Zukiswa Lujabe-Mgcina – Compute Infrastructure Group Lead

Zukiswa Lujabe-Mgcina is the Compute Infrastructure Group Lead for the South African Radio Astronomy Observatory (SARAO), effective October 2024, based in Cape Town. In this role, she plans, organizes, directs, and controls the activities of the Compute Infrastructure group, overseeing both physical and human resources. She is responsible for setting the strategic direction of the group and implementing continuous improvement strategies. Zukiswa also oversees the staffing and establishment of the Compute Infrastructure group, which includes the Networks, Cybersecurity, and Storage & Development sections.

Zukiswa firmly believes that Compute Infrastructure is not merely a support function but a critical driver of efficiency, operational streamlining, enhanced communication, data security, strategic alignment, and innovation. She emphasizes that these elements contribute to better decision-making and overall business success.

Zukiswa holds a BSc in Computer Science and an MBA in ICT from MANCOSA. She has also earned numerous professional certifications, including CCNA, UNIXWARE 7, A+, N+, MCP, ITIL, COBIT 5, Project Management, and a Professional Certificate in CIO Practice. She is a member of the Institute of Chartered IT Professionals (ICITP), a qualified Certified IT Business Executive, and a registered Chartered Chief Information Officer (C-CIO) (SA).

With over 22 years of experience in the ICT industry, Zukiswa has worked across both the private and public sectors. She has held various roles, starting as a Desktop Engineer and advancing to more strategic positions. Prior to joining SARAO, she served as the Senior Manager: Systems Delivery at eThekwini Municipality.

As a strategic leader, Zukiswa is passionate about Corporate Governance and is particularly excited about the changes introduced in King V, which is currently open for public comment. She is keen on Principle 9, which addresses the governance of IT, Data, and Artificial Intelligence (AI) risks.

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