MEET THE TEAM
With more than 100 years of combined experience in our areas of expertise, we are pleased to introduce you to the DAL experts.
Dawid Jacobs
Founding Member & Forensic Specialist
35 years in Law Enforcement and Forensic Identity Management
Biography
Gunther Sonnenfeld
Co-Founder & Cryptography Specialist
27 years in emerging tech
Cryptography pioneer
Biography
Marcel Donges
Executive Member & Technology Specialist
25 years in enterprise software
Inventor of Web 4.0
Biography
Mike Compitiello
Executive Member & Intelligence Specialist
35 years agency experience
Fraud & trafficking task forces
Biography
Advisors
Debbie Reynolds
Data Privacy & CyberRisk Expert
Global Top 8 by Identity Review
Founder, CEO, and Chief Data Privacy Officer
Debbie Reynolds, “The Data Diva,” is a world-renowned technologist, thought leader, and advisor
working at the intersection of Data Privacy, Technology, and Law. Ms. Reynolds is an internationally
published author, highly sought speaker, and top media presence about Global Data Privacy, Data
Protection, and Emerging Technology issues. Ms. Reynolds hosts the number one award-winning “The
Data Diva” Talks Privacy Podcast. She has been named one of the Global Top Eight Privacy Experts by
Identity Review, and she has been named one of the Global Top 30 CyberRisk Communicators by The
European Risk Policy Institute in 2020 and 2021.
Dr. Deona Botha
Forensic Anthropology
Dr. Deona Botha’s academic journey, ranging from genetic foundations to advanced
anthropological methodologies
Dr. Deona Botha embarked on her academic journey by obtaining a BSc degree in Human
Genetics from the University of Pretoria. Building upon this foundation, she pursued post-graduate studies within the Department of Anatomy, achieving both an honors (BSc Hons) and a master’s (MSc) degree in Physical Anthropology from the University of Pretoria.
Driven by her passion for exploration, she embarked on a Ph.D. in Biological Anthropology at the University of the Witwatersrand, successfully completing her doctoral studies in 2019.
Currently, Dr. Botha holds the position of a dedicated lecturer in the esteemed School of
Anatomical Sciences at the University of the Witwatersrand. In her role, she imparts
knowledge in the domains of evolution, human and comparative anatomy, as well as
forensic anthropology.
Dr. Botha’s research pursuits are centered around two key themes. Her focus extends to
palaeopathology and health assessment within archaeological and historical populations, delving into the insights that human remains offer about the health status of bygone eras.
She also concentrates on histological age estimation in modern human skeletal remains,
leveraging her expertise to contribute to the refinement of age assessment methodologies.
In a bid to bridge the gap between traditional methodologies and contemporary
advancements, Dr. Botha employs machine learning and decision tree analysis to enhance
age estimation techniques in modern human skeletal remains.
With a remarkable history in forensic casework dating back to 2010, Dr. Botha possesses extensive experience in the realm of skeletonized remains. Her expertise has been instrumental in the completion and consultation of numerous cases requiring her
specialized knowledge. Furthermore, she plays a pivotal role in managing the Human
Identification Unit (HIU) within the School of Anatomical Sciences, where her team diligently analyzes an average of 30 cases annually.
Dr. Deona Botha’s academic journey, ranging from genetic foundations to advanced
anthropological methodologies, is a testament to her unwavering dedication to unraveling
the mysteries of the human past and contributing to the fields of anatomy, anthropology, and forensic science.
Peter-John Jacobs
Occupational Hygienist: Sedulitas
Brief Biosketch
Peter-John Jacobs, MPH, ROH is currently employed as the Managing Director of
Sedulitas, an occupational health consultancy, based in Potchefstroom and Richards Bay,
South Africa.
He holds a Master of Public Health: Occupational Hygiene qualification from the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa; a Certificate of Operational Competence in Occupational Hygiene from the British Occupational Hygiene Society (BOHS), as well as various short courses in safety management and radiation protection.
PJ also holds the Intermediate Certificate in Mine Environmental Control from the South African Chamber of Mines. He is a Registered Occupational Hygienist (ROH) with the Southern African Institute for Occupational Hygiene (SAIOH); has served in 2013 as the SAIOH President; and has also served as the President of the International Occupational Hygiene Association (IOHA) in 2018/19.
