Page 13 - issue 28 2020

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are based and South Africa which is recent formation of the Astronomical Business Analyst, and Infrastructure
a major partner in Africa. The project Association of Botswana who will tap Project Manager for Mobile, Fixed
will be developed in two phases over into the project database and enhance Network, Power and Access. His
the next decade, the MeerKAT portion their skills base and knowledge over immediate past role was a Programme
of SKA Phase 1 is already producing time. Manager for Power projects where
scientific discoveries. In Phase 2, he fostered in teamwork, overseeing
Botswana will be expected to host over It is important to zoom into the profile of performance and team morale in BTC’s
100 Karoo radio dishes the man who will spearhead this project digital transformation agenda.
from BIUST, Mr. Kgomotso Thelo, a
These will provide mega data for highly experienced Project Management Thelo holds a Master of Science in
students and tourist to do research and professional with 15 years’ experience Project Management which he obtained
navigate space for fresh information and in Telecommunications, Aviation and from the University of Sunderland in
in the end enable businesses to locate Military. 2015, a Bachelor of Engineering in
within the peripheries of such dishes Telecommunications from Coventry
resulting in business setups. He has managed a diverse portfolio University in 2005. He is also a Project
of projects, large, complex and Management Professional (PMP), a
The AVN will help develop the skills, multiuse which began with Botswana Prince2 Practitioner and is the first local
regulations and institutional capacity Defence Force in 2006 managing holder of the Certified Business Analysis
needed in SKA partner countries to telecommunications services rollout Professional (CBAP) obtained in 2017
optimise African participation in the SKA across the Camps. He joined Civil from International Institute of Business
and enable participation in pathfinder Aviation Authority of Botswana (CAAB) Analysis. He works in conjunction
technology development and science. during its formative years in 2010 where with the Department of Physics and
he managed technical transformation Astronomy at BIUST, reporting to the
Through the Project and the Space projects for the switch from government Vice Chancellor.
Science transformation Botswana to parastatal. Thelo may be contacted at BIUST at Tel:
specifically will benefit in many areas 493 1000 or email him at kgomotsot@
among them; He joins BIUST from the Botswana biust.ac.bw
1. Place Botswana at the forefront of Telecommunications Corporation
Planetary Science research including (BTC) where he evolved into positions
active involvement in future exploration including Network Planning Engineer,
missions.
2. Position Botswana as a significant
partner in international projects,
including the African Very Long Baseline
Array Network (AVN) and ultimately the
Square Kilometre Array (SKA)
3. Increase the interest of the general
population in science and technology,
stimulate industrial involvement and
promote economic diversification
4. Enhance the interest of our young
people in the appreciation and study of
Science, Technology, Engineering and
Mathematics (STEM) subjects.
5. Increase the take-up of degrees in
STEM subjects nationally.
6. The project will be of economic benefit
to the locals by direct employment
in the national Observatory, and the
construction of the radio telescope. Satellite at BIUST University
Fundamental to this project is the

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www.engineerbw.com Issue 28 - Dec/Jan 2021