Mr Takalani Nemaungani is currently the Chief Director for the Astronomy portfolio at the Department of Science and Innovation (DSI) in South Africa – Astronomy is a flagship project receiving the single largest investment in the budget within the DSI. Trained as an engineer from Wits University, he began his career in 1994 in the private sector in companies such as Samancor and Sasol before joining the CSIR.  He has played a pivotal role in the development of Astronomy in Africa and beyond. He serves as the secretariat for the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) Astronomy Working Group. Before joining the Astronomy division, he was the Director of the Global Projects unit within the International Cooperation and Resources division of the DSI, where he was the Project Coordinator of the Promoting Africa-Europe Research Infrastructure Project (PAERIP).