Dawid Duvenhage
About Dawid Duvenhage
Dawid Duvenhage serves as the Vice President of Catalysis at Velocys, where he focuses on catalyst preparation and the commercialization of Sustainable Aviation Fuels. He has extensive experience in catalysis, having held various positions in leading companies and academic institutions over several decades.
Current Role at Velocys
Dawid Duvenhage serves as the Vice President of Catalysis at Velocys, a position he has held since 2021. In this role, he focuses on the development and optimization of catalytic processes, particularly in the context of sustainable energy solutions. His responsibilities include overseeing catalyst preparation and manufacturing scale-up, which are critical for the commercialization of Sustainable Aviation Fuels.
Previous Experience at Sasol
Dawid Duvenhage worked at Sasol for a total of 13 years, holding various positions. He began as a Principal Scientist in Sasolburg, South Africa, from 1983 to 1991. He later returned to Sasol, serving as Chief Scientist and Applied Research Manager from 1996 to 2001 in Secunda, South Africa. His tenure at Sasol involved significant contributions to catalyst development and research.
Experience at Rentech
Duvenhage was employed at Rentech as Director and Commercialization Lead for Catalysis from 2006 to 2014 in Denver. In this capacity, he played a key role in advancing catalytic technologies and their commercial applications, contributing to the company's focus on alternative energy solutions.
Educational Background
Dawid Duvenhage has an extensive educational background in catalysis. He studied at the University of the Witwatersrand, where he earned his Master's and Ph.D. degrees in Heterogeneous Catalysis from 1988 to 1993. He furthered his education at Texas A&M University, attending from 1994 to 1995, where he expanded his knowledge in related fields.
Specializations and Skills
Duvenhage specializes in catalyst deactivation and run time integrity, ensuring the long-term performance of catalytic processes. He has expertise in energy optimization modeling, which enhances the efficiency of alternative energy processes. His skills also include data analysis using tools such as R, VBA, Python, and Excel, which support process development and optimization.