Sandile Ndlovu joins global advisory board for autonomous defence summit

South African defence executive Sandile Ndlovu has been selected for the Global Advisory Board of the Intelligent & Autonomous Defence Systems Summit, adding a senior African industry voice to an 18-member expert group from 13 countries. The appointment comes as governments and international bodies intensify debate over autonomous weapons, human control and accountability.

Why it matters: - Sandile Ndlovu’s appointment gives the Intelligent & Autonomous Defence Systems Summit a South African voice with experience spanning defence industry leadership, government service and international diplomacy. - The selection lands during a global push to define how intelligent and autonomous defence technologies should be governed, supervised and held accountable. - The summit’s advisory board is meant to strengthen international dialogue around emerging military technologies, not set policy.

What happened: - Sandile Ndlovu was selected to serve on the Global Advisory Board of the Intelligent & Autonomous Defence Systems Summit. - The board includes 18 military, strategic, academic and technology experts from 13 countries. - Ndlovu serves as Executive Director of the Aerospace, Maritime and Defence Industries Association of South Africa and CEO of the South African Aerospace, Maritime and Defence Export Council. - He has also served as Presidential Special Envoy to the Republic of Iraq since August 2025. - Ndlovu is Executive Chairperson of the Africa Aerospace and Defence Exhibition 2028.

The details: - Ndlovu’s background includes senior South African government appointments and service in the South African National Defence Force. - He holds an MBA from the University of Pretoria’s Gordon Institute of Business Science. - He also has qualifications in military science and African politics. - The announcement says his combination of defence industry leadership, government experience, diplomacy and strategic expertise adds value to the advisory board. - The summit’s Global Summit Series will be hosted across multiple countries. - IADSS will bring together governments, armed forces, policymakers, defence experts, research institutions and industry. - The forum will focus on the development, operational integration and responsible advancement of intelligent and autonomous defence capabilities. - IADSS says it does not seek to establish rules or policies. - The event instead aims to provide an international forum for open dialogue, exchange of perspectives and greater understanding across the global defence community. - The Global Advisory Board supports that mission with independent military, strategic, academic and technology expertise. - The IADSS Network and Directory will extend engagement throughout the year and connect defence expertise, institutions, technologies and opportunities. - The summit is organised by Great Minds Event Management in Dubai, UAE. - The event website is More information. - Media and partnership enquiries go to partnerships@gmevents.ae or +971 4 568 7805. - Great Minds Event Management’s website is Company website.

Between the lines: - The appointment signals a broader effort to connect African defence leadership with a growing international conversation about autonomous systems. - The release places strong emphasis on governance, accountability and human supervision, reflecting how quickly the policy debate is catching up with the technology. - The mention of renewed calls from the United Nations Secretary-General and the president of the International Committee of the Red Cross underscores rising pressure for international frameworks around autonomous weapon systems.

What's next: - IADSS will continue building its Global Summit Series across strategic regions. - The network will keep expanding year-round through the IADSS Network and Directory. - The summit is expected to keep focusing on the balance between defence innovation and responsible governance.