Henk Roodt

New Initiatives & Innovation

Rocket Scientist & Dreamer

Even though he looks far too young, Henk has over 25 years of experience in modelling (not the runway kind) and simulation of complex systems. 

After working for a few years on Virtual Reality, Artificial Intelligence and Mathematical Modeling, Henk decided these three complex topics weren’t complex enough, and combined them into one giant, Über complex topic, establishing and managing the laboratory for “simulation-based systems acquisition” at the CSIR in South Africa. 

It was there that Henk introduced the use of General  Morphological Analysis, Bayesian Statistical Reasoning and Agent Based Computing for policy development and capability scoping and acquisition – which is as exactly as difficult as it sounds.
Henk has brought his vast knowledge and skills to Aotearoa, and is using them to help our farmers. His current focus at Wintec is understanding the diversification of small farm and community operations, in order to make them more sustainable and lessen their impact on the environment. He is leading the development of a capability for postgraduate research and training in the energy sector. 
Not content with being an all-round smarty pants, Henk is also a really nice guy, helping several small companies to start their businesses. For the past five years he has played an active role in the Startup community in Dunedin, establishing the Startup Space for the Dunedin City Council. 

His role in the Design Factory NZ will focus on facilitation of systems thinking and design process, project management and business model design, along with teaching how to interact with clients and present value propositions.
Henk holds a PhD in Engineering Science from the University of Stellenbosch as well as a Master’s degree in Physics from the University of the Free State in South Africa – still, it’s not rocket science.
Actually, we’ve just discovered that’s exactly what rocket science is, so when Henk says he wants to be “chief in charge of launch pads”, then who are we to stop him?

Oh, did we mention he’s also an entrepreneur? His two private companies work on apps for wine appreciation and also develop business retreat training in organisational change management using systems thinking and storytelling. If you’re not sure what that means, then ask him – he loves telling stories.