Dr Janine Chantson

Dr Janine Chantson is the Director of the UWC Technology Transfer Office where she is responsible for managing and commercialising the university’s intellectual property. Her strategic interests are to promote and advance research for impact, facilitate knowledge exchange and commercialisation, and increase cooperation and collaboration with business and industry. Prior to joining UWC, she was a Senior Manager for technology transfer at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) Licensing and Ventures office and was responsible for managing the CSIR Seed Fund and providing business development support for the commercialisation of CSIR technologies. Janine has considerable experience in the public funding side of technology innovation and serves on the Committee of the Southern African Research and Innovation Management Association (SARIMA). She has also been a Programme Specialist at the International Council for Science Regional Office for Africa. She received her PhD (Chemistry) from the University of Pretoria, where she was also a lecturer. Her postdoctoral research was undertaken at the Institute of Pharmacy and Molecular Biotechnology, University of Heidelberg, Germany. Janine holds a Master in Management degree (University of the Witwatersrand) with specialisation in entrepreneurship and new venture creation. She has a certificate in leadership from the Gordon Institute of Business Science and is an U.S. Department of State International Exchange Alumna.