Full Name: Mzubanzi Bismark Tyobeka

Position: CEO of the National Nuclear Regulator (NNR)

Main Activity of the Company: Nuclear and radiation safety regulation

Date and Place of Birth: November 4, 1974, Rustenburg

Education: BSc (Ed) (physics and chemistry), North-West University, 1999; MSc (applied radiation science and technology), North-West University, 2001; MS (nuclear engineering), Pennsylvania State University, US, 2004; Master of Science in Management (project management), Colorado Technical University, US, 2005; PhD (nuclear engineering, Pennsylvania State University, US, 2007

First Job: Physicist at Eskom Enterprises

Career History Prior to Current Position: I started my career as reactor physicist at Eskom Enterprises in November 2000 and immediately transferred to the Pebble Bed Modular Reactor project, becoming senior reactor physicist and later chief engineering analyst in 2007. I was appointed unit head: gas-cooled reactor technology development at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in 2008 and became CEO of the NNR in October 2013. I was also a visiting research scholar at the European Commission, in Petten, the Netherlands, for the NRG company, in 2004, and international research associate at the Idaho National Laboratory, US, in 2005

Size of First Pay Packet: About R12 000 a month

First Job with Present Group: CEO

Value of Assets under Your Control: About R200-million

Number of People under Your Leadership: 110

Management Style: Authoritative and democratic.

Personal Best Achievement: Enrolling for two master’s degrees concurrently at two universities and successfully completing them

Professional Best Achievement: Appointment as the CEO of the NNR at the age of 38

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Life: My mother

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: My mentor, Mojalefa Murphy, and the late Dr Godfred Humphrey, who was the Dean of Science at my university

Person You Would Most Like to Meet: President Barack Obama

Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: The late Steve Jobs

Philosophy of Life: No matter how imperfect you may be, try to do good and be kind to people; and give to those who are in need

Biggest Ever Opportunity: Being selected from a pool of international nuclear scientists and engineers to work for the IAEA

Biggest Ever Disappointment: When the South African government decided to discontinue the PBMR project

Hope for the Future: That the country becomes a formidable force in nuclear energy in the southern hemisphere

Favourite Reading: Anything by John Grisham, Wilbur Smith or Lee Child

Favourite TV Programme: News on any channel

Favourite Food/Drink: Indian curry or Chinese Sichuan dishes with Coke Lite

Favourite Music: R&B

Favourite Sport: Soccer

Favourite Website: Google

Hobbies: Reading, vacationing with family

Car: German engineering is always the best for me, especially the one originating from Munich!

Pets: None, but I love dogs

Miscellaneous Dislikes: People flaunting their wealth in the sea of poverty in South Africa

Favourite other South African Company: Not stated

Favourite Foreign Company: Not stated

Married: To Ngeniswa, since August 16, 2003

Children: Babalwa, Khanyisile, Siviwe, Andiswa and Abongile