MIKE VAN ZYL Explosives Engineering MSc PM
With 20 years service in the South African Navy as an ammunition technical officer and bomb disposal operator, he has actively participated in munitions and weapons system procurement projects such as the Exocet and Umkhonto missiles, the M8953 fuse system, the ROGUE close-in weapons system, the SUT 264 torpedo and associated system and the 76/62mm Hydraulic/Electric conversion. In addition, he has participated in munitions and explosives related incident investigations and served on the South African Qualification Authorities (SAQA) Standard Generating Body (SGB) for the design of all explosive related qualifications in South Africa.
After leaving the SANDF, he has successfully completed a number of explosive and munitions-related projects for the United Nations, including the establishment of EMSA and the training of AMISOM IEDD operators (in Somalia), risk/hazard assessment and operational management of a Rapid Response EOD/Demining Team (Sudan), risk/hazard assessment and operational management of a rapid response EOD/demining team (South Sudan), development of the Liberian EOD capacity and the training and mentoring of Liberian military EOD operators (Liberia), Other projects include the risk assessment of a post conflict area in Liberia for a road construction company and the risk/hazard assessment, EOD, quality assurance and security consultation for an oil and gas seismic survey project in Angola.
He has earned a National Diploma in Explosives Technology and a MSc in Project Management (Association for Project Managers accredited) specialising in Ammunition and Explosives Management. He holds additional professional qualifications relating to the explosives and munitions industry, management, quality-assurance and diving.