The University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) has appointed consultant and entrepreneur, Lesley Donna Williams, as the new CEO of the Wits Tshimologong Digital Innovation Precinct in Braamfontein, Johannesburg.
Williams has for the past 17 years been actively engaged in setting up and running collaborative work spaces and associated programmes. She established the first Impact Hub in Africa, "Impact Hub Johannesburg", in 2010 and today there are more than 100 Impact Hubs in major cities around the world. Impact Hub is a community of spaces, people and programming with an impact mission.
She joined Wits on 2 October and says she is enthusiastic about collaboration with a "particular passion for shaping the future of business that contributes to social innovation and enables participatory leadership".
Professor Adam Habib, Wits University's vice-chancellor and principal, says Williams has been mandated to ensure the Tshimologong Precinct achieves its full potential.
"Through Tshimologong, Wits is enabling the development of a new generation of digital technology experts, innovators and entrepreneurs. The precinct is providing space for our country's most creative young minds to develop the new digital technologies that are crucial to South Africa's economic growth and international competitiveness," he says.
Professor Barry Dwolatzky, head of Wits University's Joburg Centre for Software Engineering and founder of the Tshimologong Precinct, adds he is excited to welcome Williams as CEO.
"She brings a wealth of experience and boundless energy and enthusiasm to this important strategic initiative. Going forward, my own role will be to support Lesley and her team in various ways, with a particular focus on growing strategic relationships both locally and internationally," Dwolatzky says.
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