Book Café: A discussion with Jane Olwoch (former Executive Director, SASSCAL) on her memoir
Join us on 25th March 2026, for the next edition of ASLI Book Café, where we chat with Dr. Jane Olwoch (former Executive Director, Southern African Science Service Centre for Climate Change and Adaptive Land Management, SASSCAL) on her memoir.
Dr. Jane Mukarugwiza Olwoch is a distinguished science leader and the Founder of One Earth One World, a platform that focuses on Fostering Partnerships, Advisory, Advocacy, and Consultative Services in Climate Change, Earth Observation, and Green Hydrogen. From 2017 to December 2024, Dr. Olwoch served as the Executive Director of the Southern Africa Science Service Centre for Climate Change and Adaptive Land Management (SASSCAL). In this role, she led SASSCAL’s Climate Change, Earth Observation, and Green Hydrogen Research Projects and was responsible for stakeholder management, communication, finance, human resources management, and resource mobilisation. She also led engagements with the SASSCAL Council of Ministers and the Board. Notably, she is responsible for championing SASSCAL's participation in the GMES & Africa Programme, securing 40+ million Euro in funding for Green Hydrogen in SADC, including the innovative Youth for Green Hydrogen Scholarship, and leading the production of the first Green Hydrogen Atlas in Southern African. This is in addition to several climate research projects in Southern Africa.
Prior to joining SASSCAL, she was the first head of Earth Observation at the South African National Space Agency (SANSA), where she established the Directorate, hired staff, and relocated the Directorate to Pretoria's Innovation Hub. She led the development of new products and services, aligning them with the South African National Earth Observation Strategy. Dr. Jane M. Olwoch also spearheaded advocacy efforts for enhanced data-sharing principles within international Space Agencies during her tenure at SANSA, which led to her appointment as vice Chair and later Chair of the Committee on Earth Observation (CEOS) Working Group on Capacity Building and Data Democracy.
She is an expert in climate change and vector ecology. She holds a degree in Botany/Zoology from Makerere University, an MSc in Biology from the Medical University of Southern Africa, a PhD from the University of Pretoria, and an MBA from the Business School, Netherlands. Dr. Olwoch has a rich academic background, having spent 24 years conducting research and training in environmental science and climate change. She has authored over 52 publications and supervised numerous postgraduate students. She is a Lead Author of Chapter 11, Human Health, of the IPCC Working Group 2 Fifth Assessment Report (2010-2014). Dr. Olwoch is a recipient of the SASSCAL Ambassador’s Award 2024, the prestigious TUKS Alumni Award, and has been recognized as a C2-rated Scientist by the NRF.