Jan Havenga is an Emeritus Professor in the Department of Industrial Engineering, Stellenbosch University, a Director of GAINgroup and owner of Macrologistics (Pty) Ltd.

He acquired his PhD degree in Logistics Management from Stellenbosch University on the topic of national freight flow measurement. Jan is a pioneer in the emerging field of macrologistics. He authored and co-authored more than 40 scientific papers in this field and related disciplines; and also co-authored the first book on macrologistics.

Macrologistics applies the principles of business logistics in national and international contexts through freight-flow research to inform sustainability, policy development and infrastructure investments.

He has led a large number of national and regional projects in this field including for South Africa, Southern Africa, India, Uzbekistan, Mongolia, China and recently in the Horn of Africa. He has also been invited to speak on the topic of macrologistics in all of these countries and regions as well as Austria, the USA, China and Argentina.

Jan were also part of the Operation Vulindlela team in the office of the President. Operation Vulindlela was tasked to coordinate a roadmap for repairing South Africa’s logistics system and assisting with a Transnet turnaround. The roadmap was approved by Cabinet in December 2023.

Apart from other current World Bank projects throughout Africa Jan is actively involved in the World Bank’s engagement with the Government of South Africa relating to all aspects of the implementation of the Roadmap.

He is a National Research Foundation rated researcher, based on his development of the new field of Macrologistics.