Advisory Board

Prof Lucky Sikhwivhilu is the current Head and Director of DSI/Mintek Nanotechnology Innovation Centre. He received his PhD in Chemistry from the University of the Witwatersrand. He has post-doctoral experience from Unipress - Institute of High Pressure Physics of the Polish Academy of Sciences, and University of Warsaw, Poland. Prof Sikhwivhilu is currently the chairperson and founding member of the South African Solar Energy Association (SASEA). He has also founded Nanotechnology Young Researcher Symposium (NYRS). He has delivered many plenary and invited lectures in local and international conferences. He is a recipient various international research grants including European Union Horizon 2020, the Research and Innovation Systems for Africa (RISA) Fund (UK), etc. for research, development and innovation. He is the current leader of Technical Committee, JWG 1 group (Terminology and Nomenclature) – ISO TC 229 Nanotechnologies (SA) while he is appointed deputy chairperson in the Advisory Board of the O.R. Tambo Africa Research Chairs Initiative (ORTARChI) on Environment and Development hosted by the Copperbelt University in Zambia. He serves as a member of the International Advisory Board of the HORIZON project PRIME “SSBD of PFAS-free coating alternatives for industrial and consumer products” (Europen Union). PRIME consortium is composed of 14 entities, from Italy, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Netherlands and Turkey. He also served as advisory panel member of NPEP and served in the executive committee of SANi. He was appointed by DSTI to head India-Brazil-South Africa (IBSA) Nanotechnology Trilateral Initiative on Health, Energy, Water, and Advanced Materials and Sensors as the National Coordinator. Appointed as Coordinator of the International Centre for Scientific and Technical Information (ICSTI) for South Africa. Prof Sikhwivhilu served as the editor of the South African Journal of Chemistry (SAJC) while he currently serves as in the editorial board of Current Chinese Science: Nanotechnology as an editor. Other editorial roles include guest chief editor for various other journals. Has contributed over 70 research articles, several trade secrets and a patent. Has supervised several Hons, MSc, PhD and Post-docs to completion and has several currently registered in various Universities across the country and abroad. He is affiliated with the University of Venda and Copperbelt University where he teaches Nanotechnology (former) and supervises post-graduate students (both institutions). He has won several local and international awards for his contribution to Nanotechnology. He is involved in several Bi- and Multi-Lateral Cooperation (Africa and Elsewhere). He has led delegations to various countries on bilateral cooperation and has collaborative networks and footprint on all human habitable continents.