2026 Tutorial Stack: Learn Smarter — Concepts and Tools to Make Complex Things Easier
Table of Contents
The INCOSE SA 2026 Tutorial Stack brings together systems engineering practitioners, thinkers, and industry leaders for a three-day intensive learning experience focused on modern concepts, practices, and tools designed to simplify complex systems development.
Event Overview #
- Theme: Learn Smarter — Concepts and Tools to Make Complex Things Easier
- Dates: 14ᵗʰ–16ᵗʰ October 2026
- Venue: CSIR Conference Centre, Pretoria
- Coordinator: Alan John
Registration Fees #
- Member Delegate: R6 360
- Non-Member Delegate: R8 500
- Member Delegate (Including Annual Membership): R8 360
Register here.
Overview of the Three Days #
The programme moves from strategic context into hands-on systems engineering practice.
| Day | Date | Focus / Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| Wednesday (Day 1) | 14ᵗʰ October 2026 | Drone warfare, technology-business skills, the systems engineering lifecycle, and the GYSEOY challenge |
| Thursday (Day 2) | 15ᵗʰ October 2026 | Infrastructure security, systems thinking, threat assessment, and SYSTEMS CRAFT |
| Friday (Day 3) | 16ᵗʰ October 2026 | Software refinement, safety-critical design, a CSEP examination, public-service analysis, and a practical workshop |
Attending the tutorial stack is valuable because it offers:
- Practical systems-engineering skills across design, verification, operations, support, systems thinking, and SYSTEMS CRAFT.
- Insights into current challenges, including drone warfare, infrastructure security, threat assessment, and safety-critical design.
- Career development through entrepreneurship, the GYSEOY challenge, software engineering, and CSEP certification.
- Hands-on learning and networking with experienced practitioners over three focused days.
Tutorial Stack Programme #
For offline reference download the 2026 Tutorial Stack Programme Schedule (Direct Download).
Day 1: 14ᵗʰ October 2026 #
- Track 1: Emerald Room (Chair: Ad Sparrius)
- Track 2: Ruby Auditorium (Chair: Basie Jansen)
- Floor Manager: Wessel Joubert (082 459-6814)
| Time | Track / Room | Session | Presenter |
|---|---|---|---|
| 08:00 – 08:10 | Plenary | 2026 Tutorial Stack Opening | Basie Jansen & Ad Sparrius |
| 08:10 – 09:10 | Plenary | Keynote: The Age of Drone Warfare | Helmoed Heitman |
| 09:10 – 09:15 | Plenary | Introduction to the programme for the day | Ad Sparrius |
| 09:15 – 09:55 | Track 1 | From Idea to Industry: Applying your Systems Engineering Skills to Build a Technology Business | Gerhard Swart |
| 09:15 – 09:55 | Track 2 | A Stroll through the Systems Engineering Landscape: From Design to Verification | Dr Naudé Scribante |
| 09:55 – 10:20 | All | Coffee / Tea Break | |
| 10:20 – 12:20 | Track 1 | From Idea to Industry: Applying your Systems Engineering Skills to Build a Technology Business (continued) | Gerhard Swart |
| 10:20 – 12:20 | Track 2 | A Stroll through the Systems Engineering Landscape: From Design to Verification (continued) | Dr Naudé Scribante |
| 12:20 – 13:15 | All | Lunch | |
| 13:15 – 13:25 | Plenary | Sponsor Presentation | |
| 13:25 – 14:45 | Track 1 | 2025/6 GYSEOY Award: Breaking the Plastic Wave | Roger Young |
| 13:25 – 14:45 | Track 2 | A Stroll through the Systems Engineering Landscape: From Verification to Operations and Support | Dr Naudé Scribante |
| 14:45 – 15:10 | All | Coffee / Tea Break | |
| 15:10 – 16:30 | Track 1 | 2025/6 GYSEOY Award: Presentations & Release of 2027 Scenario | Roger Young |
| 15:10 – 16:30 | Track 2 | A Stroll through the Systems Engineering Landscape: From Verification to Operations and Support (continued) | Dr Naudé Scribante |
Day 2: 15ᵗʰ October 2026 #
- Track 1: Ruby Auditorium (Chair: Sarel Lotz)
- Track 2: Emerald Room (Chair: Molawa Ngoetjana)
- Floor Manager: Wessel Joubert (082 459-6814)
| Time | Track / Room | Session | Presenter |
|---|---|---|---|
| 08:00 – 09:00 | Plenary | Keynote: Critical Infrastructure Security: A South African Perspective | Dr Duarte Gonçalves |
| 09:00 – 09:05 | Plenary | Introduction to the programme for the day | Ad Sparrius |
| 09:05 – 09:45 | Track 1 | Thinking about System Thinking | Prof Ad Sparrius |
| 09:05 – 09:45 | Track 2 | Conducting a Threat Risk Assessment | Dr Duarte Gonçalves |
| 09:45 – 10:15 | All | Coffee / Tea Break | |
| 10:15 – 12:15 | Track 1 | Thinking about System Thinking (continued) | Prof Ad Sparrius |
| 10:15 – 12:15 | Track 2 | Conducting a Threat Risk Assessment (continued) | Dr Duarte Gonçalves |
| 12:15 – 13:15 | All | Lunch | |
| 13:15 – 13:25 | Plenary | Sponsor Presentation | |
| 13:25 – 14:45 | Track 1 | The Journey to Practice SYSTEMS CRAFT (Part 1) | Dr Dietmar Winzker |
| 13:25 – 14:45 | Track 2 | Conducting a Threat Risk Assessment (continued) | Dr Duarte Gonçalves |
| 14:45 – 15:15 | All | Coffee / Tea Break | |
| 15:15 – 16:35 | Track 1 | The Journey to Practice SYSTEMS CRAFT (Part 1 continued) | Dr Dietmar Winzker |
| 15:15 – 16:35 | Track 2 | Conducting a Threat Risk Assessment (continued) | Dr Duarte Gonçalves |
| 16:35 – 16:50 | All | Short Break | |
| 17:00 – 19:00 | Evening Event | My Father’s Coat — Five Men and the Great Story of South Africa | Michael Charton |
Day 3: 16ᵗʰ October 2026 #
- Track 1: Ruby Auditorium (Chair: Paul Pretorius)
- Track 2: Emerald Room (Chair: Alan John)
- Parallel Session: CSEP Examination (Invigilator: Alwyn Smit)
- Floor Manager: Wessel Joubert (082 459-6814)
| Time | Track / Room | Session | Presenter |
|---|---|---|---|
| 08:00 – 08:05 | Plenary | Introduction to the programme for the day | Ad Sparrius |
| 08:05 – 09:55 | Track 1 | Do only a Few of the Right Things Well — Project Selection | Prof Herman Steyn |
| 08:05 – 09:55 | Track 2 | Designing Safety-critical Systems: A Practitioner’s Tutorial | Sarel Lotz |
| 08:05 – 11:30 | Parallel Session | Certified Systems Engineering Professional (CSEP) Knowledge Examination | Invigilator: Alwyn Smit |
| 09:55 – 10:25 | All | Coffee / Tea Break | |
| 10:25 – 11:25 | Track 1 | Do only a Few of the Right Things Well — Project Selection (continued) | Prof Herman Steyn |
| 10:25 – 11:25 | Track 2 | Designing Safety-critical Systems: A Practitioner’s Tutorial (continued) | Sarel Lotz |
| 11:25 – 11:30 | All | Short Break | |
| 11:30 – 12:30 | Plenary | Keynote: Who Will Free Us From “Service Delivery”? Why a Supposed Solution Is a Problem | Prof Steven Friedman |
| 12:30 – 13:30 | All | Lunch | |
| 13:30 – 13:40 | Plenary | Sponsor Presentation | |
| 13:40 – 15:00 | Track 1 | SYSTEMS CRAFT: The Practical Workshop to Inspire (Part 2) | Dr Dietmar Winzker |
| 13:40 – 15:00 | Track 2 | Designing Safety-critical Systems: A Practitioner’s Tutorial (continued) | Sarel Lotz |
| 15:00 – 15:30 | All | Coffee / Tea Break | |
| 15:30 – 16:50 | Track 1 | SYSTEMS CRAFT: The Practical Workshop to Inspire (Part 2 continued) | Dr Dietmar Winzker |
| 15:30 – 16:50 | Track 2 | Designing Safety-critical Systems: A Practitioner’s Tutorial (continued) | Sarel Lotz |
Tutorial Stack Details #
For offline reference download the 2026 Tutorial Stack Details (PDF) (Direct Download).
Keynote Addresses #
The Age of Drone Warfare #
- Presenter: Helmoed Heitman
- When: Wednesday 14ᵗʰ October 2026 | Plenary | 08:10 – 09:10
Summary #
When you can see the enemy on the battlefield you can immediately do something about it: What moves can be seen, what can be seen can be attacked, what can be attacked can be destroyed or killed. But how do drones influence strategic and tactical operational concepts?
Presenter Biography #
Helmoed Heitman has been involved with defence since 1978. He served in the SA Army reserve from 1970–96, finally at the Long-Term Planning Division at Defence Headquarters. He consulted to non-statutory forces and parties from 1991–94 and during the drafting of the Defence White Paper in 1995/96; worked on the 1997/98 Defence Review and served on the Defence Review Committee from 2011–14. He was involved with the through-life capability management project and editing the Defence Acquisition Handbook (2015–17), drafted the Defence Industry Strategy (2017) and an intervention plan (2019) and assisted with parts of the Aerospace and Defence Industry Master Plan (2020). Other projects included Army Vision 2020, Navy fleet design, airlift requirements, doctrine development for the Rooivalk, and briefings for the Security Cluster DGs, the Chief of the Defence Force Work Group, the GOC Special Forces, and the Standing Maritime Committee of the Inter-State Defence and Security Committee.
Critical Infrastructure Security: A South African Perspective #
- Presenter: Duarte Gonçalves
- When: Thursday 15ᵗʰ October 2026 | Plenary | 08:00 – 09:00
Summary #
Why a vertically integrated view of critical infrastructure security in South Africa matters, from national threats, legislation, and enterprise security strategy. A security case study for railways and pipelines develops a security operational concept and demonstrates the applicability of radar, distributed acoustic sensing and drones.
Presenter Biography #
Duarte Gonçalves is currently employed by the CSIR as a Principal Engineer with 30 years’ experience in the defence and security industry. He has led policy and strategy development and technology evaluation for critical infrastructure security and wildlife crime. In this capacity, he works with a variety of government departments, social scientists, engineers and other experts and has developed experience in security, complexity and futures studies. Duarte has developed whole of society approaches, and designed enterprise capabilities and provided systems engineering leadership on large technical systems. These approaches have led to several novel policy inputs, organisational interventions, and technical systems. Duarte Gonçalves is a registered professional engineer with a PhD in Engineering Development and Management.
Who Will Free Us From “Service Delivery”? Why a Supposed Solution Is a Problem #
- Presenter: Prof Steven Friedman
- When: Friday 16ᵗʰ October 2026 | Plenary | 11:30 – 12:30
Summary #
Conventional wisdom sees “service delivery” as the core task of a democratic government. But “service delivery” reduces democratic government to a technical arrangement much like that between a customer and a company. It devalues the role of citizens and prompts widespread dissatisfaction with government. A fundamental rethink of government’s purpose as an ethical relationship between representatives and citizens is needed. This would generate new approaches that place the citizen at the heart of governance.
Presenter Biography #
Steven Friedman obtained a BA Honours from University of Witwatersrand and a doctorate in literature from Rhodes University. He joined the Financial Times as senior editor, and later the Rand Daily Mail. He later became the Manager of Policy Research at the South African Institute of Race Relations (SAIRR), and later the Director of the Centre for Policy Studies. During the preparation for the 1994 election, SA’s first democratic election, he was appointed as National Head of the Information Analysis Department of the Independent Electoral Commission. Later he was appointed director of Centre for the Study of Democracy at University of Johannesburg.
Day 1 Tutorials (Wednesday 14ᵗʰ October 2026) #
From Idea to Industry: Applying your Systems Engineering Skills to Build a Technology Business #
- Presenter: Gerhard Swart
- When: Wednesday 14ᵗʰ October 2026 | Track 1 | 09:15 – 12:20
Summary #
South African Systems Engineers have long delivered world-class solutions in defence, aerospace, energy and major scientific programmes. As opportunities increasingly arise beyond traditional state-funded environments, engineers must pair technical mastery with an understanding of markets, customers, finance, manufacturing and commercial strategy.
This tutorial uses the creation of Optimal Energy, development of the JOULE electric vehicle and the establishment of Battco Energy Systems as case studies to illustrate how Systems Engineering extends far beyond product design. It shows how systems thinking provides the structural backbone for building an entire technology enterprise—from recognising a viable opportunity through to scaling a manufactured product. Rather than focusing on formal business theory, the session offers a practical, experience-based roadmap for navigating the start-up landscape. It highlights critical decisions, typical pitfalls and lessons learned, giving participants a clear view of how Systems Engineering integrates with entrepreneurship, investment, operations and market positioning. Attendees will gain a structured understanding of the technology-commercialisation ecosystem and the additional competencies required to transform an innovative concept into a successful product and business. The tutorial is suited to engineers aiming to launch a venture, commercialise technology within an organisation or broaden their capability in innovation-driven engineering.
Presenter Biography #
Gerhard Swart played a pivotal role as the electrical and systems engineer on the Southern African Large Telescope (SALT), one of the world’s largest optical telescopes, which commenced operations in 2005. Gerhard was also the co-founder and CTO of Optimal Energy, the start-up that developed the Joule—South Africa’s first fully electric passenger vehicle. His classic book Hope Arising—The Story of South Africa’s JOULE Electric Vehicle, and Why it Still Matters is a great story of technological innovation on an industrial scale, starting from a clean sheet. Gerhard currently lives in the UK, leading the global engineering effort for the construction of the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) MID radio telescope being constructed in the Karoo, incorporating the South African MeerKAT Telescope.
2025/6 Greatest Young System Engineers of the Year Award: Breaking the Plastic Wave #
- Presenter: Roger Young
- When: Wednesday 14ᵗʰ October 2026 | Track 1 | 13:25 – 16:30
- Subtitle: Presentations, Evaluations, Discussions and Lessons Learnt. Release of 2027 GYSEOY Scenario.
Summary #
Introduction on the learning objectives of GYSEOY and its history. The details of the 2026 GYSEOY and its scenario Breaking the Plastic Wave will be described. Discussion of GYSEOY mentors, and the evaluation process. The key role of Genesys™ software provided by Letter 27—Imagine It (Pty) Ltd as well as the extensive training.
Each team will describe and justify its first GYSEOY deliverable. After each team has completed its discussion, the evaluation panel will elaborate its findings and recommendations. Then the audience will have an opportunity to question, comment and discuss each team’s contribution. This will happen in sequence for each of the five deliverables.
After the final deliverable has been discussed, a general discussion will happen whilst the evaluation panel caucuses. Strengths and weaknesses of each team will be described, the winning team will be announced, and the award handed over. The 2027 GYSEOY scenario will be released.
A Stroll through the Systems Engineering Landscape #
- Presenter: Naudé Scribante
- When: Wednesday 14ᵗʰ October 2026 | Track 2 | 09:15 – 16:30
Summary #
- Morning session (09:15 – 12:20): A Stroll through the Systems Engineering Landscape: From Design to Verification.
- Afternoon session (13:25 – 16:30): A Stroll through the Systems Engineering Landscape: From Verification to Operations and Support.
Presenter Biography #
Naudé has more than 35 years of experience in the field of Systems Engineering Management, mainly related to the Defence environment. He started his career at Denel Dynamics after completing his national service in the South African Air Force. In 2000, he joined GEW Technologies, where he currently serves as the Head of the Systems Engineering Department and the Chief Systems Engineer. He was awarded a BEng, BEng (Hons), MEng, and PhD from the University of Pretoria. He remains active in the academic side of Systems Engineering and has published more than 15 articles in the field to date. He is also involved as an external supervisor for Master’s Level students at the Graduate School of Technology at the University of Pretoria. He is also an INCOSE ESEP.
Day 2 Tutorials (Thursday 15ᵗʰ October 2026) #
Thinking about System Thinking #
- Presenter: Ad Sparrius
- When: Thursday 15ᵗʰ October 2026 | Track 1 | 09:05 – 12:15
Summary #
Systems Thinking is not thinking about systems; it is about thinking.
- Mental models: Everything we think is a mental model. We interact with the real world indirectly through a mental model. A mental model is tried out in the real world, and if feedback reveals the mental model is inadequate then hopefully it is adapted and improved. The mismatch between how the real world works and how our mental models think it works is one of the origins of wicked problems. Wicked problems are caused by complexity.
- System Thinking: System Thinking attempts to develop and evolve mental models that are better aligned with the real world. It does this by focusing on metacognition—thinking about our thinking process.
- System Thinking rules: There are four rules:
- Distinction: Any idea or thing can be distinguished from other ideas or things.
- System hierarchies: Any idea or thing can be split into Parts or lumped into a Whole.
- Relationship: Any idea or thing can relate to other ideas or things.
- Perspective: Any idea or thing can be the point of or the view from a perspective.
Explicating and visualising the application of these four rules to a problem reveal and clarify many issues and form the foundation of System Thinking. The four rules form a universal cognitive grammar applicable to both the real world as well as mental models.
Presenter Biography #
Ad Sparrius is an INCOSE Fellow and has been teaching self-developed system engineering principles for forty years. He had a key role in developing the first generation of South African system engineers, and now the second generation.
The Journey to Practice SYSTEMS CRAFT (Part 1) #
- Presenter: Dietmar Winzker
- When: Thursday 15ᵗʰ October 2026 | Track 1 | 13:25 – 16:35
- Note: This is the first part of a two-part tutorial; Part 2 takes place on Friday afternoon.
Summary #
Systems thinking requires professional maturity. The generalist’s secret weapon is connecting the dots. The wisdom in uncertainty—the role of risk and judgement. Licenced to THINK to navigate complexity.
Presenter Biography #
Dietmar started with a B Eng in Aeronautical Engineering at Stellenbosch (1977), an M Eng at UP (1984) and completed two PhDs, one from University of Pretoria (1986) and another from the University of Johannesburg (2005). He has extensive technical and management experience, both in industry and as an international technical facilitator in over 25 countries. He taught (and still does) various post-graduate self-developed courses, mainly Systems Engineering related, at various universities and presented many workshops and seminars for over 27 years. He wrote/co-authored and presented over 20 peer-reviewed research papers at a number of international conferences. As a PPL-licensed pilot since 1969, he flew aircraft, gliders and gyrocopters for 47 years. Systems Craft, as in the airman- and seamanship sense, is what he tries to practise so as to navigate complexity. That is also what the two tutorials are all about.
Conducting a Threat Risk Assessment #
- Presenter: Duarte Gonçalves
- When: Thursday 15ᵗʰ October 2026 | Track 2 | 09:05 – 16:35
Summary #
South Africa faces a variety of threats including vandalism, theft, and organised crime. There are also emerging threats including hybrid threats and non-traditional security threats (such as pandemics). Managing these risks is an essential part of achieving enterprise’s business and strategic objectives. Given the increasing security risk that enterprises face, the purpose of this threat risk assessment (TRA) tutorial is to support more effective security systems design. The tutorial will deal with the following topics:
- Contextualising the TRA within the security design process;
- Identifying Security Objectives and legal, governance and policy requirements;
- Threat risk identification using actor-based threat identification;
- Threat risk analysis considering the development of scenarios, modus operandi and vulnerability analysis;
- Threat risk evaluation; and
- Threat risk treatment.
This TRA process, a specialisation of the enterprise’s risk management process, is applicable to systems engineers engaged with system design, security practitioners that must perform TRAs and enterprise risk managers.
Presenter Biography #
Duarte Gonçalves is currently employed by the CSIR as a Principal Engineer with 30 years’ experience in the defence and security industry. (See plenary keynote biography above).
My Father’s Coat — Five Men and the Great Story of South Africa #
- Presenter: Michael Charton
- When: Thursday 15ᵗʰ October 2026 | Evening Event | 17:00 – 19:00
Summary #
My Father’s Coat is acclaimed storyteller Michael Charton’s renowned narrative production tracking the monumental arc of South African history through five intertwined historical figures whose lives overlap: Shaka Zulu, Paul Kruger, Cecil John Rhodes, Jan Smuts, and Nelson Mandela. Through a personal and gripping narrative, Charton unpacks how their decisions, conflicts, and visions shaped the nation.
Presenter Biography #
Michael Charton is a South African storyteller, qualified chartered accountant, and founder of INHERIT, dedicated to making South African history accessible, meaningful, and human through powerful, unscripted live narrative performances.
Day 3 Tutorials (Friday 16ᵗʰ October 2026) #
Do only a Few of the Right Things Well #
- Presenter: Prof Herman Steyn
- When: Friday 16ᵗʰ October 2026 | Track 1 | 08:05 – 11:25
Summary #
Both professionals and organisations should be “doing only a few of the right things well.” Professionals tend to be burdened by having too many irons in the fire. Likewise, companies tend to execute too many projects concurrently. Fewer concurrent projects in the execution phase tend to speed up overall project delivery. While companies should generally have fewer concurrent projects in execution, they should be encouraged to generate more innovative project ideas. Such innovative project ideas should be screened, prioritised, and authorised for execution in line with corporate strategy.
Presenter Biography #
Herman Steyn is an author, consultant, lecturer, and researcher specialising in Project Management and is an Emeritus Professor at the University of Pretoria. Before his career at the University of Pretoria, he worked for 22 years in industry, holding several positions, including as engineering manager, project manager, systems engineer, consulting engineer, and procurement manager.
SYSTEMS CRAFT: The Practical Workshop to Inspire (Part 2) #
- Presenter: Dietmar Winzker
- When: Friday 16ᵗʰ October 2026 | Track 1 | 13:40 – 16:50
- Note: This is the second part of Thursday afternoon’s SYSTEMS CRAFT tutorial.
Summary #
An interactive workshop on SYSTEMS CRAFT (as in airmanship or seamanship). Half a dozen practical use cases based on personal experience are a great learning opportunity. These will consist of a situational description, highlight signposts and prompts whilst the participants will have a stimulating discourse.
Presenter Biography #
(See biography under Part 1 on Thursday afternoon).
Designing Safety-critical Systems—A Practitioner’s Tutorial #
- Presenter: Sarel Lotz
- When: Friday 16ᵗʰ October 2026 | Track 2 | 08:05 – 16:50
Summary #
It is important to recognise that designing for safety is not just a technical requirement—it is a proactive philosophy embedded at every stage of a project or product lifecycle. By integrating safety principles from the earliest design phases through construction, operation, and beyond, we can significantly reduce hazards, potentially prevent accidents, and protect both people and assets. Design for safety means anticipating risks early and addressing them through thoughtful engineering, management processes, and continuous communication. This approach ensures that safety is built into systems rather than retrofitted, making operations more efficient and cost-effective while fostering safer workplaces and environments.
Presenter Biography #
Sarel is a member of INCOSE South African Chapter and an INCOSE registered Expert Systems Engineering Professional (ESEP) who received a B Eng (Mechanical/Aeronautical) from Stellenbosch University, Masters in Aerodynamics from Cranfield University, Diploma in Systems Engineering from University of Pretoria and a Diploma in Pressurized Water Reactor Technology from North-West University. Sarel has more than 45 years of engineering experience of which 40 years as a practising system engineer in the defence, commercial, medical, mining, nuclear and power generation industries. Sarel’s experience includes aeronautical research, aircraft maintenance, business process development, development of project definition maturity tools and project maturity assessments, technical management of development projects, requirements development and management, functional system modelling and analysis, system design and specification development, system testing and qualification and system safety certification.
Certified Systems Engineering Professional (CSEP) Knowledge Examination #
- Invigilator: Alwyn Smit
- When: Friday 16ᵗʰ October 2026 | Parallel Session | 08:05 – 11:30
Summary #
On-site knowledge examination session for candidates pursuing the INCOSE Certified Systems Engineering Professional (CSEP) qualification, invigilated under official INCOSE certification requirements.