Bryan Johnston

Background

About Bryan Johnston

I am passionate about learning, growing, and leading in the cutting-edge field of High Performance Computing (HPC). Working within the Advanced Computer Engineering Lab at South Africa’s Centre for High Performance Computing (CHPC) has given me the rare opportunity to blend purpose and passion—driving both technical advancement and equitable access to research infrastructure. As Project Lead for the HPC Ecosystems Project for Southern Africa, I work closely with SKA-readiness partner sites and regional governments to develop national cyberinfrastructure adoption strategies, deploy HPC systems, and build local expertise through intensive training of HPC technology teams. I have the privilege of training and mentoring a diverse cohort of system administrators from across the continent. Through this work, I draw daily on my colleagues’ deep expertise and my global network of collaborators—continually expanding my own understanding of emerging technologies, systems optimisation, and inclusive community-building in HPC. In 2024, I was deeply honored to receive the HPCwire Readers’ Choice Award for Outstanding Leadership in HPC, a recognition that reflects the collective effort of the teams and communities I’ve worked alongside. In 2025, I was also named a finalist for the NSTF-South32 Award for Science Diplomacy for Africa, which celebrates sustained contributions to cross-border collaboration in science and technology. My professional interests span Cognitive Science, Human Capital Development, and algorithmic optimisation. I contribute to global conversations on HPC education through publications, panel discussions, and initiatives that shape best practices for training and capacity development. I actively engage in opportunities like the Georgia Tech alumni seminar series to stay current with system design and research trends. Presently, my focus is on expanding the pan-African HPC community and leading the design of scalable training platforms for technologists and system administrators across the continent. Outside of this, I’m excited to serve as a registered contract member with CERN, where I explore emerging collaborations in grid computing and distributed research technologies. Above all, when I'm not busy with the best work in the world, I’m a profoundly blessed husband to my amazing wife and a dedicated father to three wonderful little future world-changers.