Joseph Lumbahe

Joseph Lumbahe (10yrs of experience) is a multifaceted professional with proficiencies spanning Business, Engineering, IT, Consulting, AI, and Management. He has an Engineering background in Electrical & Computer Engineering from the University of Cape Town and further expanded his knowledge with a qualification in Computer Science & Information Systems from the University of the Western Cape. Joseph also holds a Master of Science degree in Financial Engineering from a US university and another Master’s in Computer Science from the University of East London. Joseph recently transitioned to Microsoft as the first ever appointed Senior AI Technology Specialist, specializing in AI Application Development, within the newly established global AI specialized team in South Africa. In this role, he occupies a Career stage IC5, Level 64, where he leads and own projects and accounts in his area within the CEMA region and architects and implements end-to-end AI solutions, leverages the latest AI technologies and focuses on integrating them into innovative solutions that showcase the power of AI to the world, industry, and customers. As a Senior AI Technology Specialist, he serves as a technical solution expert, collaborating with strategic stakeholders to develop and deploy AI-powered application prototypes, leveraging the latest back-end development technologies to integrate Azure OpenAI, Azure AI Services, and Azure App Services. Before joining Microsoft, Joseph served as the Global Manager & Lead AI Engineer at Aizatron Group in Birmingham, England, United Kingdom (Remote), and Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa (Hybrid). In this role, he masterfully blended managerial acumen with technical prowess, steering the development and implementation of AI solutions (Computer Vision, LLMs) for the organization. His responsibilities also extended to MTN South Africa, where he functioned as the lead AIOps Engineer and Fraud Detection Engineer through Aizatron Group. Under his leadership, he drove Aizatron Group's AI Division to the forefront in Africa, extending its reach to the United Kingdom. Active memberships with esteemed professional bodies like the Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), Advancement of Artificial Intelligence (AAAI), and Institute of Information Technology Professionals South Africa (IITPSA) ensure Joseph stays attuned to industry advances. His dedication to the tech community was further emphasized with his appointment to the IITPSA Programming Olympiad's Scientific Committee in 2021. Appointed in May 2024 as Regional Ambassador for the South African AI Association (SAAIA), Joseph works closely with industry leaders and diverse stakeholders to promote economic growth, inclusivity, and equitable AI practices. He serves as the voice of the industry to propel the adoption of responsible AI across South Africa and assist national, provincial, and city governments with policy-making. Additionally, Joseph is a Non-Executive Board Director and Executive Committee Member at AEEYC (African Energy and Environmental Youth Council), focusing on advancing the energy sector. In this role, he leverages his leadership skills and extensive expertise to help AEEYC achieve new heights and become the most impactful council led by the next generation of leaders.
As an entrepreneur, Joseph co-founded Bus54, a pioneering mobility tech venture in Africa, aiming to digitally revolutionize intercity bus transportation across the continent's 54 nations. Having successfully launched in Nigeria, the initiative's innovative essence was acknowledged by its inclusion in the Microsoft for Startups Founders Hub, its acceptance in the AWS Startup Loft Accelerator, and its selection and presence at the esteemed 2023 TechCrunch Startup Battlefield 200 at the TechCrunch Disrupt conference in San Francisco. The platform serves four key stakeholders: passengers, for whom it streamlines the booking process; transport operators, providing end-to-end digital operations; financial institutions, facilitating access to financial services and insurance; and bus manufacturer partners, ensuring the provision of modern, efficient buses.
In 2024, Joseph Co-Founded CaliVision, a cutting-edge fitness technology company backed by Microsoft & NVIDIA, based in Cape Town, South Africa, that leverages AI and computer vision to revolutionize calisthenics training. As co-founder, he is developing an advanced workout tracking platform that provides automatic exercise detection, rep counting, joint angle analysis, and real-time feedback to optimize performance and prevent injuries. With a personalized AI coach, CaliVision enhances training experiences for fitness enthusiasts, professional athletes, and rehabilitation centers, bridging the gap between technology and fitness to create smarter, data-driven workouts.
Recognition:
* Recognized at the 2024 IT Personality of the Year Award at the President's Award shosted by the IITPSA