Speakers

International Faculty

Gitau Mburu

Gitau Mburu , MD, MPH, PhD, is a Scientist with the Human Reproduction Programme and the Department of Department of Sexual, Reproductive, Maternal, Child, Adolescent Health and Ageing (LHR) at the World Health Organization in Geneva, Switzerland. The WHO's LHR department provides global leadership on through providing global data, technical support to member states, conducting scientific research, and developing guideline recommendations that support healthcare provision worldwide.

Petrus Steyn

Petrus Steyn is a Scientist (trained Obstetrician/Gynaecologist and Social Scientist) in the LHR Department (including the UNDP/UNFPA/UNICEF/WHO/World Bank Special Programme – HRP) at the World Health Organization Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. He is a researcher in the Contraception and Fertility Care Unit and on the guideline steering group for WHO Medical Eligibility Criteria for Family Planning as well as for Emerging Contraceptives. He currently leads implementation research on DMPA Sub C self-administration in Burkina Faso, Kenya and Ghana and implementation research on integration of HIV-preventative measures in contraceptive services in South Africa and Eswatini. His expertise includes specialist contraceptive services, implementation research and social sciences methodology, social behavior change, human rights in Sexual and Reproductive Health, medical ethics and continued medical education.

Hassan Nooman Sallam

Hassan Nooman Sallam, MB, ChB, DGO, MD (Alex), FRCOG (England), PhD (London), is the founding member of the IVF unit at King's College Hospital, London, England (1981–1983) and St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital, Columbia University, New York (1984), and founder of the Alexandria Fertility and IVF Center (1985). He has served as an Examiner to the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of England in London since 1998 and was the recipient of the Royal College Historical Lecture in 2012. He has served/serves on the Editorial Board of top international journals including "Human Reproduction" and "RBM online" and has published more than 100 papers in national and international refereed journals in 3 languages as well as 4 books. He has lectured by invitation in more than 130 conferences, seminars and symposia in 37 countries (including UK, USA, France, Germany, Japan, Canada, India, Italy, Spain, Greece, China, etc...), in addition to Egypt. He is Professor and former chairman of obstetrics and gynaecology and vice-dean, Alexandria University Faculty of Medicine, and founding chairman of the Mediterranean Society for Reproductive Medicine (2002–2006). He is co-author of "Infertility and Assisted Reproduction", the reference textbook published in 2008 by Cambridge University Press, Chairman of the Egyptian Representative Committee of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, Founding director of the Alexandria Regional Center for Women's Health and Development (formerly the Suzanne Mubarak Center), and one of the 6 co-founders of the Middle East Fertility Society in 1994.

Local Faculty

Jack Biko

Jack Biko is a South African reproductive medicine specialist and gynecologic endoscopic surgeon based in Pretoria, known for his work in fertility care, advanced laparoscopy, and hysteroscopy. He is currently the owner and consultant at Femicare Fertility Clinic, located at Netcare Femina Hospital. Dr. Biko has extensive training in obstetrics, gynecology, and assisted reproduction. He holds an MBBCh from the University of the Witwatersrand and an MMed in Obstetrics and Gynaecology from the University of Pretoria. He is a fellow of the College of Medicine of South Africa (FCOG). He completed specialized training in assisted reproduction at the University of Warwick (UK), a Master’s in Human Reproduction in Valencia, Spain, and advanced endoscopic surgical training in Kiel, Germany. He serves as Lead Endoscopic Surgeon and Medical Director at Femicare Fertility, has served as the President of the South African Society of Reproductive Medicine and Gynaecological Endoscopy (SASREG), and is a part-time lecturer and faculty member at the University of Pretoria and Steve Biko Hospital. He has also worked in the endoscopic training units of the University of the Witwatersrand. He is a member of the International Society for Gynaecological Endoscopy (ISGE), American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM), and European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE). Dr. Biko focuses on treating complex fertility challenges, advanced endometriosis surgery, and minimally invasive gynecological procedures, and he is part of the team that completed the national South African fertility guidelines.

Abri de Bruin

Abri de Bruin qualified in 1999 at the University of Pretoria as an obstetrician and gynaecologist. With a special interest in endoscopic surgery, he worked in the unit of Philippe Koninckx in Leuven in Belgium. Not only did he spend time with Prof Koninckx in the OR, he operated as well and did training doing endoscopic surgery on rabbits, pigs and even mice. He furthered his trans-vaginal ultrasound training with Prof D Timmermann in Belgium. Following that he was appointed as specialist in the Reproductive & Endocrine Unit in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the University of Pretoria. He was appointed as head of the unit in 2002. Currently he is still appointed by the University as a part time lecturer and specialist in the unit and runs the office hysteroscopy clinic. He further trained endoscopic surgery in France extensively presenting masterclasses in gynaecological endoscopy. He is in private practice at Mediclinic Kloof in Pretoria where he runs an endoscopic referral unit with special interest in severe endometriosis and advanced endoscopic surgery – both laparoscopies, hysteroscopies and robotic surgery. Up to date he has operated more than 4000 cases of recto-vaginal endometriosis and 400 bowel resections. He is a lifetime board member of the ISGE. He is the first South African gynaecologist to receive accreditation in robotic surgery in all gynaecological surgery procedures as well as colo-rectal surgery. After doing his training he worked with two international proctors to achieve this accreditation and also spent time with Prof Roman in Bordeaux in France for clinical exposure to difficult robotic procedures in gynaecology. He has published articles in peer reviewed journals and many chapters in textbooks. He is an invited speaker and surgeon to national and international conferences and has done live surgery locally and internationally in 3 continents. He is a registered subspecialist in Reproductive medicine. He is also the founding Medical Director of the Genesis Reproductive Centre and chairman of the board. His philosophy in treating his patients is based on best medical evidence, but with the following mantra that defines who he is: Seeing a patient younger than myself, how would I have managed my daughter, same age I am – how would I manage my wife, and in older patients, how would I manage my mother.

Manala Makua

Manala Makua transitioned from leading the development of policies and guidelines at the national level to gaining a deeper understanding of the experiences of service users. She represents women, maternal and child health, and youth from marginalised rural communities. She engages with traditional and alternative medicine providers to identify models for delivering efficient complementary medicine interventions. She is an advocate for the life-course approach to sexual and reproductive health services.

Thato Maoto

Thato Maoto is a Reproductive medicine Sub-specialist; obstetrician and gynaecologist. He is a consultant and deputy head at the Reproductive, Endocrinology and Infertility unit at the Steve Biko Academic hospital. He is also a keen endoscopist and is a director and partner at the Femicare Fertility and Advanced Endoscopic Surgery Centre. His passion for teaching goes beyond his teaching reproductive fellows, registrars and medical students at the university of Pretoria. He has also been involved in various education drives across the country and continent. He has presented internationally.

Kgomotso Mathabe

Kgomotso Mathabe is the Head of the Department of Urology at the University of Pretoria and Steve Biko Academic Hospital, where she is responsible for clinical services, teaching undergraduate medical students and training medical specialists, including research supervision. She was the first woman to qualify as a Urologist at the University of the Witwatersrand and the second Black woman in the country. She holds qualifications in medicine including specialisation in Urology including a PhD as well as healthcare management. She has previously headed the Andrology firm responsible for assessing men with infertility. Outside of medicine she also holds qualifications in gifted education, public management and governance. Prof Mathabe holds dear the opinion that a healthy, educated/ skilled nation can take care of its own problems and becomes a co-creator of solutions with government, instead of depending on the government to do all of the heavy lifting. Thus, education, skills development and health services should be prioritised. She firmly believes in continuous personal development and upskilling throughout the journey of life.

Mushi Matjila

Mushi Matjila is the Head of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Groote Schuur Hospital and the University of Cape Town, and Chair of the National Health Research Committee (NHRC). He plays a central role in shaping South Africa's maternal, neonatal and women's health research and policy agenda. He provides strategic leadership across national advisory platforms, contributing to the development of antenatal care packages, stillbirth prevention strategies, preeclampsia guidelines and national research-for-health policy aligned to the Sustainable Development Goals. His work bridges academic evidence and health system decision-making at the highest level. Professor Matjila's research is internationally recognised for advancing placental science and precision risk assessment in pregnancy. He leads pioneering, multi-centre studies on placental biomarkers, preeclampsia prediction and prevention, and reproductive endocrinology, including the first national implementation trial of placental-based triage tools in South Africa. He has authored more than 50 peer-reviewed publications, supervised postgraduate researchers across disciplines, and is widely cited for translating scientific innovation into scalable clinical and policy impact.

Gaontebale Onthatile Matlhaga

GO Matlhaga is Fellow of the Colleges of Medicine SA, with a Certificate in Human Reproduction and Endocrine. He obtained his HIGSE from the International School of South Africa in 1995, MBChB degree in UKZN in 2002, FCOG (SA) in 2011 and a Subspeciality Certificate in Reproductive Medicine in 2020. He was also a Council member of the South African Society of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists (SASOG) from 2016 to 2021. He served as a Vice Chairperson of South African Medical Association (SAMA), CPSD from 2010 to 2013. Was a member of the executive in the Registrars Association (SARA) in SAMA throughout his registrar training and represented doctors at various levels, including at the Senate of Colleges of Medicine South Africa. Dr GO Matlhaga is passionate about education and training, mentors both registrars and fellows, particularly in the WITS and UP circuits, whilst also lecturing at both institutions. He has also been in private practice in Johannesburg since 2011 as a Gynaecologist and Reproductive Medicine Specialist, dealing with infertility, endometriosis and minimal invase surgery. He continues to present lectures both locally and internationally.

Tasneem Mohamed

Tasneem Mohamed graduated from the University of Witwatersrand in 2008 and began her internship at Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital in 2009. She completed her internship in December 2010 and thereafter began her community service at Edenvale Hospital. After completing community service, Tasneem stayed on at Edenvale Hospital and worked as a medical officer in the Obstetrics and Gynaecology department from 2012 to 2014. During this time Tasneem completed her Part I Fellowship exam in the field of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. In 2014 Tasneem began her registrar training in obstetrics and gynaecology at Wits University. During this time she successfully completed her MMed with distinction as well as her part II fellowship exam. In 2018 she completed her registrarship and was registered as a specialist in the field of obstetrics and gynaecology. Tasneem has presented her research at several international congresses and won the COGI young researcher award in 2017. In May 2018, Tasneem joined BioART fertility centre in Saxonwold. She also joined the Parktown OBGYN practice at Park Lane Hospital in July 2018, where she consults certain afternoons. In September 2024, Tasneem completed her fellowship training in Reproductive Medicine and Endocrinology at the Steve Biko Academic Hospital in Pretoria and graduated with merit. Tasneem lives in Johannesburg with her husband and three children. She enjoys travel, good books and spending time with family.

Ally Morudu

Ally Morudu is a Specialist OBGYN and a Fellow in Reproductive Medicine & Endocrinology at the Steve Biko Academic Hospital (University of Pretoria). He is a Fellow and a Diplomate of the College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology (CMSA), holds a Master's Degree in Obstetrics and Gynaecology from Wits and also holds a Masters Degree in the Biotechnology of Human Assisted Reproduction and Embryology from the University of Valencia (Spain). He also completed numerous courses at the Minimal Invasive Surgery Academy headed by Professor Arnaud Wattiez in Dubai (UAE) i.e a Master of Laparoscopic Surgery in Gynaecology, Master of Science of Anatomical Landmarks, Master of Surgical Management of Deep Endometriosis and a Master of Hysteroscopic Surgery in Gynaecology. He has a passion for endoscopy and reproductive health.

Katlego Mothudi

Katlego Mothudi is the Managing Director of the Board of Healthcare Funders (BHF), an industry representative body for medical aid schemes, administrators, and managed care providers. The BHF has a presence in eight countries across Southern Africa, including Lesotho, Namibia, Zimbabwe, and Botswana. Dr Mothudi is responsible for providing leadership and strategic direction for the organisation, and for driving the organisation's growth. Dr Mothudi has previously served as a Medical Advisor and Clinical Executive for Metropolitan Health Group, was the Managing Director for Aid for AIDS within the AfroCentric Health stable, before becoming the Executive Head of Clinical Services and Operations at Sizwe Medical Fund. He has held various other roles in the healthcare industry, including working as a Medical Officer in the South African Public Healthcare Sector and later as the Clinical Manager of a District Hospital. Dr Mothudi is an advocate for ethical leadership and serves on several boards and various industry committees. These include the Health and Welfare Sector Education and Training Authority (HWSETA), the Health Sector Anti-Corruption Forum and Steering Committee which were set up by the Special Investigating Unit (SIU). Dr Mothudi holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry and Applied Chemistry, an MBChB degree from MEDUNSA, and training in Sports Medicine. The latter gave him the opportunity to work with various sports organisations and teams, culminating as the Chief Medical Officer for the Referees' Headquarters during the 2009 FIFA Confederation and the 2010 World Cups. Dr Mothudi is recognised for his vast knowledge in Healthcare Management and Business Leadership which has been gained over his experience in both the Private and Public Health sectors spanning more than 26 years. His passion is to contribute towards the transformation of the healthcare industry and ensure that medical aid schemes positively influence access to affordable and quality healthcare for ordinary citizens.

Zozo Nene

Zozo Nene is the President of the Colleges of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists at the CMSA. She is a Reproductive Medicine Sub-Specialist and an Obstetrician & Gynaecologist. She is Acting Head of Department of the department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology & Head of the Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility unit at Steve Biko Academic Hospital and the University of Pretoria. Prof Zozo Nene is the member of the WHO Scientific and Technical Advisory Group (STAG), of the HRP, the principal scientific advisory body of the UNDP/UNFPA/UNICEF/WHO/World Bank Special Programme of Research, Development and Research Training in Human Reproduction. She completed the Global Clinical Scholars Research Training (GCSRT) Program at Harvard University, USA and the Management Development Program from the University of Pretoria. She is the co-lead of the infertility module of MSc Global Women's Health at the Nuffield Department of Women's & Reproductive Health, University of Oxford, England. She is a member of the International Medical Advisory Panel (IMAP) for the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF). She is the National Department of Health's technical expert advisor on SRHR. She is the lead author of the South African National Clinical Guidelines for Safe Conception and Infertility. She was involved in the development of the SRHR Policy, SRHR guidelines and the SRHR Curriculum. She was a member of the Ministerial Committee for redress of complainants of forced sterilisation.

Malika Patel

Malika Patel is a reproductive medicine specialist. She is the Head of Clinical Unit: Gynaecology and Head of Reproductive Medicine Unit in the Dept of O&G at Groote Schuur and the University of Cape Town. She is a member of the FIGO safe abortion committee. She is a council member of the College of O&G of the CMSA. A/Prof Patel was a member of the guideline development group of the 2023 International Evidence-based Guideline for the Assessment and Management of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome. She served on numerous contraceptive advisory boards. She was a member of the expert group who contributed to the National Fertility Guidelines and National Integrated Sexual & Reproductive Health and Rights Policy.

Flavia Senkubuge

Flavia Senkubuge is the Dean at the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Pretoria, South Africa. She is the first woman Dean in the Faculty's history. She is a medical doctor by profession, Specialist in Public Health Medicine with a PhD in Public Health and holds an MBA from the Edinburgh Business School, UK. She is the 20th President of the Colleges of Medicine South Africa (CMSA) and the first black woman to hold the position. The CMSA is the apex body of medicine in South Africa. She is the former Deputy Dean for Stakeholder Relations at the University of Pretoria and she also served as the Interim Deputy Vice Chancellor for Student Life at the University of Pretoria until September 2024. She is the current chair of the WHO/Afro region African Advisory Council on Research and Development (AACHRD), president of Women in Global Health (WGH) South Africa and Vice-President of the East Central and Southern African (ECSA) College of Public Health Medicine. She is a Fellow of the prestigious Kofi Annan Global Health Leadership program and was recognised as one of the 50 Powerful Women in South Africa by the Mail & Guardian's Power of Women in 2021. In 2022 she was recognised by Harvard Public Health as one of the 25 standout voices in African Public Health.

Lusanda Shimange-Matsose

Lusanda Shimange-Matsose is a specialist gynaecologist and a subspecialist in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility. She serves as a Director at Medfem Fertility Clinic and is a Consultant at the Steve Biko Academic Hospital Reproductive Unit, where she is dedicated to providing evidence-based, patient-centred fertility care and advancing excellence in reproductive medicine. She serves on the boards of the South African Society of Gynaecological Endoscopy and the Pan African Society of Endometriosis, contributing to initiatives that promote innovation, education, and improved standards in women's health across the region. Dr Shimange-Matsose is actively involved in academic development and outreach, participating in training and capacity-building initiatives under the banner of the Colleges of Medicine of South Africa and the Steve Biko Academic Hospital Reproductive Unit. Her work supports the advancement of specialist education and the strengthening of reproductive healthcare in South Africa. Dr Shimange-Matsose is an invited speaker at professional forums and is committed to advancing reproductive medicine through clinical excellence, education, and advocacy.

Viju Thomas

Viju Thomas is the Head of the Minimally Invasive Surgical (MIS) Unit at the University of Stellenbosch. He works in both the private and public sectors, providing care in the fields of endometriosis, oncological surgery, and neuropelviology. He also serves as Head of Minimal Access Gynaecological Surgery (MAGS) at Tygerberg Academic Teaching Hospital in Cape Town, South Africa. Dr Thomas is actively involved in training and mentoring aspiring minimally invasive surgeons, with a focus on advanced laparoscopy and robotic surgery. He has authored numerous publications, acts as a reviewer for various international journals, and participates as a live surgeon at both national and international conferences. He is President of the South African Society of Gynaecological Endoscopists (SASGE) and President of the Pan African Society of Endometriosis (PASE). He also serves as Chair of the Special Interest Group for Endometriosis at the International Society of Gynaecological Surgeons (ISGE), is a member of the Senate and Advisory Board of ISGE, and sits on the council of the South African Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (SASOG).

Marienus Trouw

Marienus Trouw is a South African reproductive medicine specialist, gynaecologist, academic, and fertility clinic founder, widely recognised for his contributions to assisted reproduction and infertility treatment in Pretoria. Dr Trouw is a sub-specialist in reproductive medicine, focusing on the diagnosis and treatment of infertility. His clinical work includes assisted reproductive technologies such as in vitro fertilisation (IVF), intrauterine insemination (IUI), and reproductive surgery. He is known for combining evidence-based medical practice with a patient-centred approach, recognising the emotional and psychological challenges associated with infertility. Over the years, he has helped numerous individuals and couples achieve successful pregnancies through advanced fertility treatments.