Charles Mpho Takalana completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Johannesburg before pursuing postgraduate research in physics at the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits). He was awarded a Ph.D. in December 2020, specialising in Astronomy and Astrophysics. His doctoral research focused on data analysis techniques for differential observation of the low-frequency radio cosmological background, probing the physics of the Epoch of Reionization, the Dark Ages, and the Epoch of Recombination.

He began his career as a Junior Consultant Analyst at CorpActive, where he provided professional management consulting and analytics services. He then joined the South African Radio Astronomy Observatory (SARAO), based at the Department of Science and Innovation (DSI), as an Astronomy Policy Researcher. In this role, he supported the implementation of the South African Multi-Wavelength Astronomy Strategy and contributed to building a vibrant astronomy community with the technical capacity to drive national astronomy projects.

Until 2021, Charles served as the founding Head of Secretariat of the African Astronomical Society (AfAS), where he oversaw projects and supported its committees. He was also Vice Chair of the National Organising Committee for the 2024 IAU General Assembly in Cape Town, the first time the event was hosted on African soil.

He is currently the Deputy Director of the International Astronomical Union’s Office of Astronomy for Development (IAU-OAD), a joint project of the IAU and the South African National Research Foundation (NRF), supported by the Department of Science, Technology, and Innovation (DSTI). Beyond his professional work, Charles is actively involved in outreach projects and is passionate about inspiring and sharing astronomy with young people.