Nozibusiso Gumede is a Chief Executive Officer at ScienceCEO Academy, and an international Science Technology Engineering and mathematics (STEM) Advocate. She possesses great leadership and has great track record in leadership mainly in Science Technology Engineering Mathematics and Innovation (STEMI) sector, and Education in the 23 years of her wealth of work experience. She is an alumna of the prestigious United States of America (USA) Women in STEM Programme which was an initiative of Mrs Hillary Clinton, supported by the former President Barack Obama, and run by the USA Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.
Nozibusiso is currently furthering her Post Graduate Studies in Business Administration at the University of Witswatersrand. She holds a BTech in Biotechnology from Durban University of Technology and majored in Medical Biotechnology, Environmental Biotechnology and Industrial Biotechnology. She went on to do National Diploma in Project Management from Varsity College and Advanced Project Management Certificate from University of Cape Town, Graduate School of Business. She also obtained a Certificate in Business Administration from Damelin College, and the New Manager Certificate from the University of Cape Town, Graduate School of Business. She has also studied assessor, moderator and skills development facilitator short courses.
Nozibusiso has held various scientific, leadership and science education roles. Her career began as a Bioprocessing technician at S.A. Bioproducts Pty Ltd where she was part of the research team. Her dedication to her work led to a biotechnology groundbreaking work which resulted to her being awarded an employee of the month, and was also sent to the University of the Free State by S.A. Bioproducts Pty Ltd to do further research on isolation of bacteriophages from the environment under the supervision of Prof. Brag. She was promoted to be an Industrial Microbiologist, a position she held for few months and was further promoted and seconded to be part of the team that was leading the establishment of bioprocessing platform an entity that belonged to the Department of Science and Technology and was managed by then Lifelab EcoBio Innovation now called Technology Innovation Agency. This work entailed establishment and commissioning of bioprocessing, microbiology and chemistry laboratories. Her tenure at the Department of Science and Innovation (DSI), Technology Innovation Agency offered her an opportunity to acquire critical skills in scientific research, innovation, human resources management, stakeholder engagement, science communication, mentorship, procurement, financial management, quality management, health and safety and risk management.
Nozibusiso believes in paying it forward and this has resulted to her leaving the private and government roles to work for the ScienceCEO Academy NPC full time as a Chief Executive Officer, a role she has held from 2016. She has played an instrumental role in development of this academy to a level that its at, and where more than 6800 learners have been empowered and supported, more than 120 maths and science teachers have been developed, number of school leavers have obtained bachelor pass and pursued qualifications in STEM careers. Her diverse work experience has helped in shaping the ScienceCEO Academy and making sure that great systems are developed, implemented, monitored and evaluated.
Nozibusiso is a co-author of a peer reviewed published article called International School Engagement with Health Scientists.