Rob Adam

Background

About Rob Adam

BIOGRAPHY OF ROB ADAMRob Adam joined the Square Kilometre Array Radio Telescope South Africa as Director Designate on 1 April 2015. He became Director on 1 January 2016. In August 2017 he became Managing Director of the South African Radio Astronomy Observatory (SARAO). At the end of 2022, he stepped down from this position and now works as a consultant in strategy and technologies. In April 2023 he was elected as Deputy Chair of the Association of Former Directors General of South Africa.He was appointed Group Executive at the Aveng Group from 1 February 2012 until 31 January 2015. Initially his portfolio covered the development of Aveng's capabilities in nuclear construction and manufacturing. But in March 2013 his portfolio was expanded to include Aveng's business growth on the African continent, as well as stakeholder relations.Prior to joining Aveng, Rob Adam was Chief Executive Officer of the South African Nuclear Energy Corporation (Necsa), South Africa's statutory nuclear technology organisation. He held this position for 6 years. Before Necsa, Rob was Director-General of the Department of Science and Technology for 7 years. Rob held the title of Honorary Professor of Physics at both the University of Pretoria and the University of South Africa. He has held various academic positions in Europe and South Africa, has published over 40 refereed articles in theoretical physics and astronomy, also published widely on science and technology policy and co-authored a book on science and technology in the Republic of Chile.He was awarded a D.Sc (Honoris Causa) by the University of Cape Town in 2022 and appointed as a Research Fellow at the Centre for Education, Science and Technology at Stellenbosch University in the same year. He also served on the Council of the Academy of Sciences of South Africa and on the Human Resource Development Council and currently is a Trustee of the African Institute of Mathematical Sciences, a member of the Advisory Council for the Event Horizon Telescope and a member of the Steering Committee of the CPS.Rob has chaired the Boards, as a non executive, of Necsa (SOC) Ltd, NTP (Pty) Ltd, Pelchem (Pty) Ltd, NIASA and PBMR Fuel (Pty) Ltd and was a Board member of PBMR (Pty) Ltd. He currently serves on the Council of the SKA Observatory. His main interest area on Boards is Environment, Social Impact and Governance (ESG).