Ms. Salome Guchu
Ministry of Education, Kenya
Ms. Salome Guchu (Kenya), Deputy Director of Research, State Department of University Education and Research, Ministry of Education
Dr. Salome Guchu is a Deputy Director of Research at the State Department of University Education and Research, Ministry of Education, in Kenya. She is responsible for developing, coordinating, and implementing programmes that support and strengthen the national research and innovation ecosystem.
For four years (2016-2020) Salome built the Kenya National Innovation Agency (KeNIA) as its first CEO by spearheading its operations, developing capacity and support for commercializing innovation and implementing key programmes for nurturing Kenyan innovators. She negotiated and implemented international collaborative initiatives, implemented Global Innovation Policy Accelerator programme for Kenya, and drafted a framework for national innovation policy. In her leadership capacity at KeNIA, Salome served as a Board member of National Research Fund and National Commission for Science, Technology and Innovation. Prior to that she was part of a team that carried out and produced the first reports for national innovation survey and national research & development survey. She also served as the national contact desk person handling regional Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) programmes.
Salome holds a PhD in Chemistry from the University of Nairobi. She has also pursued professional development programmes on STI policy development and management, strategic leadership, corporate governance, amongst others. She is keen on making effective contributions to the STI sector by enhancing productive STI collaborations at local and international levels.
When not addressing matters related to research and innovation, Salome likes to spend time in schools mentoring and encouraging youth, especially girls, not to shy away from pursuing science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) careers.