Happy Marumo Sithole
Panel 1. Africa – Latin American HPC and AI Cooperation
Dr Happy Sithole is the Centre Manager for the South African cyberinfrastructure (CI) system, NICIS since 2019. He is responsible for the coordination of this system so that it meets the demands of the South African National System of Innovation, in support of the Department of Science and Innovation. This involves the three main entities of the CI, Centre for High-Performance Computing (CHPC), South African National Research Network (SANReN), Data Intensive Initiative of South Africa (DIRISA).
Prior to becoming the CI centre manager, Sithole spent 12 years as the director of the Centre for High Performance Computing. He completed his PhD in materials science, focusing on electronic and atomistic simulation of iron sulphides, at the University of Limpopo, where he also lectured for nine years. He has applied high-performance computing to solve problems in mining industries and nuclear power plant designs, such as at his time at the Pebble Bed Modular Reactor. Sithole also sits on the steering committees of high-performance computing meetings in Germany, Russia and Singapore. He was the Chairperson of the ICT Committee of the National Library Board and is currently a board member at the Centre of Excellence for Nuclear Safety and Security (CNSS) in South Africa.