Thomas Kusel

Thomas Kusel is a seasoned engineering professional with extensive experience in radio astronomy and systems engineering. Currently serving as Senior Program Manager for the SKA Program at South African Radio Astronomy Observatory since October 2022, Thomas leads the construction work packages for the SKA project. Previous roles include ngVLA Lead Systems Engineer at the National Radio Astronomy Observatory, overseeing the Systems Engineering team for the next generation Very Large Array project, and Head of Project for the MeerKAT Extension at SKA South Africa. Thomas has a solid background in systems engineering management, having established and led various engineering teams for significant radio telescope projects, including the MeerKAT and KAT-7. Educational credentials include a Master's degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Cape Town, a Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering (Cum Laude) from the University of Pretoria, and an MBA (Cum Laude) from the University of the Witwatersrand.