Hanno (Johannes Lodewickus) Du Preez

As Laboratory Director, responsible for the management of SADoCoL laboratory in its totality including the following:

• Strengthened internal controls by reviewing existing policies and procedures, ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements.
• Developed high-performing teams by providing mentorship, guidance, and opportunities for professional growth.
• Cultivated a positive work environment that fostered employee engagement, increased retention rates, and boosted overall team morale.
• Improved project efficiency with strategic planning, resource allocation, and time management practices.
• Enhanced team collaboration through regular communication, goal setting, and performance evaluations.
• Manages all staff, operational, administrative and support.
• Ensures continues improvement of systems and processes.
• Performs future planning and strategic development with the support of the Scientific Manager, Quality Manager and DVC: Research of the UFS.
• Ensures continuous communication with all stakeholders of the laboratory, including the clients, suppliers engineering services, government officials and the UFS Top management and support services.
• Ensures the effectiveness of the operation workflow and indicate possible improvement initiatives.
• Manages and provide training and/or training opportunities to laboratory staff.
• Provides training to the post graduate students of the Department of Forensic Sciences.
• Ensures that clear strategic objectives are identified & processes initiated to achieve it and the mission and vision of the lab are met.
• Ensures security, access control, chain of custody & confidentiality of results & data.
• Ensures the timely implementation of all regulatory requirements.
• Setup and execute the financial budget and maintenance thereof.
• Supervises and manages the validation of methodologies where required.
• Steer marketing and branding initiatives of the laboratory.
• Ensures business development and future planning.

As Technical Signatory:

• Reviews & approve analytical results & validations as approved Technical Signatory, especially atypical & adverse findings.
• Take ultimate responsibility for all aspects of the lab.
• Ensures that operational activities and staff comply with the regulatory requirements of the ISO/IEC 17025 standard, World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) International Standard for Laboratories (ISL) and all related documents.
• Facilitated cross-functional collaboration for improved decision-making processes within the organization.
• Uploads analytical results into the ADAMS database.
• Handles and performs external communications with clients related to all aspects concerning sample analysis and services.
• As certified scientist, reviews analytical documents and results of atypical and adverse analytical findings according to the WADA International Standard for Laboratories (ISL) and applicable technical documents.
• Proactively identified potential risks and implemented mitigation strategies to minimize negative impacts on projects or business operations.

As Operations Manager, was responsible for managing the analytical operations of the SADoCoL laboratory and include at least the following activities:

• Oversaw facility maintenance, ensuring optimal functionality of equipment and infrastructure at all times.
• Interacted well with customers to build connections and nurture relationships.
• Responsible for the planning of continuous and daily operational analytical activities.
• Responsible for managing and organizing laboratory staff and related resources to perform routine analytical procedures, including related activities such as maintenance and calibration of equipment.
• Responsible for ensuring that operational activities and staff comply with the regulatory requirements of the ISO/IEC 17025:2005 standard, World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) International Standard for Laboratories (ISL) and all related documents.
• Monitor and provide training where required.
• Responsible for review of analytical reports, including atypical and adverse findings.
• Responsible for uploading of analytical results into the ADAMS database.
• Responsible for the external communications with clients related to all aspects concerning sample analysis and services.
• Obtaining quotes and ordering of consumables and analytical resources required for routine analysis and liaison with vendors.
• Supervising and managing the maintenance and calibration procedures of analytical instruments and apparatuses / equipment.
• Perform, supervise and manage the validation of methodologies where required.
• As certified scientist, responsible for the review of analytical documents and results of atypical and adverse analytical findings according to the WADA International Standard for Laboratories (ISL) and applicable technical documents.

As member of SADoCoL Management:

• Oversee the consolidation of sample receipt versus analyzed and reported samples.
• Advise Laboratory Director on client and supplier contracts and prepare the execution thereof.
• Forms part of the Executive Committee (EXCO) for execution of managerial functions.
• Sharing and following up on regulatory authority requirements and communications, e. g. WADA, SANAS, SAIDS, etc.
• Determine required resources and budget requirements, including the redundancy and replacement strategy of equipment as per University Financial Policy.
• Review of testing statistics.
• Perform strategic planning and investigate the feasibility of future and / or additional work.
• Investigate and determine poor analytical performances and / or tendencies for potential corrective action/s.
• Developed and implemented strategies to maximize customer satisfaction.

Of the 23 years' experience in the SADoCoL, 8 years contributed to Quality Assurance and entailed the active execution of audits on all aspects of the laboratory workflow as per the relevant regulatory requirements. This coincided with the responsibilities of Senior Analyst.

• Provided training to employees on best practices in quality management, fostering a culture of excellence within the organization.
• Managed and archived quality documentation and participated in internal and external quality audits.
• Updated quality control standards, methods, and procedures to meet compliance requirements.
• Improved quality processes for increased efficiency and effectiveness.
• Assessed the laboratories according to the requirements of the ISO/IEC 17025 Standard, World Anti-Doping Agency's International Standard for Laboratories, and Technical Documents.
• Performed annual audits on systems and processes.
• Assessed the quality management program and related aspects according to regulatory requirements and the ISO/IEC 17025 Standard.
• Coordinated and monitored improvement activities and initiatives.
• Coordinated and monitored corrective and preventive actions.
• Reviewed, audited and assessed policies, SOPs, manuals, protocols, working procedures, spreadsheets, forms and templates according to relevant regulatory guidelines.
• Provided continuous consultancies to Management of SADoCoL on to quality related aspects of the laboratory.
• Reviewed inspection and audit reports and provided responses.
• Ensured quality, integrity and traceability within the analytical records.

Summary of activities:

• Development of methodology for the testing of urine samples for the presence of Erythropoietin (EPO) analogues.
• Development of Standard Operating Procedures for the analysis of samples for EPO.
• Validation of several analytical methods in the laboratory.
• Ensured continued development in the quality management system.
• Performed analysis of athlete samples for the presence of Diuretics, B2-Agonists, Beta- blockers and Stimulants.
• Analysed samples from the Veterinary sector for the presence of growth promoters.
• Development of written reports relating to doping analysis.
• Assessed processes and systems and defined with operational staff new strategies.
• Handled the routine maintenance of GC-MS equipment.
• Handled and planned the routine calibration and verification of smaller analytical equipment.
• Provided support with the handling of sample data in the LIMS (SPIKE).
• Liaised with outside companies for pricing and stock availability of consumables for analytical methods.
• Liaised with vendors regarding technical difficulties of equipment and the repair thereof.

Summary of activities:

• Performed general and routine activities related to analysis of samples of athletes as part of the routine screening for prohibited substances in sport.
• Assisted the laboratory management with the development of Quality Management systems and setup of SOPs relating to analysis of athlete samples.
• Performed routine maintenance of analytical equipment.
• Liaised with vendors and technical experts regarding equipment failures and repairs.