Habib Noorbhai
Prof. Habib Noorbhai is a Professor in Health & Sports Science and Director of the Biomedical Engineering and Healthcare Technology (BEAHT) Research Centre at the University of Johannesburg (UJ).
Prof. Noorbhai is a registered Biokineticist with the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA). He is currently a National Research Foundation (NRF) rated researcher and continues to conduct research within two broad areas: cricket sciences as well as health education and innovation. Prof. Noorbhai has produced more than 50 publications in peer-reviewed journals and has presented his work at 20 national and 15 international conferences, between 2012 and 2023. He is an Associate Editor of the BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine Journal and has served as a reviewer for numerous international journals. He also published a book called “Heart” in 2017.
In terms of service, Prof. Noorbhai has worked with numerous sporting teams and has also conducted a number of talks and workshops in industry, such as: Standard Bank, ABSA, Woolworths, CANSA, PSG, Smollan, TEDx, Forbes Health, BioAfrica, among others. He has also contributed science communication pieces as OP-EDs in various media outlets and has also been featured as a guest expert on various TV, radio and podcast programmes.
In 2015, he was among Mail & Guardians top 200 Young South Africans. In 2017, he won the coveted title of Mr South Africa, and used the platform to spearhead activities within sport, health and education spheres. He was later inducted as a Golden Key International Honorary Member at UCT in 2018 for his contributions to academia, leadership and service. In 2021, Prof. Noorbhai was awarded the Distinguished Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Teacher Excellence at UJ. In 2022, he received nominations for an HSRC-USAf award as well as an NSTF-South32 award “also known as the Science Oscars” in the Communication Category.
Prof. Habib Noorbhai would be regarded as a unique and dynamic all-rounder in all activities and experiences that he has contributed to within the science, technology and innovation spheres. From becoming a full professor at the age of 34, to winning Mr. South Africa (2017), to founding his own NPO in 2013 for service to society, to obtaining numerous professional awards as outlined above; all of these don’t just describe the stellar individual that he is, but the betterment and positive difference that he is committed to make (and continues to do) for South African society.