In a field often seen as rigid and exclusive, Prof Anne Fitchett has built a career doing the opposite — breaking down barriers and creating new pathways for those historically excluded from engineering.

“I’ve always believed our role as educators goes far beyond the lecture hall,” she says. “We are here to nurture lifelong learners and future problem-solvers who can carry the profession forward with innovation and integrity.”

Fitchett is an honorary associate professor at the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) and served as assistant dean in the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment before retiring. She has received the NSTF-South32 Award for Engineering Research Capacity Development, recognising her decades-long commitment to reshaping how engineering is taught — and who gets to learn it.

“We live in a region with a severe shortage of engineers, which inhibits economic growth and infrastructure delivery,” she says, citing load-shedding as an example of what happens when engineering capacity can’t meet demand.

At Wits, she led major curriculum reforms, including the introduction of a Common First Year — a foundational programme that replaced high failure rates with improved student success and deeper engagement.

“Before its introduction, the first year was de facto a gatekeeping year,” she says. Her team’s cross-disciplinary approach integrated engineering, science, humanities and ethics, resulting in what she calls “a programme more holistic and better aligned with the ethos of the engineering profession”.

Fitchett also designed a part-time study track to address the thousands of eligible applicants turned away each year because of financial barriers. The programme spreads the first two years over four, with after-hours classes that allow students to work while studying. “It’s about giving people the tools and the time to succeed.”

Her focus on accessibility extended to physical and academic inclusion. Working with the Wits Disability Rights Unit, she helped pilot universal accessibility measures on campus, from infrastructure to tech-enabled learning. “When you create systems that support all learners, you create a stronger and more inclusive profession.”

She championed project-based learning and led Wits’s participation in the Engineering Without Borders Global Challenge, where student teams designed real-world solutions for vulnerable communities. Under her guidance, Wits won twice in three years. “The feedback was phenomenal when students saw how engineering could uplift communities and solve tangible problems.”

Beyond teaching, she has supervised numerous MSc and PhD students, often working with professionals juggling full-time jobs. Her secret? Meeting students where they are and co-creating research paths that align with their passions.

“The most important thing,” she says, “is that their work feels meaningful. Success isn’t only in the numbers. It’s in the conversations years later, when someone tells you that something you did helped shape their career.”

She is honoured by the NSTF recognition but quick to share credit: “Ultimately, this award recognises a number of my colleagues in both the academic and administrative parts of the university. Building research capacity is a multi-faceted endeavour and a team effort, and I am proud to have been a part of this throughout my academic career.”

Read the special Mail & Guardian supplement about all the NSTF-South32 Award winners.

When Dr Jabu Mtsweni applied late for university, he didn’t even know how to use a computer. Today, he’s head of the Information and Cyber Security Centre at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), leading one of South Africa’s most innovative digital defence initiatives and fostering a future that is local, inclusive and secure.

“I wanted to be an accountant and only ended up in computer engineering because it was the last space left,” he laughs. “But once I got started, I fell in love with the field and knew I had found my purpose.”

Since taking the helm at the CSIR in 2019, Mtsweni has transformed a bare-bones unit into a national powerhouse. What began with a handful of researchers has grown into a team of nearly 90, with annual revenue surpassing R100 million. But for Mtsweni, it’s not just about numbers.

“We didn’t just want to build a centre — we wanted to build a movement,” he says. “Cybersecurity is often dominated by foreign tech. Our goal has always been to create home-grown solutions that support a capable state and stimulate local innovation.”

His commitment was especially evident during the Covid-19 pandemic, when he led the launch of the National Policy Data Observatory in partnership with the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation — a real-time data platform that has since become a national asset.

In 2023, the Centre launched VeristicPrint, SA’s first patented biometric authentication technology, and signed more than 10 licensing agreements with startups and small businesses. “This rapid expansion shows that intentional leadership isn’t just impactful; it’s essential for driving scientific and technological growth that benefits the broader community.”

Yet, what matters most to him isn’t patents or accolades: “Leadership has always been an intrinsic part of who I am, and my proudest achievement is building people. I’ve always believed that as I rise, I must lift others too.”

His leadership style is adaptive and human-centred. “A ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach doesn’t work. By tailoring my approach to each team member, I can maximise their contributions and allow emerging leaders to step up and share the load. This builds capacity while fostering a culture of distributed leadership.”

Still, retaining talent remains a challenge. “I was thrilled to recruit two brilliant female leaders,” he says. “But within two years, both were snapped up by industry and academia. It’s bittersweet. It shows we’re developing leaders — but also that we need to strengthen our organisational culture.”

His advice to future leaders? “Consistency, persistence, and action. It’s not enough to talk about leadership — you must demonstrate it through your deeds. Never forget that true leadership development is accelerated and enriched by the guidance, insight and wisdom of those who’ve gone before you.”

Being honoured with the NSTF-South32 Management Award, he says, is both humbling and motivating. “While awards are never the goal, they remind us that impact matters. STEM [science, technology, engineering and maths] is not just about bright minds in labs — it’s also about those who lead, mentor, and drive innovation from vision to impact.”

Read the special Mail & Guardian supplement about all the NSTF-South32 Award winners.