The National Research Foundation (NRF) of which HMO reports to has appointed Dr. Lee-Anne McKinnell as acting MD of the facility for 18 months from 1 January 2010. Dr. Gatsha Mazithulela the NRF vice president was present to make the announcement.

Dr. Mazithulela also mentioned that Dr. McKinnell was breaking ground and making history as the first woman to be appointed as an MD of a national facility. Dr. McKinnell received her PhD in 2003 and has been a Research Associate at Rhodes University for the past 5 years while having a dual appointment with HMO and was head of the Space Physics group. She has also received two awards recently; the 2009 Southern Region Women Scientist Award for the Basic Science, Technology and Innovation Sector awarded to her by the African Union and a Department of Trade and Industry Technology Award for an industry linked research and development project.

Dr. Mazithulela at the same time broke the news that Dr. Malinga who headed HMO as MD from October 2007 had been seconded by the Minister of Science and Technology to be the CEO of the newly established South African National Space Agency (SANSA) from 1 January 2010.
Dr. Sandile Malinga received his PhD in Space Physics in 2002 at Rhodes University, he lectured for about 6 years at the University of Natal which later became the University of KwaZulu-Natal.

We wish both Dr. McKinnell and Dr. Malinga success in their new positions.