Business Leader of the Year Finalists

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Aside from being a lover of sloths, Yael is a sought-after keynote speaker; a TEDX speaker and a mental health advocate. 

She has won several awards over the years including the 2020 Standard Bank’s prestigious Top Woman in Property Award. In 2023 she was announced as winner of the CEO of the Year in the Woman of Stature awards, and in 2024 she was awarded runner up in the Global Women’s Business Awards in the Property and Construction category. 

Yael was also voted as one of the Top 30 women for the Strategic African Women in Leadership Top 30 Trailblazer awards . She grew up in a real estate dynasty established by her grandmother, Aida, and, prior to joining her father Lew Geffen in the family business she acquired extensive real estate marketing, brand building and business development experience in the United States. She has headed up Sotheby’s International Realty South Africa for the past 10 years. 

Yael is passionate about putting an end to gender based violence in South Africa and empowering disadvantaged women to invest in property.  She believes that we may not heal GBV with bricks and mortar alone - but every title deed in a woman’s name weakens the power of abuse. 

As the Founder and CEO of Alma Clinics, I am driven by the vision of making healthcare more accessible, affordable, and reliable for millions of African people through innovative technologies. With over 17 years of experience in entrepreneurship, infrastructure, and real estate development, I have the skills and knowledge to lead and execute complex and impactful projects in challenging environments.

I am also the Founder and Executive Chairperson of Indigo Kulani Group, a leading infrastructure and real estate development company in Africa, where I oversee the strategic direction, growth, and partnerships of the group. I hold an EMBA from IMD Business School, an MBA from Eaton Business School, and a B.Tech degree in Architecture from Cape Peninsula University of Technology. I am passionate about promoting gender and transformation in private equity in Africa, and I am actively involved in two innovative initiatives in healthcare and biomass (waste to energy).

Jorge Mendes is the CEO of the Group - a role he has held since July 2023. Jorge is the former Chief Officer: Consumer Business at Vodacom South Africa where he was responsible for driving sustainable growth across the business, a role he held since February 2019. Jorge is an accomplished and visionary C-Suite executive with a proven track record of success in driving company growth and profitability. 

With close to 30 years of experience in the telecommunications industry and a wealth of knowledge in implementing consumer-centric strategies, he has displayed exceptional leadership skills by fostering the growth of high-performing teams within the Company. Jorge has completed the Advanced Executive Development Program at Unisa Graduate School of Business Leadership and the Senior Executive Program at Harvard Business School.

Linah Mabena is a seasoned financial services leader with over two decades of experience, currently serving as Chief Executive Officer of Standard Bank Insurance Brokers. She is recognised for her ability to drive sustainable business growth while building high-performing, purpose-led teams in a rapidly evolving industry.

Her career spans key leadership roles across operations, product, and distribution, including Head of Call Centre, Head of Product, and Chief Operating Officer. This breadth of experience has equipped her with a deep understanding of the end-to-end insurance value chain and the strategic levers required to deliver customer-centric, commercially strong outcomes.

As CEO, Linah has focused on strengthening the organisation’s growth trajectory, embedding a culture of accountability, and driving innovation across the business. Her leadership approach balances commercial performance with long-term capability building, ensuring the organisation remains resilient and responsive to changing customer and market dynamics.

Linah is an active thought leader in the financial services sector, contributing regularly to leading industry and business platforms. She has been featured across publications such as FA News, BusinessTech, Financial Mail, Business Day and Sunday Times, where she shares insights on the evolving insurance landscape, the role of brokerage in expanding access, and the impact of climate and economic shifts on risk.

Her thought leadership also reflects a strong focus on inclusive leadership and transformation, with contributions highlighting the advancement of women in financial services and the importance of building resilient, future-ready organisations. She has further engaged in industry platforms such as The Insurance Apprentice and TIA Talks, contributing to conversations on mentorship, growth and the future of the insurance industry.

Beyond business performance, Linah is a visible advocate for youth inclusion and talent transformation within the insurance sector. She actively positions insurance as a compelling, future-fit career, attracting diverse talent across disciplines such as digital, data, behavioural science, operations, distribution, governance and customer experience.

Through her leadership, she champions skills-based development, broad exposure and purposeful career pathways, elevating insurance as an industry of opportunity, relevance and impact for the next generation.

She is deeply committed to developing people and fostering inclusive, high-performance environments where individuals are empowered to grow and lead. Her leadership is grounded in the belief that sustainable success is built through strong teams, continuous learning, and a clear sense of purpose.

Linah holds a BCom Honours in Business Management and a Master of Philosophy (MPhil) in Corporate Strategy, and has completed executive development at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. She is a Fellow of the Insurance Institute of South Africa (IISA) and a member of the Institute of Directors South Africa (IoDSA).

Her nomination for the Business Leader of the Year Award reflects both her professional achievements and her role in shaping a forward-looking, people-centred approach to leadership in South Africa.

Val is highly experienced leader and strategist who has extensive experience in  the restaurant sector. Starting her career in marketing and advertising, she 

served as Marketing Director of Edgars, Senior Vice President of multinational 

food company, Rich Products Corporation, and Managing Director of Tequila  Advertising. Val joined Famous Brands in 1999 as Marketing Director of 

Debonairs Pizza and later served as Managing Executive of Wimpy and Steers 

before her appointment as Head of QSR Brands. Val ran her own consulting 

business eight years, prior to her appointment at Spur Corp., specialising in  business strategy and planning. Val has served as Group CEO for Spur Corp 

since 2021.

Zoleka Lisa is Vice President: Corporate Affairs at South African Breweries (SAB), a member of the Africa AB InBev Executive Committee, and a leading voice shaping the beer industry’s regulatory and reputation agenda in Southern Africa. 

She is a strategic business leader and trusted board-level advisor whose integrated approach to corporate affairs has been instrumental in defending, strengthening, and increasing market share for SAB, its diverse suite of brands and the beer industry. In her work, she leverages a holistic command of public policy, strategic communications, brand reputation, stakeholder relations, sustainability, transformation and entrepreneurship to protect enterprise value and drive sustainable growth. 

As Vice President of Corporate Affairs and a member of the Africa AB InBev Executive Committee, she directs a strategic portfolio across South Africa, Lesotho, Eswatini, Namibia and Botswana, translating corporate affairs leadership into measurable business success and long-term industry resilience.

She plays a central role in positioning SAB as a responsible corporate citizen — advancing regulatory certainty, championing responsible consumption, supporting enterprise and supplier development, and strengthening partnerships with government, industry and civil society. 

Prior to SAB, Zoleka spent nine years at Accenture as a Senior Manager, leading complex strategy and transformation programmes across industries, during which she developed deep expertise in governance, policy and organisational change.

Thabo is a banking professional with local, regional and international experience spanning over 15 years between Investec and 

Absa. Throughout his career, which started and still is in corporate & investment banking (CIB), he’s always sought to build his 

skills & capabilities to be a world class banker, who provides exceptional service and expertise his clients. He entered this career 

to be a finance leader, to influence his peers and the sector at large. 

He is the Head of Structured Lending Products in the Absa Investment Banking Division of CIB.

He’s worked in South Africa, Mauritius and the United Kingdom, where he gained invaluable international and regional 

experience in banking, including working across different cultures, with diverse leaders and growing his professional network in

the process. He’s lead projects in 6 African countries, impacting local and international clients. The experience has allowed him 

to think locally, while being globally connected, to bring the best of all worlds into any situation. 

Beyond banking, Thabo believes in servant leadership, illustrated from his time as Chairperson of the Investec CSI Alumni 

Committee, and now being a trustee of Cell4Change (ECD focused social enterprise, using mobile technology practitioners) and 

Non-Executive Director & Board Chairperson of Social Coding (youth focused social enterprise), while also mentoring young 

South Africans and other activities that allow him to use his skills to have a social impact in his community. He’s a committee 

member of the INSEAD Alumni Association of South Africa, VP of Initiatives. He’s an avid gamer and loves sports, comics and 

music, and has started a podcast talking to these interests.

Thabo is from a small town in the Free State, QwaQwa, and has humble beginnings that have given him a breadth of life 

experiences that allow him to empathize with people from all walks of life – from rural villages, to suburban towns and 

sophisticated boardrooms. His passion in this regard has led him to being involved in Employment Equity Forums, driving the 

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging (DEIB) agenda and being an advocate and ally for the marginalized. He currently Chairs 

the Absa Men’s Forum, a male-focused forum in the workplace, with goals of promoting active allyship, health & wellness and 

advocating to end GBV. In 2025, he was invited to participate in the G20 as a member of the Empowerment of Women Working 

Group (EWWG), contributing to the 3

rd Priority Area focused on GBV prevention. He has collaborated with various organisations, 

including the UN (and its various agencies), AWACN, GIZ, Shared Value Africa, The AU and several government agencies

Takara Lubner is part of a new generation of leaders helping to reshape philanthropy by aligning inherited legacy with intentional purpose and long-term social and economic impact.

Takara Lubner is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of PhilanthroStrat, a strategic philanthropy and impact advisory firm working at the intersection of capital, corporates, family offices, foundations and high-potential social organisations. Her work focuses on structuring philanthropic and social investment capital to deliver measurable, systemic and sustainable outcomes.

Through PhilanthroStrat, Takara operates across both sides of the impact ecosystem. She advises funders on how to deploy capital with greater precision, accountability and long- term intent, while also supporting NGOs to strengthen institutional resilience, partnership readiness and funding models. Her approach is grounded in a clear principle: social impact should be approached with the same level of rigour, discipline and performance expectation as any other form of capital allocation.

Takara founded PhilanthroStrat in response to a persistent disconnect between donor ambition and delivery reality. Her work bridges this gap by translating philanthropic intent into practical, outcome-driven models that enable organisations to move beyond short-term funding cycles towards sustainability, stronger systems and readiness for scale.

A defining element of her leadership is her focus on engaging the next generation in philanthropy. She works to ensure that giving evolves from inherited tradition into intentional, strategic participation, equipping younger donors and leaders to contribute meaningfully to systems change. As she often reflects, legacy may be inherited, but

purpose is chosen, a principle that underpins both her personal journey and her professional work.

Takara’s perspective is shaped by both strategic advisory work and lived institutional experience. She is a third-generation leader within Afrika Tikkun, the cradle-to-career organisation founded by her late grandfather Bertie Lubner and led today by her father, Marc Lubner. Over the past 30 years, Afrika Tikkun has supported more than two million people across South Africa through integrated education, skills development and employability pathways. This legacy has given her first-hand insight into the operational realities, partnership dynamics and leadership discipline required to build impact at scale.

She is also second-generation in Smile Foundation, founded by Marc Lubner, which supports specialised reconstructive surgery and comprehensive care for children with facial conditions and burns across South Africa’s academic hospitals. Together, these affiliations provide her with a dual perspective across both the stewardship of philanthropic capital and the institutional realities facing mission-driven organisations.

In addition, Takara plays an active role within the Lubner Family Foundation, as vetting officer she supports proposal evaluation, partnership alignment and impact accountability in line with values of sustainability, dignity and responsible kindness.

Takara holds a Master’s degree in Globalisation and Multinational Corporations from the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London, and graduated Magna Cum Laude from the American University of Paris, where she studied Politics, Philosophy and Economics, International Business Administration and Entrepreneurship.

She is also a Social Impact Member of the Nexus Global network, a global community of next-generation philanthropists, impact investors and social innovators.

Her nomination for the Social Impact Leader of the Year Award reflects her commitment to strengthening the relationship between capital and community and to advancing more accountable, sustainable and future-focused models of social impact. A handwritten note to her from Nelson Mandela, reading “Best wishes to one of our future leaders,” remains a deeply personal reminder of the responsibility and purpose that guide her work.

I am proudly South African, resilient, disciplined and morally grounded, and I understand the value of hard work, family and faith. A child of corporate South Africa, I entered the business world straight from school and have been shaped by the economic and social landscape of the 1990s. At my core, I am a nerd – passionate about business, information, content, numbers, governance and risk – but my true calling lies in being a servant leader which makes my style a powerful differentiator, paired with some clear guardrails… clarity, boundaries and accountability where my impact scales rather than stalls.

I come from a long line of strong women, and I carry my heritage with pride. My name, Catharina, speaks to strength and an uncanny ability to feel and connect deeply. I lead with collaboration, passion, purpose and responsibility (while maintaining a sense of humour), and embrace servant leadership.

With over three decades of experience leading Pan-African initiatives, I hold the prestigious Chartered Marketer designation and other professional qualifications. I understand the transformative power having a seat at the right table has for an organisation, the economy and society. I also know that to get that seat, you have to own your power and voice. I am ambitious, unconventional and willing to take informed risks on people and processes.

I am also deeply committed to doing good without expecting anything in return. My faith grounds me and my financial expertise, problem-solving skills and support network keep my decision-making sound. I challenge teams to excel and innovate, because average is never an option and talent is only half the battle. Culturally adaptable and with strong interpersonal skills, I thrive on working with diverse personalities across all levels of business and life.  Outside of work, I explore the world and continuously grow through travel, literature, music and intellectual engagement.

Why this is a passion point

My work is driven by a deeply held belief that business and purpose are most powerful when they intersect. Over the years, I have committed myself to using my platform to create lasting generational impact. For me, leadership is not just about delivering business outcomes but also about giving others a hand up (not a hand-out) and amplifying voices that have historically gone unheard.

At the centre of my work is the Absa #SheUntamed movement, a platform that functions at the intersection of sport, empowerment and community upliftment. Through it, I have sought to break down barriers in mountain biking and beyond, to give women – especially in underserved communities – the tools, training, resources and visibility they need to thrive.

Beyond cycling, my work spans holistic community impact: from expanding access to breast health screenings through the ILoveBoobies partnership, to developing long-term educational partnerships such as the one with Yarrow Intermediate School in Howick and the Nelson Mandela Foundation with the Legacy Ride4Hope. These initiatives combine resources, mentorship and infrastructure to make a sustainable impact and ensure that communities benefit long after a single event or sponsorship ends.

What excites me most is seeing transformation in action: the first all-black South African women team conquering the Absa Cape Epic, young designers gaining real-world exposure at the David Tlale Academy, and #SheUntamed participants gaining confidence, visibility and opportunity. Each milestone reinforces my belief that when corporate citizenship is aligned with purpose, it can redefine industries, communities and lives.

This work is my way of paying it forward one initiative, one person and one story at a time. It is a passion grounded in responsibility, shaped by empathy, and driven by the belief that every individual deserves access, opportunity, and a voice.  For me, leadership without purpose is incomplete. I lead through service—enabling others, removing barriers, and creating pathways for meaningful and sustained success.

I measure my leadership by the impact I unlock in others.

Because true leadership is measured by how many others rise—one starfish at a time.

As an Associate Partner at EY, I help steer the SAP practice while overseeing strategic initiatives like alliance management, business architecture, and program leadership. My work integrates forecasting, executive communication, and P&L management to ensure high-impact outcomes for clients, including a major medical insurance provider.  

With a focus on transformation, I bring over five years of executive leadership in SAP and 20 years across the technology sales, consulting and implementation landscape, having contributed to organizational success through scalable solutions and operational excellence within various global bluechip organizations. Rooted in the principles of intentional collaboration, I remain committed to empowering teams and driving innovation at the intersection of technology and business strategy.

 I am an international HR Leader with more than 25 years’ experience.  I have built and transformed dynamic people functions of multi-national organisations operating across Africa, the Middle East and Europe.  I have a proven track record of bringing significant value to organisations through the implementation of human resource strategies, people practices and innovation, in response to and in anticipation of business needs.  I liberate the best in people, build collaborative and diverse teams and nurture powerful, enabling cultures. I also serve as a member on the Global CHRO Round Table, the CPSE (Common Purpose Student Experiences) Board, Global SAP Success Factors Advisory Board, the St Mary’s School Board, the St Stithians’ College People Talent Committee and the Knowledge Resources Board. 

Paul Norman serves as Group Chief Human Resources Officer at MTN Group. He is an experienced Group Executive of Human Resources and Internal Communications with a demonstrated history of working in the ICT industry at a global level. 

Paul has been recognised for his HR contribution by the Institute of People Management as HR Practitioner of the year (2003), by the South African Board for People Practices (SABPP) with the Life Time Achievement Award (2012), and won the inaugural CHRO of the year in 2019 by CHRO South Africa. 

Subsequent to winning the CHRO of the year, he serves as a judge for CHRO South Africa. He is also part of the prestigious by-invitation-only Global HR50 fraternity of the world’s most respected CHROs. 

He is an experienced Board member, serving on several MTN subsidiary country Boards as well as the Board of Shoprite Holdings. He is past Board Member of Advisory Boards of Industrial Psychology at the University of Johannesburg, the Graduate School of Business (GBS) Cape Town and Chartered Medical Aid Fund (CAMAF). Paul holds an M.A. degree in Psychology  from Rhodes University, South Africa and an executive MBA from IMD in Switzerland.

Vinolia Singh is the Director: People and Culture for Coca-Cola Beverages South Africa, leading the people strategy for one of the largest Coca-Cola bottlers globally and the largest on the African continent. With experience across Africa, Europe and Australia, she is recognised for translating business strategy into future-ready people solutions that unlock performance, capability, and sustainable growth at scale.

 As a Future of Work visionary, Vinolia has led large-scale transformation across talent, digital HR, organisational design, and workforce capability, embedding data-driven decision-making to enhance agility, productivity, and employee experience. Her leadership extends beyond traditional HR, with a strong focus on integrating Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles into people strategy.

She champions inclusive, purpose-led organisations by advancing equitable and diverse talent practices, strengthening leadership accountability, and enabling workforces to contribute meaningfully to sustainability goals. Her work ensures that ESG is not a parallel agenda, but a core driver of culture, performance, and long-term value creation.

Vinolia is passionate about positioning African organisations to compete globally through talent, innovation, and responsible leadership, shaping workplaces where people, planet, and performance thrive together.

 As an established c-suite Human Resources (HR) executive, I possess an extensive multi-dimensional experience across the Middle East & Africa region as well as a proven record of championing organisational wide change initiatives. I have worked for organisations such as the CCMA (Commission for Conciliation, Mediation & Arbitration), National Treasury, Sasol, Ecolab, British American Tobacco, Weir Minerals and ISN Medical where I have created impactful, future-fit and empowering people-related strategies.  I have led HR teams in countries such as South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Mozambique, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Nigeria, Ghana, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Madagascar, Mauritius and United Arab Emirates.  Throughout my rich career journey, I had opportunities to undertake international job assignments outside South Africa and this international experience has enriched me with a global mindset which enables me to easily work with multi-cultural and diverse groups.  In 2023, I was nominated for CHRO South Africa Awards. The annual CHRO Awards recognises Chief HR Leaders of listed companies, large corporations, state-owned entities and government institutions and award them for outstanding performance and leadership.   ​I have been featured in the book The Future of Leadership (season 2) 24 TOP Leadership Voices amongst 24 Top Leaders in South Africa. 

Matimba is the Chief Human Resources Officer at Vodacom Group. Prior to this role, he was Managing Executive: HR for Vodacom South Africa until April 2014. 

Matimba has worked within the Vodacom/Vodafone Group since 2003 during which he worked in various roles within HR. He subsequently spent 3 years on secondment to Vodafone as Regional Head of Organisational Effectiveness & Change, and Regional Head of Talent within the Africa, Middle East & Asia Pacific “AMAP” region. 

Prior to his assignment to the Vodafone AMAP Region, Matimba was responsible for Talent Management at Vodacom for six years where he successfully delivered the integration of our talent strategy into the Vodafone global strategy. 

His previous experience includes key HR roles in blue chip companies such as BMW South Africa and Unilever. In October 2015 Matimba was appointed as a Non-Executive Director on the Vodacom Business Nigeria Board, in May 2017 as a Non-Executive Director on the YeboYethu Board and as Non-Executive Director of Vodacom Tanzania in August 2017.

Gugu Mthembu is a highly accomplished marketing leader with over two decades of experience in ICT and telecommunications, recognised for building purpose-driven brands that deliver both innovation and measurable impact. With a strong foundation in information technology, she brings together data, technology, and creativity to drive sustainable business growth and brand relevance.

Since assuming leadership at Telkom, she has led a bold and effective brand transformation, repositioning the organisation as current, customer-centric, and digitally progressive while remaining grounded in its legacy. Central to this shift has been her establishment of a robust data science capability, powering faster-than-category growth and enabling more precise, insight-led decision-making.

As a respected speaker, juror for global platforms such as Cannes Lions and WARC, collaborator, and industry visionary, Gugu continues to play a defining role in shaping the future of marketing. Her influence extends beyond her organisation, contributing to global and local conversations on innovation, creativity, and effectiveness. Through her leadership, Telkom is not only keeping pace with industry change but actively leading it, driven by courage in decision-making, meaningful connection with customers, and a relentless belief in possibility.

Under her stewardship, Telkom has rebuilt trust and strengthened its market standing, earning accolades such as Best Mobile Provider in the 2024/25 Ask Africa Orange Index and recognition among South Africa’s 30 Most Admired Brands. Her leadership excellence was further recognised with the Brand Leader of the Year award at The Mark Awards in 2025.

She has driven a disciplined, performance-led marketing culture, ensuring that investment delivers tangible returns and earns credibility across the business, including with Finance. Through an integrated planning approach, she has optimised resource allocation, improved efficiency, and strengthened alignment between marketing and broader commercial objectives.

A strong advocate for industry transformation, she has championed a specialist agency model that prioritises black- and female-owned partners, demonstrating their ability to deliver at scale while advancing inclusion. This approach has enabled meaningful supplier transformation, including the progression of partners from incubation to direct contracting.

Gugu’s leadership reflects a modern, integrated approach, combining data, AI, customer insight, and cross-functional collaboration to drive growth and deepen customer engagement. As a respected thought leader, speaker, and industry contributor, she continues to shape the future of marketing, positioning Telkom at the forefront of innovation, relevance, and possibility.

Wendy is Head of Marketing and an Executive Committee member at Old Mutual Investment Group, where she leads the marketing and communications strategy behind the OMIG brand and its growth agenda. She brings an unusual combination to the role: the commercial discipline of asset management marketing, the creative instincts of a senior agency leader, and the strategic breadth of an executive educated across Berlin, Oxford and South Africa.

Her career spans more than two decades at the intersection of brand, business and financial services. For over sixteen years she worked through the line in advertising, culminating in her role as Group Business Director at Ogilvy and Mather Johannesburg, where she led integrated campaign development for several of South Africa’s most iconic brands. That agency grounding shaped a marketer who understands how ideas are actually built, sold and brought to life across every channel.

Before OMIG, Wendy spent six years as Group Head of Marketing at Coronation Fund Managers, building marketing capability inside one of the country’s most respected investment houses. She first entered financial services at Liberty, where she led brand and retail campaign development across the Investment and Risk portfolios.

Her academic journey reflects the same appetite for depth and range. She holds an Executive MBA from Steinbeis University in Berlin and has completed executive programmes at the University of Oxford, the Gordon Institute of Business Science, the University of Stellenbosch, the Seth Godin Institute, the Red and Yellow Creative School of Business, and the AAA School of Advertising. 

I am a commercially driven marketing executive with over 18 years’ international experience leading growth strategy and integrated marketing transformation across global and local businesses – from retail and FMCG to fintech and specialised investment.

I have been responsible for shaping and executing enterprise-level marketing and customer strategies that drive measurable commercial outcomes. My focus is on unlocking growth and efficiency levers to expand customer lifetime value - increasing frequency, improving retention, optimising margin and maximising ROI. I prioritise high-impact, data-backed initiatives that deliver sustainable revenue performance and long-term enterprise value.

My experience spans strategic brand positioning, building scalable partnership ecosystems, and aligning marketing, product and commercial objectives to accelerate growth. I am particularly focused on creating compounding “flywheel” effects by leveraging existing systems, networks and active customer bases to generate self-sustaining acquisition and engagement momentum.

I have delivered results across B2B, B2C and B2G markets, including securing formal endorsements from the offices of several Prime Ministers globally. I believe marketing should operate not as a cost centre, but as a strategic growth engine embedded at the core of business performance.

Mpho Hlefana is a seasoned marketing executive with extensive experience in leading integrated marketing, brand, and customer strategies within large, complex organisations. She is currently responsible for driving marketing at BCX, where she plays a key role in aligning marketing with business strategy to enable growth, strengthen market positioning, and enhance client engagement.

Her expertise spans brand and reputation management, go-to-market strategy, customer experience, and marketing operations. Mpho has led the development and execution of strategic marketing initiatives that elevate organisational visibility, strengthen executive profiling, and support meaningful engagement with key clients and industry stakeholders.

In her current role, she has contributed to the repositioning of the BCX brand through structured thought leadership programmes, targeted client engagement platforms, and a more integrated approach to marketing delivery. She has also focused on improving marketing effectiveness through the introduction of governance frameworks, streamlined workflows, and enhanced performance measurement.

Mpho is recognised for her ability to translate business objectives into clear, actionable marketing strategies, as well as for her collaborative approach in working with executive leadership and cross-functional teams. She is committed to advancing the role of marketing as a strategic enabler of business value and to supporting the development of future leaders within the profession.

Zandile Myeni is a Business Executive: Growth and Marketing with over 16 years of experience driving brand-led growth. She currently leads integrated growth and brand strategies across Africa, the UK, and the US at a leading BPO organisation, where she is known for translating business objectives into impactful brand and revenue growth initiatives that strengthen market presence and enable scalable expansion.

With a strong foundation in both brand strategy and strategy execution, Zandile plays a key role in aligning marketing with business performance and long-term growth. She is passionate about building high-performing teams and championing the use of emerging technologies in modern marketing.

She holds an MBA from the Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS), where she was also a recipient of a Leadership in Strategy Execution Award. Zandile also shares insights on brand, leadership, and innovation through her newsletter, “Diaries of a Brand Girl.”

Ravi Naidoo has been the Chief Executive Officer of the Youth Employment Service (YES) since 2021.

In his Budget Vote in 2025, President Cyril Ramaphosa recognised that “the Youth Employment Service – known as YES – has become the largest corporate funded youth jobs programme in the world”. 

In 2025 the B20 recognised YES as the global best practice in the B20 Employment and Education Task Force’s final recommendations to the G20, The B20 Recommendation 5 (Action 5.1) spotlighted YES as an innovative model for scalable, private-sector-led solutions to youth unemployment. Key achievements of YES include:

• Scale and Impact: YES has created more than 225,000 jobs, with a 30% year-on-year growth rate since 2021.

• Funding Model: The initiative is 100% funded by participating private sector companies (over 2,040 companies) rather than government, channelling over ZAR 13 billion into youth employment. 

• Focus Sectors: YES prepares youth for future industries by placing them in high-demand roles, such as digital services, AI skills hubs (e.g., with Microsoft and Capitec), and green energy.

• Entrepreneurship Focus: Beyond jobs, 15-20% of YES alumni have used their experience to set up their own businesses, approximately 7,000 per year.

• Education-to-employment: as a demand-led initiative, YES has become the major placement pipeline for young university and TVET graduates, placing over 8,000 per year. It is now leading TVET placement in tourism sector for the PYEI. 

Ravi has worked at a senior levels in the labour movement (as director of NALEDI), the public sectors (as group executive in the DBSA) and the private sector (CEO of impact investment companies). Finding opportunities for impact is the common thread throughout all these roles. 

His earlier career successes include:

• Reformed SA retirement fund governance (1995) – proposed and then worked with Parliament on the passage of the Pension Fund Amendment Bill to include trustees representing worker members. 

• Restructured the Unemployment Insurance Fund (1996) – Member of Ministerial three-person team that changed UIF to include coverage for the first time of over 600,000 domestic workers.

• Expanded social protection (2002) – Coordinating member of Cabinet-appointed Taylor Committee that reformed social security system, including creating the child support grant.

• Extended film and television incentive (2006-8) – as an executive in DTI revised the industry incentive to support lower-budget South African film and television productions, which led to a substantial increase in successful local production. 

• Managed South Africa's “Health Roadmap” to turn around AIDS pandemic – as DBSA Group Executive I managed the Roadmap process, including all major stakeholders, which culminated in the National Health Strategic Plan (2009-2012), the implementation of which increased average life expectancy from 49 to 62 years. 

• Established the Parliamentary Budget Office for South Africa (2011) – team leader in the creation of the model and implementation framework for Parliamentary Budget Office, as required by the South African Constitution. 

• Established the National Green Fund (2012) – led the DBSA/National Treasury/ Department of Environmental Affairs team in establishing the Green Fund. The Green Fund catalysed today’s ‘Green Jobs’ investments.

• Established SA's largest Metro-level enterprise development ecosystem and Township growth Funds (2014-20) – conceptualised and implemented SME programme to reach over 12,000 small businesses each year. This includes piloting earlier version of ‘Township Growth Funds,’ connecting formal finance to micro-enterprises via digital platforms and trading apps.

As CEO of YES he is a member of the Presidential Youth Employment Initiative (PYEI), particularly focused on demand-led skilling/ jobs.

He is vice-President of Harvard Alumni Entrepreneurs (Africa).

He holds a BCOM (Law) from UKZN and a MPA from Harvard University.

Kasthuri is the Chief Executive Officer of Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator. Harambee is a

non-profit social enterprise that partners with business, government and civil society to innovate

solutions that address youth unemployment in South Africa, at scale. Kasthuri was the Finance

Director of Harambee for 10 years, prior to her taking up the role as CEO.

She is a chartered accountant who spent 10 years at Deloitte in various leadership positions focused

on the provision of audit and advisory services to international funders and development initiatives.

Kasthuri’s experience at the helm of non-profit organisations is vast, having also served as the CEO

of Soul City Institute for Social Justice. Subsequent to that, she was involved in social investment

work at Yellowwoods and PricewaterhouseCoopers.

Kasthuri’s over 25 years of professional experience and service as a non-executive director on many

NGO boards has made her a recognised leader in the social sector.

She currently serves as a member of the World Economic Forum Global Future Council on Jobs and

Frontier Technology. The purpose of the Council is to generate insights on how frontier technologies

can be harnessed to drive inclusion and create better quality jobs and earning opportunities in

economies across the globe.

Kasthuri is unwavering in her commitment to driving transformative changes that unlock the

immense talent and potential of South Africa's youth, fostering their livelihoods, bolstering the

economy, and uplifting the entire country.

Nonhlanhla Magagula is a seasoned development practitioner with over 15 years of experience, primarily within the financial services sector. She currently serves as the Head of Corporate Citizenship Programmes at Absa, where she leads strategic initiatives focused on youth economic empowerment.

Her portfolio includes Entrepreneurship Education Initiatives, the Absa CSI Trust – established as part of Absa’s BBBEE transaction in 2023, and the Employee Volunteering Portfolio.

Nonhlanhla is deeply passionate about driving an inclusive agenda which seeks to unlock the potential of young people through creating pathways for their economic empowerment. Her career journey reflects a strong commitment to inclusive development—from coaching university students in academic and leadership excellence to designing transformative programmes that unlock economic opportunities for marginalised communities, especially youth and galvanising employees from the various brands to demonstrate active citizenry. 

She has served in various leadership roles including as a member of the Financial Accounting Services SETA Communications Committee. She has been recognised for her exceptional delivery of managed portfolios, receiving various top performance awards with different employers.

She holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Finance & Economics) from the University of Cape Town, an Honours in Development Studies from the University of South Africa, Postgraduate Diplomas in Management (Monitoring & Evaluation) and (Public & Development Management) from the Wits School of Governance, and a Public Policy certificate from the London Schol of Economics. She is currently pursuing a Master’s in Science degree specialisation in Public Policy with the University of London’s SOAS

Reshni Singh is the Chief Executive Officer of Business Process Enabling South Africa (BPESA), the national industry association for the Global Business Services (GBS) sector. BPESA plays a pivotal role in positioning South Africa as a leading offshore destination for international and domestic clients, with a strong focus on driving inclusive economic growth and large-scale job creation, particularly for previously disadvantaged youth.

As CEO, Reshni provides strategic and operational leadership to advance the growth and scalability of the GBS sector. She leads the implementation of the GBS Sector Master Plan and BPESA’s Business Plan, with a focused agenda across demand creation, talent supply, transformation, and sustainability. Her role is centred on fostering collaboration between industry, government, and key stakeholders to ensure the sector delivers on national economic priorities and meaningfully contributes to addressing youth unemployment.

Prior to joining BPESA, Reshni served as a Director within the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition, where she spent over 20 years shaping industrial policy and driving investment promotion initiatives. Her experience spans general management, incentive programme administration, policy development, strategic planning, corporate governance, and stakeholder engagement at a ministerial level.

A respected leader in the GBS sector, Reshni has over 14 years of experience supporting global investors from key markets including the UK, USA, and Australia across multiple service verticals. She has served on the BPESA Board and Executive Committee, as well as on the Inter-Departmental Committee on Digital Skills, contributing to national skills development and sector advancement.

Reshni is a passionate advocate for the empowerment and employability of youth and women. She holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of South Africa, majoring in Accounting and Business Management, and a Master’s degree in International Business from the University of London.

As Country Director at Google, I leverage my extensive experience in business strategy to drive growth and innovation in tech and digital transformation. I lead a team of professionals to deliver cutting-edge solutions that meet the needs of our clients, partners and stakeholders across consumer, enterprise and government that makes an impact in people’s lives.  

In addition to my role at Google, I also serve as a Non-Executive Director at Strate, where I bring my expertise in technology, business development, consulting and management to contribute to the strategic direction and decision-making processes of these organizations.   My goal is to create value and impact through my leadership and vision. 

Lincoln Mali is a transformative business leader defined by courage, resilience, and an authentic 

commitment to building a more inclusive Africa.

With over 25 years in financial services, Lincoln consistently chose the harder path. At Standard 

Bank Group, he spent two decades advancing financial access across more than 16 African 

markets, forging early payment linkages between Africa and China, and extending modern 

banking to underserved communities – establishing himself as a pathfinder in African banking.

In 2021, he led the turnaround of loss-making Lesaka Technologies. Through bold decisions and 

strategic acquisitions, he built South Africa’s largest fintech platform, now serving over 2 million 

consumers and over 100,000 merchants across five countries. A landmark achievement was 

uniting multiple acquired brands – with over 4,000 employees – into one Lesaka identity. Through 

transparent engagement and sustained dialogue, he aligned remuneration, benefits, and culture

– transforming potential fragmentation into a unified, agile workforce. This culture is equally 

reflected in the calibre of people Lesaka attracts, from top graduates across South Africa’s leading 

universities to executive leaders drawn from prominent global and African companies – a 

testament to the organisation Lincoln has built.

His impact at Lesaka extends well beyond business. Through its ‘Lesaka Impact Hub’, the 

company drives meaningful community investment through CSI initiatives spanning education, 

economic inclusion, and social upliftment – reflecting Lincoln’s belief that great companies must 

be forces for good.

Lincoln’s industry leadership doesn’t stop at Lesaka, as Founding President of ASAPP 

(Association of South African Payment Providers), he unites competing fintechs to shape national 

payments policy and regulation, demonstrating that collaboration can drive systemic change.

His commitment to the next generation is equally defining. Lincoln is the author of the best-selling

book, Blazing a Trail: Lessons for African Leadership, whose proceeds fund the Lincoln Mali 

Leadership Foundation – a platform he has built over 12 years to support mentorship, community 

feeding schemes, and sports development in township and rural schools. The Foundation also 

runs the acclaimed Youth Leadership Summit (now in its 4th year with Henley Business School), 

convening 200 young professionals aged 21-35 with top leaders, and most recently launched the 

Mzwandile Mali Schools Rugby Champions League, bringing structured competition and real 

opportunity to 132 schools across the Eastern Cape.

A Harvard Business School AMP graduate elected Class Speaker by his peers, Lincoln is a 

sought-after international speaker and the voice behind Conversations with Lincoln – over 100 

essays on leadership, ethics, and transformation. In 2025, he was named Africa Business Leader 

of the Year at the 13th All Africa Business Leaders Awards (AABLA). Urban College of Boston in 

the United States of America has invited him to deliver the 2026 commencement address, where 

he will be conferred with an honorary degree.

Lincoln Mali does not just lead – he shapes the Africa, and leaders, of tomorrow.

Linda Reddy is a London-based Global Executive and international speaker specialising in transformation, performance, and the underlying power dynamics of complex corporate systems.

She has operated across more than 24 countries, delivering over 400% EBITDA growth and significant shareholder value creation across FMCG, banking, and hospitality.

Her work focuses on how power, systems, and human dynamics shape outcomes beyond formal structures.

She is the creator of The 11 Invisible Games of Corporate Power and The 22 Human Dynamics in Corporate Systems.

Linda is a 2026 Italy Olympics torchbearer and has delivered recent speaking engagements in Amsterdam, Chicago and Dublin. 

Judy is a qualified medical and academic doctor. She has worked as a medical doctor in private practice, occupational health consultant, corporate financier (at HSBC Investment Bank, entrepreneur, published author and philanthropist. She’s the founder of Mbekani Group which will celebrate 30 years in business in 2026. Founder and Sponsor of Female Academic Leaders Fellowship NPC (FALF), which seeks to develop a pipeline of female academic leaders and researchers. Co-founder of Sifiso Learning Group and Future Nation School (FNS). FNS is an affordable private independent school that nurtures future leaders and critical thinkers from 18-months to matric.

Her doctoral thesis was converted to a bestseller titled Equal but Different. Her other titles include The Other Story, Grow to be Great and The Doctor of Hearts. She writes to inform and empower with an interest in academic writing on entrepreneurship, social justice, and gender equality.

Her past non-executive directorships include Discovery Holdings Ltd where she chaired the transformation and remuneration committees, Northam Platinum Ltd, Woolworths Holdings Limited and Anglo-American plc. She is the former chairperson of Aspen Phamacare Limited, Gender Based Violence and Femicide Response Fund and Wits Donald Gordon Medical Centre (Pty) Ltd. She’s the current Chancellor at Wits University and a non-executive director at the SA SME Fund.

Her philanthropic initiatives include Mkhiwa Trust, a family public benefit organisation that invests in education and rural development, and FALF. She’s been honored by Nelson Mandela University with a PhD in Business and UKZN with a PhD in Economics

Lizelle van der Merwe is a transformative force in South Africa's financial services sector, driving systemic change at the intersection of regulation, industry growth and sustainability, and client-centred advocacy.

As CEO of the Financial Intermediaries Association of Southern Africa (FIA), Lizelle leads one of the country's most influential trade associations, representing over 1,600 Financial Service Providers and 12,500 individual practitioners across non-life insurance, financial planning, investments, healthcare, and employee benefits. 

Under her leadership, FIA has grown from a membership body into a recognised and credible voice for advisory businesses locally and internationally.

At the heart of Lizelle's vision is a conviction that independent intermediaries are not simply distribution channels — they are entrepreneurs and a gateway for consumers to access a complex financial services industry. Small and medium advisory businesses are engines of job creation, community resilience, and economic participation. Protecting and growing this entrepreneurial base is, for Lizelle, both an industry imperative and a national one. South Africa cannot afford to lose the economic contribution of a thriving intermediary sector, and her leadership is deliberately oriented toward ensuring that more people can build sustainable businesses within it.

Beyond membership, Lizelle has championed industry transformation as a Board Member of the Financial Sector Transformation Council (FSTC), where she previously chaired the Human Resources and Remuneration Committee. She also serves as an Executive Council Member of the World Federation of Insurance Intermediaries (WFII), a role that positions South Africa's intermediary sector on the global stage. In 2026, FIA proudly hosted the WFII World Council Annual Meeting in Cape Town, cementing the country's standing in the international insurance intermediary community.

Her leadership philosophy is grounded in governance discipline, strategic clarity, and a deep belief in the power of independent advice to improve financial outcomes for South Africans. She is equally committed to developing the next generation of industry leaders and entrepreneurs , a commitment reflected in her active support for initiatives like the SASRIA Unemployed Youth Broker Development Programme, which creates pathways for young South Africans to enter the sector and build careers and businesses of their own.

Lizelle's nomination for the 2026 Future Leaders Award is recognition not only of individual achievement, but of a leadership approach built on long-term impact, institutional credibility, and a relentless focus on what the industry is — and what it must become — for South Africa's economic future.

Tshepo is the Managing Director of International Coverage at Absa Corporate and Investment Bank (CIB), focusing on Multinational Corporates from the United States, Europe, Middle East and Asia as well as China. Her role emphasizes global connectivity and delivering pan-African banking solutions to a global client base. The International Coverage business significantly boosts Absa Group's financial performance, and her portfolio contributes a significant amount to Absa's revenue. Tshepo has over 20 years accumulated experience in the Financial Services industry, where she has developed a keen specialization that spans diverse array of sectors such as Services, Hospitality, Diversification, Manufacturing, Retail, and Power Utilities in both Internationally within the Pan African region.

Tshepo is passionate about banking and the development of others. She mentors junior staff and supports Banking on Women Absa CIB, empowering women within CIB. Additionally, she was also involved with Columba Leadership, an NGO that has positively impacted over 6,500 graduates across 160 schools in six provinces.

From a leadership perspective, Tshepo exhibits unwavering decisiveness, upholding the highest standards of integrity and achievement for herself and her teams. Beyond her professional achievements, Tshepo is a testament to the belief that women can indeed excel in multiple roles. She is a devoted family woman who defies the notion that one must choose between career and family.

Notable Achievements and positions:

• Board Member Manitou Southern Africa French Listed Entity

• Manitou Chair Risk and Ethics Committee

 • Board Member for British Chamber of Commerce

• Ford Financial Services Board

• Ford Financial Services Chair Risk and Ethics Committee

• Vice Chairperson Spanish Chamber of Commerce

• Leading the coverage strategy for the launch the Absa CIB China Office

• Co — Chair Banking on Women which is instrumental in driving equity in banking.

• Awarded the Best Project for the IMD Program research on SME Africa

• Named one of the Most Influential Women in Africa

• Featured and co Authored Future Leadership Forum

Celiwe holds a BSc Engineering degree from the University of the Witwatersrand as well as an MBA from the University of Cape Town’s Graduate School of Business. She has held senior investment banking roles within the Standard Bank Group in South Africa, Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana, covering the mining, energy, real estate and infrastructure sectors.

It was while she was leading the financial services practice of global search and leadership advisory firm Egon Zehnder that she met and worked closely with the Exco and Board of Old Mutual Emerging Markets, conducting team effectiveness reviews and assessing their readiness to operate as Old Mutual Limited in a listed environment.

Ross joined Old Mutual in May 2017. Prior to her appointment as Human Resources Director, she was Chief of Staff in the office of the OMEM CEO where she gained a deep understanding of Old Mutual’s operations.

“As we strengthen our focus on Africa and prepare for our primary listing on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange next month, it’s exciting to have leaders of the calibre of Celiwe onboard,” says Moyo. “Not only is she a strategic thinker with an exceptionally sharp intellect, but she also has strong leadership skills and a deep understanding of Africa’s diverse operating environments.”

Celiwe says she is looking forward to leading Old Mutual’s human capital function during this significant time in its 173 year history. “Old Mutual is a Top Employer that employs more than 28 000 people in 17 countries across Africa and other select emerging markets. The opportunities to grow and increase our positive impact are enormous.”

Ross’s many remarkable achievements include graduating as the first black female mining engineer in South Africa, and being recognised as one of the top 100 final year students in the country, having taken part in the Brightest Young Minds conference, a platform aimed at nurturing South Africa’s young, upcoming talent. In 2016, she was recognised as Gauteng’s Businesswoman of the Year in the Corporate Sector by the Businesswomen’s Association.

Malusi is a dedicated youth advocate and talent developer based in KwaZulu-Natal, committed to the holistic growth of individuals under 23 years. With a multidisciplinary approach, Malusi has bridged the gap between physical sports and mental strategy, fostering a new generation of versatile leaders in the province.

On the field and at the table Malusi has been instrumental in revitalizing soccer and table tennis programs, focusing not just on technical skill but on the 'team-first' mentality required for success. This commitment to discipline extends to the chess board, where they mentor youth in critical thinking and long-term planning skills that Malusi believes are essential for navigating life's challenges. 

Beyond athletics, Malusi is a champion of debating providing a platform for KZN youth to find their voices and engage in persuasive communication. By integrating leadership into every activity, they have successfully empowered over 100 young people to take up roles as captains, mentors and community organizers.

Whether through a tactical soccer drill or a high-stakes debate, Malusi continues to prove that developing talent is about more than winning trophies, it is about building the character and resilience of KZN's and South Africa's future.

As the Managing Executive: Talent Management & Transitions at Absa Group, I leverage the power of the Absa brand to unlock Africa's potential and empower communities. 

A significant portion of my focus is dedicated to people issues, supporting our leaders in navigating the complexities of the business environment. We embrace adaptability, collaboration, and forward-thinking to strategically respond to challenges and ensure our solutions align with our purpose.  Engagement, connection, solutioning, networking, and purposefulness define my approach. 

By fostering collaboration and driving strategic initiatives, I create an environment where individuals thrive and reach their full potential. With Absa's global presence in Beijing, New York, Prague, and more, our impact extends worldwide, influencing the financial landscape.  

Through industry affiliations, I collaborate with influential professionals to develop innovative solutions for complex industry challenges and drive progress. We are redefining employment contracts and making a meaningful impact within our space.  

In the dynamic work landscape, I explore avenues in the people space to future-proof ourselves and our talent. From hybrid work models to wellness initiatives and addressing the challenges of the great resignation, our goal is to be a future-ready organisation that empowers individuals to achieve their dreams. Join me on this exciting journey of unlocking Africa's potential, empowering communities, and redefining the future of banking. 

John Makgato is a strategic and intrapreneurial leader with more than 18 years of experience, including nine years in digital transformation, product innovation, and customer centric growth within financial services.

As the Head of Youth Segment Strategy & CVP at Nedbank, he leads end to end strategy and execution for value propositions and platforms designed to empower the underserved youth market. 

This includes steering the nationally scaled YouthX by Nedbank platform, a digitally enabled ecosystem delivering impact through youth empowerment and enterprise development.

Previously at Momentum Multiply, John served as the Product Owner for a portfolio of digital wellness products, leading their end to end development. In this role, he translated customer insights into scalable, tech enabled solutions that improved engagement and wellbeing outcomes across the Multiply ecosystem

His experience spans digital product management, ecosystem led innovation, and strategic partnership development. John has collaborated with both global and local tech startups to deliver next generation, future fit solutions.

Beyond his corporate leadership, John is deeply committed to social impact. Through the Linda Makgato Foundation, he has helped provide relief to disadvantaged communities, including child headed households and children’s centres, offering food, clothing, financial assistance, and holistic support during the COVID 19 pandemic. He believes in creating meaningful experiences for people so they can, in turn, create better experiences for others, a philosophy that underpins both his social impact work and his leadership approach.

John holds a BAcc from the University of the Free State, a Postgraduate Diploma in Business Administration (Cum Laude) from Wits Business School, and an MBA from the Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS).

Sne is a highly experienced IT executive with over 20 years in IT, 10 of which have been in senior leadership roles spanning across local, regional, and global jurisdictions. Sne has depth and breadth of expertise that spans across multiple industries, including FMCG, Mining, Chemicals, Manufacturing, Technology, and Financial Services.

Sne is currently the Group Vice President for Technology and Digital at AECI - a senior executive responsible for leading AECI’s digital transformation, technology strategy, and enterprise IT operations. This role plays a pivotal role in aligning technology investments with business growth, operational resilience, and innovation. 

She was previously the Chief Information Officer and Executive Committee Member at Discovery Insure where she orchestrated a team of 170+ IT professionals. Sne was also an Exco member of the Discovery Group CIO Forum. She is an executive with a significant emphasis on Disciplined Agile delivery and measurement of business value metrics, Sne spends her time formulating and executing business and IT strategies, driving organizational transformation whilst managing a multi-million Rand P&L

Prior to joining Discovery, Sne was Head of IT for the Middle, East, East and Southern Africa region at Danone. Before joining Danone, she was the Head of IT for Africa at Unilever.

Sne is currently serving in the International Data Corporation (IDC) South Africa, AFSUG and Wired4Women Boards. She is a member of the Chartered CIO Council of South Africa, and she is a qualified Chartered CIO. In 2023 and 2024, Sne was recognized as one of the distinguished top 50 IT Leaders in South Africa (DT50) for her positive contribution to the digital landscape in South Africa. Sne’s contribution to the broader IT industry sees her engaging in industry-wide conferences, round tables, council discussions and various ‘Women in IT’ forums. She is passionate about mentorship and thought leadership. She was nominated for the inaugural 2023 CIO Awards, which recognizes CIOs who have excelled in their IT capacity within their respective industries.

Sne earned a BSc in Computer Science as well as a BCom Honors in Information Systems from the University of KwaZulu Natal. She also holds an MBA.

Sne is a mother of 3 who enjoys extreme sports, running, hiking and is an avid traveller.

Ziaad Suleman is the Chief Executive Officer of Cassava Technologies operations for South Africa and Botswana. He is an accomplished C – Suite business and technology leader, with his experience spanning over 25 years in the technology industry. He is responsible for the country's leadership, strategy, and operations across the Cassava portfolio of companies including Liquid Intelligent Technologies, Africa Data Centres, Sasai Fintech, Liquid Cloud and Security, and CassavaAI.

Ziaad has a proven track record of driving business success through the enablement of technology solutions. He is a solution driven leader with a keen interest in digital transformation.

Before joining Liquid, Ziaad was the Group Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) and an exco member at iOCO Technologies, formerly the EOH Company, for 3 ½ years from July 2021. Before that, he was a Director and the Head General Counsel for IBM Africa for 6 years before being promoted to Chief Operating Officer (COO) for IBM Southern Africa, a business he served and grew throughout his 13-year stay.

Over and above iOCO, Ziaad represents South Africa as the SA Chair of 4IR and the Digital Economy on BRICS+. He is also a non – executive Director of : CollectiveX (the national initiative to solve the digital skills deficit), Southern Africa Philanthropy Foundation and Geeks 4 Learning.

Ziaad completed his schooling at St. Johns College, Johannesburg, earning his undergraduate and postgraduate honours degree in Law (distinction) from the University of Natal. He also has an MDP Business Management degree (distinction) from GIBS Business School.

In his spare time, Ziaad enjoys sport (golf, squash, padel tennis) and collects sports memorabilia and vintage toys.

Julian Joshua is a rare breed of C-suite leader — one who sits at the intersection of human capital, digital technology, and enterprise transformation with equal command of all three. With over 27 years of experience spanning banking, insurance, investment banking, wealth management, and family office environments, Julian brings a uniquely cross-functional lens to digital leadership that few peers can match.

In his current role as Group COO of Human Capital at Absa Group, Julian leads one of the most digitally ambitious human capital functions in African financial services — overseeing Global Shared Services, People Operations, Analytics and Data, Learning Operations, HC Digital Technology, the Strategic Programme Office, and Service Management. This breadth reflects not just operational scope, but a deliberate philosophy: that the future of work must be architected with the same rigour applied to any technology or commercial transformation.

Prior to Absa, Julian served as Global Technology Hub Director at Old Mutual, where he led the strategic design and scaling of the group’s technology and digital capabilities — establishing key hubs and centres of excellence across global markets. This role cemented his reputation as a builder of digital ecosystems, not merely a manager of them.

Over 18 years of experience as HR Director in technology, digital, applied intelligence, and Lean/Six Sigma environments give Julian a practitioner’s depth that distinguishes him from conventional digital transformation leaders. He understands both the human system and the machine system — and how to align them.

Julian is a passionate advocate for purposeful AI adoption — championing strategic fit, return on investment, and ethical deployment over novelty. His thinking on New Ways of Work (NWOW), agile organisation design, and culture transition has shaped transformation programmes at scale across some of South Africa’s most significant financial institutions.

His academic grounding is equally formidable — holding Executive Education credentials from UC Berkeley Haas School of Business, London Business School, Duke University, and GIBS, alongside a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of KwaZulu-Natal. He currently serves as a Board Member on the Richfield Graduate Institute of Technology Advisory Board, demonstrating a commitment to growing the next generation of digital talent.

At his core, Julian leads with a conviction that transformation is a team sport — and that the most powerful driver of digital change is an empowered, high-performing, human-centred organisation.

Julian Joshua exemplifies what it means to be a Digital Transformation Leader for the new world of work — strategic, empathetic, commercially grounded, and boldly future-focused.

Dr Stanley Mpofu is a distinguished ICT and digital transformation leader with

over 30 years of experience and deep roots in South African soil. Born and

raised in humble beginnings, he carries a strong connection to his cultural

heritage, which continues to shape his values of integrity, service, and

community upliftment.

A proud alumnus of the University of the Witwatersrand, where he later

earned a PhD in Strategic Leadership, Dr Mpofu began his career in 1995 as a

desktop technician at Transnet. Through discipline, vision, and resilience, he

rose through the ranks to become a Chartered CIO and Certified Director

(IoDSA).

Since 2017, he has served as Chief Information Officer at Wits University,

where he transformed a struggling ICT division into a strategic, highperforming unit. His “Smart Classroom” initiative and rapid shift to online learning during the pandemic showcased his ability to lead through crisis.

Dr Mpofu chairs HEITSA—representing CIOs from 26 public universities—and

serves on multiple national boards, including TENET and the Public Sector ICT Forum. He is a passionate advocate for digital equity, championing zero-rated

student data and public eduroam access to bridge the digital divide. 

Lee Naik serves as the Chief Executive Officer of TransUnion Africa, where he stands as a prominent figure in the continent's digital and technology transformation landscape. With oversight of a diverse portfolio spanning 8 countries, Lee plays a pivotal role in collaborating with governments and businesses to drive digital and financial inclusion initiatives, catalysing Africa's economic growth trajectory.

Drawing from over two decades of experience, Lee's tenure as the former Managing Director of Accenture Digital underscores his commitment to assisting organisations in navigating the complexities of digital transformation amidst evolving landscapes.

Beyond his executive role, Lee garners global recognition as a distinguished technology commentator and speaker. His insights have earned him accolades, including acknowledgment as an official influencer in the esteemed LinkedIn Top Voice awards. Moreover, Lee champions diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, earning accolades such as being voted among the top Inclusive leaders on the continent by the Gender Mainstreaming Awards.

Lee's academic credentials include a Bachelor of Computer Science, complemented by a PgDip in Futures Studies, earned with distinction (cum laude). Lee is also a Fellow of the Gordan Institute of Business Science (GIBS) it’s in Centre for Africa Management and Markets. His academic pursuits reflect his dedication to staying at the forefront of emerging trends and innovative practices within the digital realm.

Esha Mansingh is the Head of Corporate Affairs and Sustainability for Africa at DP World and the former Head of Corporate Affairs and Sustainability for sub-Saharan Africa at DP World. She previously served as Executive Vice President: Corporate Affairs and Investor Relations at JSE-listed Imperial Logistics, prior to DP World’s acquisition of Imperial Logistics in 2022. Esha is a World Economic Forum Young Global Leader (2022) and a member of Harvard Kennedy School’s Women Leadership board. She is a Harvard University Executive education alumni and her work in sustainability, women empowerment and social impact have been recognised globally. As a seasoned board member, Esha serves on the boards of NBI, Unjani Clinics, Imperial & Motus Community Trust and World Economic Forum’s New Champions South Africa. She has over 16 years leadership experience in investor relations, sustainability, corporate affairs, strategy, communications, and government relations. Her previous roles include Head of Investor Relations at Imperial Holdings, Kumba Iron Ore and Harmony Gold Mining. Esha served on the Integrated Reporting Committee SA Working Group for many years and is a founding member of the Investor Relations Society of South Africa.

Sue Sunker is redefining what leadership means in the 21st century. A passionate advocate of the prosperity model for business, she champions a future where organisations commit to Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), moving beyond the traditional focus on profit alone.

Following the attainment of an LLB and an MBA, Sue is currently pursuing her doctoral thesis on sustainable leadership; an academic journey that complements her 16 years of practice as an attorney and more than a decade of service as Chief Risk Officer at the Graduate Institute of Financial Sciences (GIFS), a global educational powerhouse.

Her career has been defined by a singular focus: building sustainable, ethical models for businesses and pioneering frameworks for ethical leadership. Sue believes that prosperity is not measured by financial gain alone but by the ability of organisations to create lasting value for people, communities and the planet.

Sue’s nomination as Sustainability Leader of the Year is a testament to her unwavering commitment to integrity, innovation and impact. She embodies the conviction that sustainable leadership is not an aspiration. It is a necessity for businesses that wish to thrive responsibly in a rapidly changing world.

Priscilla Urquhart was born in Durban and spent her formative years there before pursuing a career in journalism and then moving to Johannesburg to The Star newspaper in 1995.

Following more than 11 years in the newspaper and magazine industry, working among the top news titles across the country and London, including the Cape Times and Fairlady magazine, Priscilla followed a career in Public & Media Relations and Investor Relations before joining the corporate world as Corporate and Brand PR Manager for brandhouse in 2008. Her work for this joint venture business comprising of Diageo, Heineken and Namibia Breweries, and she is credited with launching the Responsible Drinking Media Awards in 2011 which remains a successful engagement platform for media and consumers.

In 2013, as PR and Media Manager for the World Design Capital Cape Town 2014, she helped shape and create an important legacy for the city through transformative and sustainable design. This enabled widespread international and local spotlight on the city and the people, and community driving change through design.

In her current role as Head of Public Affairs, Communications, Sustainability & Philanthropy at Coca-Cola Peninsula Beverages, Priscilla focuses on delivering value and connection to communities, consumers and customers and shaping the environment in which the company operates in. She is committed to sustainable and measurable initiatives that support developing communities to grow, while building a fair and balanced environment through social license. In 2018, she championed and led a campaign for Coca-Cola South Africa to stop the supply of plastic straws and has spearheaded the funding of multiple CSI and community projects including coastal clean ups annually.

Priscilla is passionate about making a difference that matters and changing the world for better. She is an Ambassador for the Amy Foundation, an organisation in the name of the late American student Amy Biehl (www.amyfoundation.co.za) dedicated to sustainable youth empowerment.

Ronell is a purpose-driven sustainability professional committed to advancing Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) strategy and responsible business practices. With a background spanning audit, ethics, and governance, she brings analytical mindset to embedding sustainability into core operations and strengthening value-driven non-financial reporting.

Driven by the belief that sustainability is key to a better future, Ronell is deeply passionate about driving meaningful impact through her work, championing sustainability not only as a business imperative but as a pathway to improving lives and shaping a more equitable future. She is particularly dedicated to inspiring young people to engage with sustainability, using her voice to advocate for responsible leadership, conscious decision-making and building for long-term impact.

Loshni Naidoo is the Chief Sustainability Officer (CSO) at the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE), where she is responsible for shaping and embedding sustainability as a strategic driver of long-term value creation, and systemic impact across Africa’s largest capital market.

Appointed in August 2023, Loshni plays a pivotal role in advancing the JSE’s sustainability agenda across strategy, products and services, ESG data integrity, and board-level oversight.  Her work not only influences the JSE’s own operations but also the long-term value and disclosure practices of market participants.

At the JSE, Loshni champions an integrated, forward-looking approach to sustainability, one that moves beyond compliance to enable credible ESG measurement, decision-useful disclosures, and the mobilisation of capital towards resilient and sustainable economic outcomes.  She represents the JSE on several national and international advisory platforms, contributing to the evolution of sustainability, responsible investment, and climate-related practices across financial markets.

With close to two decades of multi-sector experience, Loshni’s career reflects a combination of technical depth, strategic insight, and leadership credibility.  She began her professional journey as a chemical engineer, working within the mining, agricultural, and manufacturing sectors, before transitioning to senior advisory and leadership roles across professional services, financial services, and corporate environments.  This breadth of experience enables her to bridge the spheres of industry, finance and sustainability with clarity and pragmatism.

Throughout her career sustainability has been an enduring focus, informing her work across sectors, and shaping her leadership approach.  Loshni integrates sustainability considerations, ESG strategy, and future-focused thinking into executive decision-making, helping organisations to navigate complexity and transition with purpose.

Loshni holds a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering, a Bachelor of Commerce in Informatics, a Master’s in Business Administration, and a Post-Graduate Diploma in Future Studies.  She is a respected thought leader and sustainability advocate, known for her thoughtful, future-focused leadership approach.