René Kotzé

Institute Manager

René holds a BA degree from UNISA and has been with NITheCS (formerly NITheP) since 2010, where she served as the Communications Officer. In this role, she facilitated communication between NITheCS and its diverse stakeholders, including the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI), the National Research Foundation (NRF), the Steering Committee, Associates, students, and bursary holders. She was appointed as the Institute Manager in 2024.

René brings a rich and varied background to her position, with experience spanning the travel industry, HR management, public relations, marketing, and temporary staffing. She has worked as a game lodge reservation agent, international tour guide, leasing agent for international clients, and HR and PR consultant.

Deeply passionate about theoretical and computational sciences, René is committed to encouraging young people – especially in Africa – to pursue careers in STEM. She draws inspiration from Prof Neil Turok’s vision that “the next Einstein can come from Africa” and is particularly moved by a video from the Next Einstein Forum that highlights the challenges faced by young African scientists and addresses key gender issues in science.