Prof Petersen being capped by Justice Sisi Khampepe
Prof Deresh Ramjugernath
SAAE is very proud of two of its Fellows who recently became the Vice-Chancellors of two of South Africa’s largest universities. On 14 March 2025 Prof Francis Petersen was inaugurated as the 14th Vice-Chancellor in the 117-year history of the University of Pretoria and on 1 April 2025 Prof Deresh Ramjugernath stepped into his new role as the 13th Rector and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Stellenbosch.
Professor Petersen was previously Vice-Chancellor and Principal at the University of the Free State and has a distinguished record of academic leadership and a wealth of experience in higher education, with a diverse background in engineering, finance, and academic management.
Prof Ramjugernath is a pre-eminent scientist in the field of chemical engineering and specifically in chemical thermodynamics and separation technology. He served as Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research and Pro Vice-Chancellor: Innovation, Commercialisation and Entrepreneurship at the University of KwaZulu-Natal before being appointed Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Learning and Teaching at Stellenbosch University in January 2021.