SOUTH AFRICA’S SANDILE NDLOVU SELECTED TO SERVE ON THE INTELLIGENT & AUTONOMOUS DEFENCE SYSTEMS GLOBAL ADVISORY BOARD

AMD Executive Director and Senior South African Defence Industry Leader Joins 18 Member IADSS Global Advisory Board of Experts from 13 Countries

SOUTH AFRICA, October 26, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ -- Sandile Ndlovu has been selected to serve on the Global Advisory Board of the Intelligent & Autonomous Defence Systems Summit (IADSS), joining an international group of 18 military, strategic, academic and technology experts from 13 countries.

A senior leader with extensive experience across government, defence, aerospace and international relations, Mr Ndlovu serves as Executive Director of the Aerospace, Maritime and Defence Industries Association of South Africa (AMD) and Chief Executive Officer of the South African Aerospace, Maritime and Defence Export Council (SAAMDEC), supporting defence industry development, international cooperation and export promotion.

Since August 2025, he has also served as Presidential Special Envoy to the Republic of Iraq, supporting bilateral relations and economic cooperation between South Africa and Iraq.

Mr Ndlovu is Executive Chairperson of the Africa Aerospace and Defence Exhibition (AAD 2028). His earlier career 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 and qualifications in military science and African politics.

His combination of defence industry leadership, government experience, international diplomacy and strategic expertise brings valuable perspectives to the IADSS Global Advisory Board.

His selection comes at a time when intelligent, autonomous and connected capabilities are rapidly reshaping defence, while questions around governance, accountability and human supervision are becoming equally important.

With responsible governance and human control receiving growing international attention, the United Nations Secretary-General and the President of the International Committee of the Red Cross have renewed their call for States to act on autonomous weapon systems, highlighting the need for human control, accountability and appropriate international frameworks.

These developments underline the importance of continued international dialogue, knowledge exchange and shared understanding.

Through its Global Summit Series, hosted across multiple countries, IADSS will bring together governments, armed forces, policymakers, defence experts, research institutions and industry to exchange knowledge, share experiences, learn from past challenges and explore the opportunities and challenges presented by emerging defence technologies.

IADSS does not seek to establish rules or policies, but rather to provide an international forum for open dialogue, exchange of perspectives and greater understanding across the global defence community.

The IADSS Global Advisory Board supports this mission by bringing together independent military, strategic, academic and technology expertise.

Beyond the Summit Series, the IADSS Network and Directory will extend engagement throughout the year, connecting defence expertise, institutions, technologies and opportunities across the international defence community.

ABOUT IADSS

The Intelligent & Autonomous Defence Systems Summit (IADSS) is a global summit series organised across strategic regions, bringing together governments, armed forces, policymakers, academia, research institutions and industry to examine the development, operational integration and responsible advancement of intelligent and autonomous defence capabilities.

At the heart of IADSS is a clear principle:

Defence innovation must advance alongside responsible governance, accountability and human supervision.

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Intelligent & Autonomous Defence Systems Summit (IADSS)