Butana has over 22 years working in the National System of Innovation (NSI) in South Africa, having worked as a Scientist at the African Explosives and Chemicals Industries (AECI) and as a Technology Manager Biosciences at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR).

He was the CEO of BioPAD, one of the predecessor organizations that formed TIA, from 2003-2007. He later provided consulting services to TIA in 2010, where he oversaw the development of TIA’s investment framework at the time.

He is currently the Director at Inqaba Biotechnical Industries (Pty) Ltd, a private genomics company based in Tshwane, with subsidiaries in Kenya and Nigeria, and offices in Tanzania and Ghana.

He started a technology advisory company called Sereko Technology and Innovation Advisors cc, in 2007, focusing on advisory services to provincial and national government departments. He has participated in projects such as the National Bio-economy Strategy; the Gauteng Agricultural Biotechnology Strategy and the Feasibility Study for a Bio-Park in Gauteng, amongst others.

His experience includes technology and investment management, start-up financing and business development. As a former board member and Acting CEO of Egolibio Life Sciences Incubator he has expert knowledge in seed funding and incubation. His travels to countries like France, Spain, United States of America, Brazil, Argentina and India studying TIA-like organizations are critical to his knowledge of other global systems of innovation support.

Butana is a board member at Inqaba Biotechnical Industries (Pty) Ltd, board member at The Innovation Hub Science Park, former Chairperson of Black Science, Technology and Engineering Professionals (BSTEP) and currently a board member, former board member of EgoliBio Life Sciences Incubator, former board member of iThemba Pharmaceuticals (Pty) Ltd and former board member of several SME companies, former member and Chairperson of NRF grant funding review panels, Business Sector Panel Member of the National Science and Technology Forum (NSTF) Awards, Originator and former member of the Gauteng BioFundi Awards review panel.

Butana holds an M.Sc. in Biochemistry, an LL.B degree and several management courses.