Boitumelo Semete-Makokotlela

Boitumelo Semete-Makokotlela is the Executive Director at CSIR Biosciences. She has a Ph.D. (Biochemistry) and also holds MSc in Management Finance and Investment from Wits Business School. Within the technology innovation space, she managed a biotechnology incubator at The Innovation Hub Management Company.

She was with McKinsey & Company for 2 years as a McKinsey Leadership Fellow. Prior to that, between November 2006 and June 2011, she was at the CSIR’s Polymers and Composites Division as a Senior Researcher.

Her research team focused on developing Nanotechnology drug delivery systems for TB, HIV and Malaria. Her research was funded by the South African government as well as the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and other global funders. She completed her postdoctoral research at the University of Nottingham and EPFL, Switzerland. She has published as a first author and co-author in scientific publications, review articles and book chapters.

Boitumelo Semete-Makokotlela sits on a number of committees including the BioPark Steering Committee, AiBST Scientific Advisory Board and the Board of Directors for AfricaBio to name a few. She is also involved a number of thought leadership projects such as the African Union Strategy for Health Research and the South African Department of Science and Technology Bioeconomy Strategy implementation plans.