04 October  2017 - The International Association of Science Parks and Areas of Innovation (IASP) named the Chief Executive Officer of The Innovation Hub, Mr McLean Sibanda as the new President of its Advisory Council   He is taking over from Mr Pierre Belanger (Bellatech, Canada)

The role of the Advisory Council is a consultative body and think tank that helps the Board of Directors and Director General to manage the IASP knowledge and formulate new strategies for the association.

It advises on the trends around innovation around science parks, Areas of Innovation and comes up with strategies that empower not only the IASP but also its members to be able to continue to be relevant and offer better services to their own stakeholders in fostering economic development and competitiveness.

Mr McLean Sibanda is an engineer and patent attorney. Since Feb 2011, he has been the Chief Executive Officer of The Innovation Hub, the innovation agency of the Gauteng Province responsible inter-alia for a leading African Science Park based in Pretoria. He has extensive experience in intellectual property, entrepreneurship, innovation, venture funding and incubation.  He has been a judge in a number of local and international competitions, including the SAB Foundation Social Innovation Awards, the Innovation Prize for Africa (IPA), including serving as Chief Judge for the IPA 2015.  He has held senior and executive roles in both the private and public sector in South Africa.  He has served as an Expert to the African Union (AU), SADC, World Intellectual Property Organisation (including undertaking various commissioned studies and tutoring the Advanced Patent Search course), and the Department of Science and Technology on intellectual property and innovation matters.  He has served on the Boards of the CSIR and JM Busha; he is the immediate past President of the African Division of the IASP and also it’s immediate past Treasurer and Executive Board member; he was also Acting Executive Director of the Innovation Fund (2008-2010) and Group Executive for Commercialisation at the Technology Innovation Agency (2010-2011); he currently serves on the boards of the National Intellectual Property Management Office (NIPMO) as Chairperson, HySA Advisory Board as Vuze Chairperson, Meniko Records Management Services, and the African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF).

About International Association of Science Parks

IASP is the worldwide network of science parks and areas of innovation. With nearly 400 members in 76 countries, they connect the professionals managing science, technology and research parks and other areas of innovation and provide services that drive growth and effectiveness for its members.  https://www.iasp.ws

For more information please contact:

Linah Nematandani - Communication and Marketing Manager

lnematandani@theinnovationhub.com

(+27) 12 844 0030/ (+27) 71 673 9964

Twitter: @InnovHub

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