The workshop will highlight progress on the SAGEO Knowledge Hub, South Africa’s national platform for EO data access, knowledge exchange, and collaboration. It will also present the findings of the EO Maturity Indicator (EOMI) process, which assessed the country’s EO capabilities across technical infrastructure, data availability, user engagement, and policy frameworks.
Download a complete detailed programme.
08:00 – 09:00
Arrival and Registration
09:00 – 10:30
OPENING SESSION
- Welcome, purpose and outline of workshop objectives
MODERATOR: Flora Makgale, Human Settlements and Spatial Planning CoP Co Chair - Safety Moment CSIR ICC Safety Officer Safety
- Recap of 2024 Workshop and Training Outcomes
Lulu Makapela, Manager, NEOSS - The GEO Knowledge Hub – A Global Perspective
Paola De Salvo, Felipe Carlos, Kalamkas Yessimkhanova, GEO Knowledge Hub Team, GEO Secretariat - South Africa’s GEO Knowledge Hub Platform
Tshisi Mphaphuli, EO Infrastructure CoP Co-Chair and Chief Advisor, Geoscience, NTSA - SA-GEO Knowledge Hub Live Demonstration
Kwanele Ngongoma, Junior Systems Administrator, NEOSS - SA-GEO Knowledge Hub Launch Statement
Itumeleng Makoloi, Acting Chief Director, Space Science and Technology, DSTI
10:30 – 11:00
Group Photo and Short Break
11:00 – 13:30
SESSION 2: EO Maturity Outcomes
- Welcome and Overview (combined)
MODERATOR: Ndilisa Didiza, Co-Chair, Agriculture and Food Security Cop Co-Chair and CEO, Kgothatso Innovations - EO Maturity Indicator Overview – Global Perspective
Ernest Acheampong, Capacity Development Coordinator, GEO Secretariat - Pillar 1: Policy and Institutional Frameworks
Tumisang Modiole, Director, Earth Observations, DSTI - Pillar 2: Infrastructure and Technical Systems
Stewart Bernard, Natural Capital Accounting CoP Co-Chair and EO Consultant and Hon Research Associate - Pillar 3: Ecosystem and Stakeholder Engagement
Imraan Saloojee, Natural Capital Accounting Co-Chair and Director, Executive Director, RIIS - Panel Reflections: What Does the EOMI Tell Us?
PANELLISTS
Presenters: Ernest Acheampong, Tumisang Modiole, Imraan Saloojee and Stewart Bernard
Additional: Phila Sibandze, University of Fort Hare and Co-Chair of CE and Natural Resources Management and Lecturer, UFH and Lesetja Mogoba, Space Committee and ZASpace
13:30 – 14:30
Lunch Break
14:30 – 16:00
SESSION 3: Communities of Practice Engagement: Moving from Outcomes to Actions
Facilitating discussions: Drs Nale Mudau and Bolelang Sibolla, Human Settlements and Spatial Planning Co Chair and Data Governance Co-Chair
Facilitated discussions on EOMI and SA-GEO Knowledge Hub
- Identify resources for the Knowledge Hub
- Apply EO maturity insights to CoP priorities
- Discussions
16:00 – 16:30
Closing reflections and next steps
NEOSS/CoP Co Chairs/DSTI


