Catherine is an entrepreneur with many years’ experience across a range of sectors. She has dedicated the past ten years to helping small and growing businesses to succeed, using a holistic people-first philosophy. A licensed paragliding pilot, Catherine’s insight into the real risks required to take one to new heights make her a business leader of note. Catherine holds a BSc (Hons) Agric from Edinburgh University, a Masters in Agriculture from the University of Queensland in Australia, and an MBA from Henley Business College, UK.

Experienced Group Development Executive with a demonstrated history of working in the retail industry. Skilled in Negotiation, Analytical Skills, Operations Management, Microsoft Word, and Coaching. Strong purchasing professional with a National Diploma Procurement Management focused in Manufacturing and Retail Procurement from Tshwane University of Technology.

Elmarie has 18 years of experience working in a variety of Blue Chip organisations such as Virgin Media, Vodafone, British Gas and Barclays in Europe and Barclays Africa South Africa. She has in-depth knowledge of Supplier Development and Management, Contract Management and Governance. Elmarie now consults and specifically focuses on getting companies supply-chain ready and understand the needs and challenges faced by procurement and the small businesses when they engage.

Nicholas Maweni is the Executive Chairman of BRICS Fashion and has extensive experience in both Private & Public Sector having worked as Chief of Staff for Ministry of Arts & Culture and Ministry of Justice & Constitutional Development. He was the Managing Director for Black Management Forum and was previously the Chief Marketing Executive at IBM Africa. He has worked in the Marketing, Communications and Sponsorship for over 17 years a seasoned Senior Executive. Mr Maweni serves on various boards which include Valued Citizens Initiative (NGO) and Edu Leaders Foundation and Amnesty International (Task Advisory Group South Africa). He has a Master’s degree in Strategic Marketing and a Master of Law.

Mamosa spent close to five years at the IDC as a financial transactor in the manufacturing sector and has extensive experience with due diligence’s in marketing, technical and financial for the manufacturing industry. Wamobu Consulting focus on capital raising for emerging businesses on a growth path. She holds a BSc degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of the Witwatersrand and a MBA from Edinburgh Business School, the Graduate School of Business of Heriot-Watt University, UK.

Litha Kutta graduated from CPUT with a National Diploma and Btech Degree in Public Management, and Btech Degree in Business Administration. Litha Kutta holds a Divisional Executive role as Director: Enterprise and Supplier Development at Tiger Brands, the only food company in the JSE Top 40. Litha Kutta was brought in at Tiger Brands to setup its Enterprise Development portfolio, develop Tiger Brands ESD strategy, to transform Tiger Brand supply and value chain through re-engineering procurement strategies to unlock opportunities for black owned and black women owned supplier, develop ESD programmes to support black suppliers, farmers and distributors.

Dr Rethabile Melamu is a dynamic and self-motivated professional, trained as a Chemical and Environmental Engineer at the University of Cape Town. She is currently the General Manager for the Green Economy Unit at The Innovation Hub and a member of the Executive Committee. She has more than 10 years experience in the green economy sector, including in the renewable energy sector broadly and biofuels sector specifically; she also has expertise in the following areas; waste management; innovation and enterprise development. She has published reports and academic articles in her fields of expertise and has participated as a speaker at several conferences.

Dean, director, activist, speaker, educator. Founder of #CorporateActivism #NoMoreBribes #NewAfricanHeroes #FamilyFriendlyLearning, #MBAid #HenleyICE, #HenleyFIRE. Driver of ‘We build the people, who build the businesses, that build Africa’ Director and designer of MBA, leadership and executive programmes. Years in strategy, creativity, innovation. Director of innovation centre in New Zealand. Resource at YPO Africa Ignite. Also, ex-airline captain, senior executive in the European aerospace industry, aerobatics competitor, flight examiner and instructor.

Lisa has 18 years of broad ranging experience in strategic project management, sustainability and the built environment as well as design, public relations, marketing and communications – across a broad range of industries – in the private sector, industry bodies and various NGO’s. Extensive network underpinned by a Master’s degree in Town and Regional Planning and a Bachelor’s degree in Building Arts (Architecture).

Jonathon Hanks is co-founder and director of Incite, a global advisory network based in South Africa that helps its clients build competitiveness by delivering societal value. He has more than 25 years of advisory and advocacy experience, working with companies, intergovernmental bodies and NGOs across emerging markets. He was elected to chair the multi-stakeholder negotiations on the text of ISO 26000, securing consensus – from more than 95 countries and 450 experts – on the international standard on social responsibility. He is a teaching fellow on various executive and MBA programmes, and a regularly invited conference speaker and facilitator.