Biographical note

Rivka Kfir has an M.Sc degree in Life Science from the Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel and a D.Sc in Medical Microbiology, University of Pretoria.  The subject of her D.Sc, obtained in 1981, was the detection of potential carcinogens and toxicants in water.  Over and above these scientific qualifications, she participated in the Senior Executive Programme and the International Executive Masters Programme at the London Business School, receiving her M.Sc, cum laude, from the University of London in 1996.  The title of her thesis was The Changing Role of Statutory Technology Organisations: from R&D to Technology Transfer.

Between 1978 and 1996 Rivka worked at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), progressing from Senior Research Officer at the National Institute for Water Research to  Programme Manager (Health Programme) and later Acting Director of the Division of Water Technology. In the period 1996-2000 she fulfilled the role of Technology Manager in the CSIR, which entailed managing the CSIR’s internal investments. In 2000 Rivka joined the NRF as Executive Director: Knowledge Management and Strategy. From July 2001 onwards she has filled the position of Chief Executive Officer of the Water Research Commission (WRC), where she has successfully piloted the organisation through a comprehensive phase of strategic refocusing, restructuring and transformation on the way towards fulfilling its mission as South Africa’s hub for water-centred knowledge.