Kaven Naidoo is a Group Executive for one of Africa’s largest Research Technology Organizations in South Africa and currently pursuing an Executive MBA at the Cambridge Judge Business School. He leads strategy development, strategic local and global partnerships, R&D investments and provides executive oversight of several strategic government programs. He has over 2 decades of experience in this space.

As a young boy, he was inspired by the wonders of space travel and aviation. Kaven aspired for the stars and nurtured a deep ambition for aerospace engineering. He completed a PhD in aeronautical engineering and built expertise in the field of computational aerodynamics and wind tunnel testing. He eventually achieved the rank of Head of Aeronautics for the CSIR in 2013 overseeing one of the largest wind tunnel test facilities in the Southern Hemisphere. 

Whether it be the community building schools, or his parents saving every penny under difficult financial constraints, Kaven comes from a heritage that places education as its highest priority, recognizing its essential role in raising an individual, family, community and country to prosperity. He seeks to build on the work of those that have come before and open international pathways for the next generation.

During his career he has had the privilege of wonderful and caring mentors. He sees the value of nurturing future talent and exposure to global opportunities. He recognizes that international pathways remain elusive for Africa’s young talent pool and would like to be a driver of change in his home continent and across the world.