Mihloti Mkhatshwa
Speaker
Mihloti Mkhatshwa
Regional Director: Southern Africa; Advanced Secure Technologies
"I’m excited to be part of a moment where education, technology, and leadership are converging to reshape futures. The possibilities for scale, impact, and access have never been greater – and we’re just getting started."
Previously the deputy registrar of UCT and with some 20 years in higher education, Mihloti Mkhatshwa brings a unique blend of institutional insight, digital transformation strategy, and stakeholder engagement across universities, professional bodies, and awarding institutions.
Her career spans senior academic and student administration leadership roles at the University of Johannesburg, University of Cape Town, University of Pretoria, University of Zululand, Vaal University of Technology, and Wits University. I also gained international exposure working with examination boards through my tenure at the British Council (South Africa).
At AST she leads regional growth and partnership development—working closely with executive stakeholders to modernise student records, implement blockchain-secured certification, and promote cross-border academic mobility. My work directly supports institutions in reducing fraud, enhancing operational efficiency, and future-proofing their credentialing ecosystems.
Mihloti holds a Master of Management, an Honours in Public Management and Governance, and a BA in Corporate Communication—plus credentials in lecturing and digital marketing strategy. She is currently pursuing the Chartered Secretary qualification, specialising in Company Secretary and Governance Professional.
In her practical session at PURCON - Innovations and best practices in secure academic credentialing and identity management - Mihloti will explore emerging trends and risks in certificate fraud and identity misrepresentation. She will share local and international case examples of how universities are strengthening verification processes, and the lessons learned from system integrations that enhance efficiency and reduce administrative workload. She will also address considerations for ensuring compliance with legislative and policy frameworks while improving student and alumni experience.