Brenald Dzonzi is an accomplished electrical and electronics engineer from Malawi who graduated from the University of Malawi's Polytechnic. He played a significant role in the "Digitize Malawi" (DIGMAP) initiative and also collaborated with the technical startup, Computer Clinic, which is backed by the World Bank and the Public-Private Partnership Commission. Brenald is determined to advance Malawi's digital evolution.

His professional collaborations with Goal3 in the Netherlands and the IMPALA Project in Malawi further underscore his diverse skill set. He has played a key role in developing machine vision algorithms and tools important for early sepsis detection, signifying crucial advancements in health technology.

Passionate about education, Brenald lectured at the Malawi University of Business and Applied Sciences and served as a teaching assistant at Rice University’s Rice360 Institute. He also mentors students, guiding their ideas from concept to prototype. His commitment to excellence is reinforced by advanced training from institutions like Stanford and IBM, enhancing his skills in machine learning and clinical research.

Beyond his technical and academic pursuits, Brenald exemplifies leadership and has served as an advisor to the Robotics Foundation Limited and a chief organiser of the Deep Learning IndabaX. He is deeply committed to advancing STEM and AI education in Africa. Given his blend of technical brilliance, dedication to education, and leadership attributes, Brenald considers himself a natural fit for the Mandela Rhodes Scholarship.