Sambulo Matema

I specialise in aviation management, with a strong focus on airline and airport operations optimisation, aviation strategy development, and market analysis. With a background as an Aerospace Engineer and extensive experience in the global air transport industry; including roles at Kenya Airways and ExecuJet, I bring a unique combination of technical expertise, operational insight, and strategic thinking to both my consultancy work and academic teaching.

Throughout my career, I have held pivotal roles across the aviation sector. At Kenya Airways, I was involved in airline network planning, strategic development, and partnership management. My role at ExecuJet in Cape Town gave me practical, hands-on experience in aircraft maintenance planning and operational efficiency.

Currently, I serve as an air transport consultant, contributing to international projects involving airlines, airports, air traffic management, and aviation policy implementation. I led the Baseline Study on the Status of the Air Transport Sector in the Eastern Africa, Southern Africa, and Indian Ocean region, which required coordination and stakeholder engagement across 33 countries. I also regularly speak at global aviation conferences and serve on expert panels, sharing insights with industry professionals.

I thrive in the  multicultural academic environment at UCB and take pride in mentoring students from diverse backgrounds. I’m passionate about bridging the gap between academia and industry, ensuring students are equipped with practical, up-to-date knowledge to succeed in today’s evolving aviation landscape.

Beyond teaching and consultancy, I am passionate about entrepreneurship and I’m the founder of the Centre of Aviation Studies in Southern Africa. I’m fluent in seven languages and live by the motto: “Believe in yourself. It’s the ordinary among us who achieve the extraordinary”.