Page 31 - EngineerIT February 2022 UPDATED

AMATEUR RADIO
APPOINTMENTS

mode linear transponder to provide users
with an opportunity to experiment with the
10 GHz microwave downlink. GOLF-TEE will
also carry a legacy V/U linear transponder, VMware appoints new president,
AMSAT said. partner and commercial business

AfriCUBE VMware has appointed Petra Heinrich Liedtke as vice
Closer to home, two South African amateur president, partner and commercial business, EMEA
radio technology projects are also affected at VMware. She will lead a 500-strong organisation.
by the shortage of devices. AMSAT SA’s Petra brings with her deep channel expertise, with
AfriCUBE satellite project developer, Anton more than 25 years of experience in the industry,
Janovsky has been scouting suppliers most recently as vice president of partner and
around the world for devices to complete product sales EMEA at Red Hat. She has a strong track record of building
the engineering model of the linear SDR robust and successful partner ecosystems, empowering partners as they
transponder. He recently found a supplier guide organisations on their digital transformation journeys. She has also
in the East that offered an equivalent held senior positions at Open-Xchange and SuSE Linux/Novell.
to the original. “I have ordered some at
considerably high shipping costs. I just
hope they are genuine equivalents and Vodacom subsidiary XLink appoints
meet the original specification”, he said. Thanusha Govender as new
AMSAT SA has applied for several free managing director
launch opportunities offered by industry
in association with the UN office for outer XLink, a subsidiary of the Vodacom Group and
space affairs (UNOOSA). “We will have strict provider of secure payment connectivity solutions,
deadlines to meet should we be selected has appointed Thanusha Govender as its new
for one of the launch opportunities. managing director (MD) with effect from 1 February
2022. Govender, a qualified chemical engineer who
SARL next-generation beacon has applied foundational, data-driven principles innovatively to optimise and
programme grow several large companies over the last two decades, will replace
The SARL next-generation beacon Hymie Marnewick.
programme team was informed by its
European supplier of next-generation two Corporate strategist, management consultant, and chief operating officer
metre beacons of the same shortage of are amongst the roles she’s held. In these positions, she has established a
devices. Brian Jacobs, the team leader, said proven track record overseeing business transformation within companies
the device shortage is seriously affecting such as Barclays Africa and Accenture. Prior to joining the XLink team,
the plans to erect a beacon in the Northern Thanusha spent five years in the role of head of corporate strategy and
Cape. “Now that we have secured a suitable planning at the Absa Group.
site and are about to sign a MOU with the
farm owner, the pressure is on”. Cisco appoints sub-Saharan Africa
The SARL next-generation two
metre beacon programme is aimed at managing director
radio amateurs taking part in a study of Cisco has appointed Hani Raad as managing director
tropospheric and other VHF propagation for sub-Saharan Africa.
modes. Currently a beacon monitor system A 15 year Cisco veteran, Raad brings over 25 years
is being developed. It will listen for signals of diverse experience in ICT and executive leadership
and report received information as well as to the region. He currently leads Cisco’s small and
local weather conditions to a central web medium enterprise business sales and strategy across
server, with the ability to send out alert Middle East and Africa.
messages.
Brian Jacobs said that he and the team In his new role, he will be shaping Cisco’s strategic direction in sub-
had found a possible alternative supplier Saharan Africa, with a strong focus on leveraging technology to support
offering a less sophisticated beacon digitisation, innovation and social inclusion. Hani Raad succeeds Garsen
system. “We have imported four units in Naidu, who has been appointed as leader of the sales specialist organisation
kit form and are currently in the process of at Cisco Middle East and Africa.
evaluation.” n

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