Tapiwa Chiwewe

Tapiwa Chiwewe is the founder and Managing Director of Omnien, a pioneering digital platform that empowers individuals, communities and businesses to manage knowledge and collaborate using AI. With over 15 years of experience in information technology, Tapiwa is an expert in cloud computing, software development and the applications of AI in the workplace. An eloquent speaker, Tapiwa has delivered impactful presentations globally to a variety of audiences, such as academic institutions, businesses and government agencies.

Highly educated, Tapiwa holds a B.Eng, M.Eng and a Ph.D. in Computer Engineering from the University of Pretoria. In 2006, he began his career as a Software Developer at Luuk Pty Ltd before landing the role of Assistant Lecturer at the University of Pretoria. Following that, he became a Computer Engineer at 5DT and then a Senior Engineer at CSIR. Having accumulated distinguished expertise in the information technology industry, Tapiwa went on to work for IBM as a Team Lead. Over the next seven years at IBM, he was elevated to Research Manager, Co-Lead of Global Technology Outlook, Research Scientist, Senior Manager and Program Director.

In 2019, he joined the University of the Western Cape as an Adjunct Associate Professor, concluding his tenure after three years in 2021. A thought leader in disruptive technology, Tapiwa is a Senior Member of the IEEE and was awarded IBM’s Outstanding Technical Accomplishment Award for his distinguished contributions. At the forefront of innovation in AI, Tapiwa has published 15 articles and given over 40 speeches.

Advocating for using technology to solve real-world problems, Tapiwa spearheaded efforts to tackle air pollution in Johannesburg, using his ingenuity and background in software engineering and artificial intelligence to develop a solution. He delves into his ground-breaking efforts in the TED Talk, You Don’t Have to Be an Expert To Solve Big Problems. Moreover, his pioneering endeavours to address air pollution were featured in prominent media outlets, including BBC, CNN, IEEE, Popular Mechanics and Spectrum. When booked for speaking presentations, Tapiwa captivates audiences with his knowledge of future applications and implications of AI.