maputo (formerly Lourenco Marques). After qualifying as an electronic and electrical engineering technician in 1982, he was selected to work in the newly-established Informatics Centre (CIUEM) at Eduardo Mondlane University (UEM) and attended professional training courses in computer hardware in the UK and the Netherlands. He holds a Doctoral degree in Information and Communication Technology Application and Management from Technology University of Delft (TUDelft), in the Netherlands. From 1987 to 1992, he studied for the degree of Licenciatura in electro-technical engineering at UEM, with thesis research work undertaken at TUDelft. At the same time, he worked as Head of the Computer Maintenance Department and later as Deputy Director of CIUEM. After his graduation as licentiate, he was appointed Director of CIUEM and from this position was a key player in bringing the Internet to Mozambique and in developing CIUEM as a centre of expertise for South-South cooperation programmes, within framework of the MHO programme. From 1996 to 1998 he masterminded the development of the Mozambique ICT Policy and ICT Strategy that were later approved by the Cabinet in 2000 and 2002 respectively. Presently he is a member of Mozambican Informatics Policy Task Force for Development of a National Information Policy Since 1997 he has been Vice-Rector for Administration & Resources and Information and Communications Technologies at UEM, and is currently involved as the brainchild in the conception and development of a Mozambican Information and Communication Technology Institute (MICTI). He lectures the discipline of Data Communications and Networks in the Department of Mathematics and Informatics of UEM. From 1998 to date he has been in charge to establish the Acacia Program in Mozambique as the Executive Secretary of the Mozambique Acacia Advisory Committee. From 1996 to 2000 he served on many national and international committees concerned with ICT, including the African Technical Advisory Committee (ATAC) of the African Information Society Initiative (AISI) of UN-ECA, and the UNESCO Intergovernmental Informatics Programme. Currently he is the president of the UNESCO Regional Informatics for Africa (RINAF). He has published a number of articles and publications in the field of ICT for national, regional and international institutions and organizations. In 1998, he received the UNESCO Albert Einstein Medal for Science and Technology. Seeking to broaden his field of expertise, he has recently attended courses in Economic Concepts for Engineers and Managers at MIT, USA (June 2002) and in Human Resource Development and Academia-Industry Cooperation on ICT in Japanese Universities (2003), in Japan. He is married with two daughters.

Apala is a world-renowned expert on Contextual Innovation — the discipline of creating breakthrough product concepts and adapting existing products, services, and technologies to new markets. HP Labs, adidas, Nokia, Sony Ericsson, NCR, and Intel are just a few of the companies that have benefited from Apala’s innovative, pioneering techniques in this exciting and growing field. Apala and her CI team have helped designers, marketers, product managers and ethnographers apply her innovative techniques to develop exciting new concepts and products. She systematically guides the ideation process to uncover subtle patterns in ethnographic and market data to reveal the exciting breakthrough ideas that can drive your business and generate more revenue and profit. Apala has developed a vast array of data-gathering techniques, including the Bollywood Method, Bizarre Bazaar, and the Funky Facilitator, which help understand the user experience in a variety of cultural and economic environments. She and her team pioneered the “Ecosystem Chart ” which organizes vast amounts of ethnographic data into a coherent model. She is a creative and dynamic speaker who has received acclaim in USA, Canada, Europe, India, and China for her keynote talks on contextual innovation, internationalization, and designing for emerging markets. Apala has been with HFI since 1999 and is currently Vice President of Asia, managing offices in India, China, and Singapore, and a Contextual Innovation lab in Bangalore. An award-winning designer (International Audi Design Award), Apala has led teams spanning design, development, testing, and deployment of software products. In addition, she is ACM SIGCHI’s Vice Chair for local chapters.

He is a Professor of Computer Science and holds a Ph.D. in Computer Science, M.Sc. in Computer Science, Post Graduate Diploma in Economic Modelling, Post Graduate Diploma in Mathematical Modelling, Post Graduate Certificate in Public Relations, Post Graduate Certificate in Administration, Post Graduate Certificate in Business Management, and B.Sc. (Hons) among other qualifications. In 2007 Prof. Baryamureeba received the ‘Top ICT Educator/ Academic’ Award in Africa for 2007 and in 2008 he was appointed Judge for the African ICT Achievers Awards 2008. In November 2008 Professor Baryamureeba was included in the 2009 Edition of Who's Who in the World. In January 2009, Prof. Baryamureeba was considered for inclusion in the “2000 Outstanding Intellectuals of the 21st Century” by the International Biographical Centre, which is scheduled for publication in early 2010. At regional level, he coordinates (multi million dollar) regional projects and research programs aimed at building specialized computing and ICT Human Resource Capacity in Africa. At national level, he coordinates several (multi million dollar) national programs aimed at building ICT human resource capacity in universities and other tertiary institutions and the private and public sectors. Currently he serves as Dean Faculty of Computing and Information Technology, Makerere University. He is a member of Makerere University Senate and Council, a member of several committees of Senate and Council and default chair of most committees in the Faculty of Computing and Information Technology. He is also a member of Busitema University Senate. Under his leadership, the Institute of Computer Science transformed from a small unit with one academic programme, 28 students and an annual budget of US$15,000 to a Faculty of Computing and Information Technology with over 20 academic programmes, over 5,000 students undertaking degree programmes and an annual budget of over US$7 million by September 2005 (within a period of four years only). Today the Faculty of Computing and IT budget is over US$10 million. He has a track record as a consultant in ICT research, training, advisory services and policy and a recognised expert on e-governance. He He is a great speaker and quite efficient in forging collaborations and networking.

Danie Kok is the Director Research at the SAP Research Centre in Pretoria, South Africa, as well as Joint Chief Executive Officer of the SAP Meraka Unit for Technology Development. He was responsible for both the establishment of CEC Pretoria and the SAP Meraka Unit for Technology Development (UTD). The Centre and UTD focus their research on appropriate technologies for emerging economies, and the impact technology (ICT) can have on socio-economic development with specific reference to very small enterprises (VSEs). He initiated various research projects since the establishment of the Research Centre - in the health, education and training, VSE and civil society sectors. All research projects are addressing issues related to the technology (ICT) needs of these sectors in emerging economies; solutions to obstacles preventing/hindering the utilisation of technology; appropriate hardware, application software and communication infrastructures, ease of use of technology solutions and the impact ICT can have on development. His experience in higher education, further and distance education and training, organisational and partnership development spans a period of 25 years. In various roles, ranging from Vice-Principal at Technikon SA to Development, Marketing and Communication Director at various Universities and Colleges, he developed an expert understanding of the higher and further education sectors and the developmental needs of emerging regions. He was responsible for the establishment of a SAP Research Centre in SA and was appointed Director SAP Research, CEC Pretoria in 2005 Danie graduated from the University of Pretoria with a BA degree in 1977 and has subsequently completed a Business Development Programme (University of Pretoria) and an Advanced Executive Programme (University of South Africa). His research interest relates to the introduction and utilisation of technology to increase access, particularly for individuals previously deprived of such opportunities, to quality learning (education), as well as the development and utilisation of appropriate technology solutions, characterised by simplicity and ease of use that could facilitate socio-economic development in emerging regions