Innovation ambassadors appointed

Minister of Public Service and Administration Geraldine Fraser-Moleketi says: "Government encourages innovation in both the public and private sector. As part of this process, we acknowledge four individuals who have made a significant contribution to the cause of sustainable innovation, and who can act as role-models and an inspiration to current and future innovators."

The four "innovation ambassadors" are Naumi Mashalane, who won the Innovator of the Year Award in 2003 for her pioneering work in developing a new approach to treating asthma patients and now works at Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital; Professor Erna Alant, who founded the Centre for Augmentative and Alternative Communication (CAAC) to help people who are largely ignored due to a lack of speech; Pierre van der Hoven, founder and CEO of TBM, a digital media company that has developed unique technology that is a world-first in advertising applications; and advocate Thoko Majokweni, who heads the Sexual Offences and Community Affairs Unit of the National Prosecuting Authority.

"We see the ambassadors acting as role models and living examples of successful innovators - as people who will inspire others not only to innovate but to enter their own innovative ideas into the Innovation and Sustainability Awards for 2005," Fraser-Moleketi says.

"In the spirit of public-private partnerships, we have extended the awards to recognize both public and private sector innovation and encourage innovators across the country to submit their proposals for assessment."

The awards are jointly coordinated by government's Centre for Public Service Innovation, Axius Publishing (publishers of Convergence magazine) and the Da Vinci institute.

For more information visit www.innovationawards.co.za or call +27 +11 579 4417. The closing date for entries is 13 June 2005.