EV Adoption, Chief Executive Officer
Through his website and consulting firm EVAdoption, McDonald conducts research and analysis for companies and organizations trying to understand how the transition to electric vehicles will impact their business and the key factors that will drive and hinder consumer adoption of EVs. His research and analysis have been cited in the New York Times, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, Automotive New, USA Today among many other publications.
He leverages more than 30 years of experience as a marketing executive, consultant, and thought leader for companies including IBM, Arthur Andersen, USWeb/CKS, and Silverpop. He has written more than 600 articles on both marketing and electric vehicle trends and has delivered more than 400 presentations and webinars.
Transnet, Group Chief Executive
Ms. Portia Derby is the current Group Chief Executive of Transnet SOC Ltd, appointed February 2020. She has occupied senior positions in the South African government during a period of major economic reform. Portia is the former Director-General of Public Enterprises (2005 - 2009) responsible for Corporate Strategy and Structure of the Investment Portfolio (2004 - 2005) and former Chief Operating Officer of the Department of Trade and Industry (2002).
Portia’s career in government started at the National Institute for Economic Policy (NIEP), as a financial researcher where she played an integral role in working on the quantification of the Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP). Portia previously served as a non-executive director of Metair Investments and Safcol. She has also worked in the private sector as an Executive Director: Clients Africa at Aurecon, an international engineering and infrastructure advisory company.
Portia holds a Bachelor of Science Degree (majoring in Economics and Geology), an Honours degree in Economics from the University of Natal, as well as a Master’s in Business Administration from the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg.
SATMC
Sumitomo Rubber South Africa CEO, Chairperson
Lubin Ozoux was appointed as the Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director of Sumitomo Rubber South Africa (Pty) Ltd (SRSA), effective 01 January 2021. SRSA is the manufacturer and distributor of the Dunlop, Sumitomo and Falken tyre brands for the African continent.
Ozoux previously served as the company’s Group Director: Sales, Marketing and Operation and is a key member of the Executive Committee, contributing to the overall direction of the company. He joined SRSA in 2017 as Director: Export (Africa) successfully leading the expansion into key African markets, later taking on the responsibility of leading the company’s sales effort throughout territories in Africa including South Africa.
Prior to joining SRSA, Ozoux spent 11 years with the Hilti Corporation, working across multiple countries and continents. He has extensive Sales, Marketing, Engineering and General Management experience and is well positioned to lead SRSA forward.
He is also the current chairperson of the South African Tyre Manufacturers Conference (SATMC), the representative body of the four global tyre manufacturers with manufacturing facilities in South Africa. He began his two-year term as SATMC Chairperson on 1 November 2022 and will serve in the role until late 2024
Feltex, Chief Executive Officer
After completing a BA Hons (UND) and MPhil (Warwick University UK), Ugo joined Feltex in February 1990 in the HR department as divisional HR manager, becoming group HR manager in February 1996.
In 1998, he moved into operations and was appointed in the role of MD of Feltex Foam Mouldings and Feltex Foam Converting divisions, and in October 2005 became MD of Feltex Automotive.
Following a realignment of divisional operations, Ugo was appointed as the chief executive officer of KAP’s Automotive Components division during 2014.
Department: Trade, Industry and Competition, Acting Director General
Ms Malebo Mabitje-Thompson is the Acting Director General in the Department of Trade Industry and Competition. Some of the notable programs under her purview include the Black Industrialists Programme, which aims to support and empower black-owned businesses in the industrial sector. She also provides sector-specific support in industries such as film, Agro-processing, and global business services
Additionally, Ms Mabitje-Thompson oversees the Special Economic Zones (SEZs) and Critical Infrastructure Programmes. These initiatives focus on promoting spatial equity by strategically locating key industrial activities in different regions of the country. They also aim to revitalize and develop vibrant districts across the nation. The ultimate goal is to reduce regional disparities and promote balanced industrial growth.
Her main focus is on streamlining processes and reducing bureaucratic hurdles. Her target is to minimize red tape and bureaucratic delays to shorten the lead-time between investment decisions, construction of factories, commencement of production, and the subsequent employment of people. This approach facilitates a more efficient and investor-friendly environment, encouraging economic growth and job creation.
Prior to her role in the Department of Trade Industry and Competition, Ms Malebo Mabitje-Thompson worked in the manufacturing sector, specializing in program finance and efficiency improvements.
National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa, General Secretary
General Secretary National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa
Previous position – Regional Secretary of NUMSA in the Eastern Cape
• 1991 Employed at Firestone Tyre company
• 1993 Elected as a full-time shop steward
• 2000 Elected Regional Secretary
• 2008 Elected General Secretary to date
Irvin Jim is the General Secretary of the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA).
He is currently serving his fourth term as General Secretary, having been re-elected to serve the militant metalworkers in its July 2022 elective congress, following his first election in October 2008 and subsequent re-election thereafter.
He is one of South Africa’s most senior and prominent trade unionists, and is both loved, but in some circles, he has also endured fierce criticism for the work he has done to promote the working class in South Africa. A political analyst once said of him, "Irvin Jim is the left. He's not doing this to create some rhetoric to get something. It is the political tradition he was brought up in and one that he believes in."
Nothing can be truer. He is a proud Marxist, who claims “The history of all hitherto existing society is the history of all class struggles” as his favorite quote. He is the bane of the ruling elite and its sycophants, and he is often misunderstood by the chattering classes, and is undoubtedly a hero of the working class and the poor. He holds strong views and convictions, and is always ready to defend them. By his own acknowledgement he can sometimes be “rough” but his beliefs are heartfelt, his commitment to class struggle unwavering, his passion for resolving workers issues unflinching. He feels a deep sense of responsibility towards a united and consolidated union, and among the staff and comrades, he is warmly looked upon for his kindness, compassion and easy accessibility.
Under his leadership NUMSA continues to be a militant and principled left trade union. Its membership has grown to over 320, 000, making it the biggest trade union in the history of South Africa. He has gotten everyone to sit up and listen, where even the conservative media recently claimed that “NUMSA is here to stay”, and that it “presents a powerful obstacle” to the current ruling elites.
MAHLE BEHR GmbH & Co.KG, Director Project House Thermal Management Modules
Dipl.Ing in Mechanical Engineering / General Management St,Gallen business school with a specialization in Thermal Management Battery Electric Vehicles
Start of career in Development – Several assignments in different functions such as Director Development BEHR Brasil , Plant Manager Stuttgart , Director Product line Cooling Modules Light vehicles.
Currently holding the position of Director Project House Thermal Management Modules BEV
Actual focus : Transformation Process from ICE to BEV in terms of technology , process and organization
Anglo American Platinum, Head of Sustainability
Stephen Bullock is employed as Anglo American Platinum’s head of sustainability, a position he has held since August 2021. Prior to this Stephen has held the positions of technical assistant in the CEO’s office, acting executive head corporate affairs, head of sustainability and before that was the Regional Environmental Manager at Anglo American Platinum’s Rustenburg operations.
After graduating with a BSc Honours degree in environmental geochemistry from the University of Natal, Stephen joined the mining industry where he has worked for the past 30 years in the sustainable development, environmental management and geological fields. During these years he has worked on tin, gold, coal and most recently platinum mines and is a registered professional natural scientist. He has also completed a Masters degree in sustainable development at Stellenbosch university.
OR Tambo School of Leadership, Deputy Minister of Finance, Board Chairperson of the Public Investment Corporate (PIC) and Principal
Dr David Masondo holds a PhD from New York University (USA). His PhD thesis focused on Post-Apartheid State Industrial Policy and Investment in the South African Automotive Industry. He obtained his BA (Hons) and MA from the University of the Witwatersrand. He currently is serving as the Deputy Minister of Finance, Board Chairperson of the Public Investment Corporate (PIC) and Principal of the OR Tambo School of Leadership (ORTSoL). Dr Masondo has been a political activist over a period of 30 years. He is an ANC National Executive Committee member, and is serving in the Political Education and Economic Transformation Sub-Committees. Dr David Masondo also is the Second Deputy General Secretary of the South African Communist Party. Dr Masondo has held different political and managerial positions in government, including serving as the MEC of Finance, and as Director in the Local Government Department in Limpopo. He also was the Chief Director for Economic Sectors and Industry with the Department of Trade and Industry; and as well served as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Automotive Industry Development Centre (AIDC); an entity of the Gauteng Provincial Government. He was also the principal member of the Financial Sector Charter Council where he was a Community Representative. Dr Masondo is passionate about education and community development, and has lectured at the University of the Witwatersrand where he lectured the undergraduate courses, including the States and Markets module, and Political Economy of Modern South Africa for postgraduate students. His passion for education extends to community development. To this end, he is a founding chairperson of the Topisa Trust, which provides ongoing support to youth to promote education, sport and cultural excellence in villages in Limpopo.
IDC, Government special advisor
Riaz is a qualified Mechanical Engineer obtained through the University of KwaZulu Natal and also has an MBA (UKZN) and a Postgraduate Diploma in Business Management (UKZN).
He has been the CEO of Metair Investments Limited from Feb 2021- May 2023, a Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) listed company with R12bn in turnover and a R5bn market capitalisation. Prior to that, Riaz served as the CEO of Sumitomo Rubber South Africa Proprietary Limited ("Sumitomo Dunlop"), a division of the Japanese listed company, Sumitomo Rubber Industries Limited (SRI), where he held the SSA responsibility and held an Executive Officer position on the Global Exco, in addition to being the Chairman of its Middle Eastern subsidiary.
Riaz is a highly experienced business leader and has served as a member and Executive Director on the Boards of multiple entities as well as serving as the Chair of various subsidiary companies in South Africa, Turkey, Romania, UAE and the UK.
Guateng Growth and Development Agency, Group Executive: Macro Business Intelligence
Muzi is a well-renowned economist with over 15 years of experience as an economist in both the public and private sector. He is an exceptional development economist with a strong emphasis on bringing methods of modern economic analysis to economic development. In his various roles he has been privileged to build highly effective teams successfully delivering on the following:
Trade and Investment Policy,
Economic Policy Analysis,
Fiscal and Tax Policy,
Quantitative Analysis, and
Econometric Modelling
In his current role, he is the Group Executive for Marco Business Intelligence at the Gauteng Growth and Development Agency (GGDA), leading the research function of the organization. The purpose of his role is to guide the gathering of business intelligence, and research. He plays an advisory role to capacitates the GGDA and provincial government to in its inclusive industrialization economic development focus. Prior to that, he was the Group Executive of the Trade and Investment function at the GGDA. Through his leadership, the Trade and Investment team was able to facilitate in excess of R7 billion worth of FDI and domestic investment in the Gauteng economy. The GGDA is the province of Gauteng’s Investment promotion and Economic development agency. It serves to drive economic growth, roll out economic infrastructure and job creation in the Gauteng city-region, through value-added facilitation of targeted investment in strategic sectors and delivering trade linkages globally. Additionally, through engagements with public sector stakeholders, potential investors, entrepreneurs, inward and outward trade missions we are tasked with strategically positioning the province into a globally competitive city-region Furthermore, his team facilitates trade and investment initiatives that are geared towards attracting foreign and domestic investment into Gauteng as well as promoting the export of value-added manufacturing from Gauteng into Africa and the rest of the world.
Before joining the GGDA, he worked a Senior Economic Advisor for KPMG advisory services where he was chiefly responsible for developing economic solutions to the growing pool of public and private sector. Additionally, he led KPMG's initiatives in fiscal policy and tax economics. Before KPMG, he was the Director for Tax Revenue Analysis, Estimation and Forecasting at the National Treasury, a unit he built to give analytical guidance to the Minister of Finance on proposed and simulated tax revenue and tax policy measures at the National Treasury.
Muzi’s talks and media interviews are widely available online in all major news channels and social media networks.
Metair, Chief Executive Officer
EDUCATION BACKGROUND:
• Chartered Accountant (South Africa) - CA (SA)
• Bachelor of Commerce with Honors (BCom (Hons)) and Certificate in the Theory of Accounting (CTA)
• Bachelor of Commerce in Accounting (BComm Accounting)
Mr. Douwenga achieved the status of a Chartered Accountant in 2003 following the completion of his articles at PwC. Subsequently, he dedicated approximately eight years to PwC's deals division, amassing substantial expertise in acquisitions spanning various industries across Africa and Europe. His journey with Metair commenced in 2011 during the Rombat acquisition. In 2013, he assumed the role of Business Development Director at First National Battery, primarily focusing on the operational and financial assessment and execution of new acquisitions. Notably, he played a pivotal role in the acquisition of Mutlu Akü in Turkey. His contributions led to his appointment as Chief Financial Officer in 2014. With a decade of experience in the automotive sector, he has overseen investments in prominent companies like Ford, Toyota, Isuzu, Mercedes, VW, and BMW.
Currently, Mr. Douwenga holds the position of CEO at Metair Investments (Pty) Ltd.
SIGNIFICANT ACHIEVEMENTS:
• Successfully executed investments and acquisitions in five new countries: Romania, Kenya, Turkey, the UK, and Germany.
• Orchestrated the largest acquisition in Metair's history, valued at $300 million.
• Achieved remarkable year-over-year revenue growth, doubling from 2013 to 2019.
Green Hydrogen Solutions, Founder and CEO
Ebrahim has significant hydrogen and gas project development experience focused on the value chains, including with liquefaction and regasification systems, technologies applicable to hydrogen and gas logistics as well as pipeline systems. He has led project and deal financing business development, government and regulatory agency relationships, and deal execution teams covering legal, financial and technical considerations.
Ebrahim’s current focus is on the application of this knowledge to assist companies, organizations and countries to meet Net Zero targets.
Ebrahim is a Freeman of The Fuellers, a Livery Company of the City of London which traces its origins to the 14th century, with a diverse membership representing all sectors of the energy industry from electricity generation, renewables, nuclear, hydrogen, oil and gas and their supply chains.
Ernst & Young Advisory Services (Pty) Ltd, Partner at EY Advisory Services South Africa
Duane Newman is a Tax Partner at EY Africa. Duane has been advising the automotive industry since 1994, with a focus on government policy and incentives, global trade as well as sustainability (carbon and energy) and how these impact on the sector.
Duane leads the EY Tax and Legal Sustainability drive across Africa with a specific focus on the mining and automotive sectors. Duane qualified as a chartered accountant and is a registered Master Tax Practitioner with the South African Institute of Taxation (SAIT). Duane is a regular writer for the business press and a speaker on global platforms.
International Finance Corporation, Principal Investment Officer
Ken Osei is a Principal Investment Officer with the International Finance Corporation (IFC), where he is Hub Leader for IFC’s Southern Africa team, focused on the Manufacturing & Consumer Services Sectors. Ken and the team are focused on originating, structuring, and closing investments in the Manufacturing (including the Automotive Value Chain) & Consumer Services Sectors.
Ken has been involved in several IFC equity, debt, and quasi-equity investments across the African continent with clients in wide range of industries including automotive manufacturing, property, education, healthcare, Agribusiness, and Building Materials. Prior to his current role, Ken was Principal Equity Specialist, involved in originating, structuring, closing and equity investments.
Prior to joining the IFC, Ken worked in Corporate Finance Advisory, Principal Investing, Management Consulting, Manufacturing & Environmental Management with global corporates, and in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Ken graduated with an MBA Degree from Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business, a Master of Science Degree in Civil & Environmental Engineering from Stanford University, and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Civil Engineering, from George Washington University.
IDC, Chief Operations Officer
Responsible for overseeing the IDC’s core functions of lending and investments including the entire transaction value chain from deal origination, due diligence and deal structuring, credit and investment evaluation, deal team negotiation and transaction closure. Responsibilities include driving continuous improvement operations and optimising client experience; overseeing delivery of emergency funding responses to support business recovery (including COVID, unrest response and flood relief) ; and building sustainability capability, driving alignment to sustainable development goals and building just transition approach for the corporation.
Additional responsibilities include:
• Commissioner of the Presidential Climate Commission which advises government on the new nationally determined contribution targets, serves to drive alignment between civil society, private sector and government around climate change and the just transition.
• Chairperson of Green Hydrogen Commercialisation Panel established by the Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition and comprising CEOs from companies in the energy, automotive, mining and hard to abate sectors;
• Chairperson of New Energy Vehicle Panel established by the Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition convened to drive alignment in ensuring a just transition in South Africa’s automotive manufacturing sector and decarbonisation of South Africa’s transport sector;
• Participated in securing the just transition commitment, the first of its kind deal where the Global North have committed to fund a just transition to renewable energy for a deeply coal-intensive Global South country like South Africa;
• Serving on Presidential Climate Finance Task Team serving to finalise negotiations on the climate deal and identify and negotiate further concessional funding support for transition to net zero.
Joanne is a Chartered Accountant and started her career at the IDC in 1996 where she headed up both the Corporate Finance and Project Finance teams and participated in and lead numerous transactions including the USD1.1 billion Mozal transaction in Mozambique together with Mitsubishi Corporation and BHP Billiton. She also spent more than a decade in investment banking including Corporate Finance at HSBC and various portfolios at Absa Capital (initially Barclays Capital).
SolarAfrica Energy Pty Ltd, Chief Executive Officer
As the co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of SolarAfrica, David McDonald leads a dynamic team that is passionate about making renewable energy accessible and sustainable. With over 17 years’ experience and a BEng qualification, David’s technical expertise, knowledge and hands-on approach has been instrumental to SolarAfrica’s success. He spearheaded the expansion of SolarAfrica’s holistic suite of solutions to include solar energy, battery storage, wheeling, gas-to-power, biogas, electricity trading and RECs. As CEO, David has overseen the successful development of 156+ solar projects totaling more than 77 MW+ in solar generation.
As part of the SolarAfrica and Starsight Energy merged group, David is the Regional Leader for Southern Africa. He is a strong believer in creating a vibrant company culture where core values, innovation and technology meet.
TWIMS, TFG Head of Future Manufacturing
Malika is the The Foschini Group (TFG) Research Head: Future of Manufacturing at TWIMS. She is responsible for guiding and developing the Institute’s Future Manufacturing curriculum. In addition to this, she supervises MBA students and lectures on the “Future Manufacturing” GIBS Manufacturing Focus MBA elective and on TWIMS’ executive short courses.
Malika worked as a lecturer at the Department of Mechanical Engineering at University of Djillali Liabes University in Sidi Bel Abbes-Algeria from 2012 before moving to South Africa in 2015 to further her PhD studies on aircraft crack repair at the CSIR . She has a background in mechanics of materials and numerical simulation, with a focus on Finite Element Analysis and fracture mechanics. Malika received her PhD in 2020.
Some of the other research she conducted was in collaboration with the CSIR and the University of Witwatersrand on simulation of the laser shock peening process.
Her current activities are through consulting and training in additive manufacturing technologies across Africa.
Malika joined the University of Pretoria in 2021 as a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Materials Science and Metallurgical Engineering, focusing on applied research in the field of additive manufacturing and related technologies.
In addtion to her work at TWIMS, Malika has been volunteering her time to promote and support women in additive manufacturing under the flagship of the international organisation “Women in 3D Printing” as the Africa chair.
She is the co-founder and director of Tiziri Advanced Manufacturing Technologies, focusing on consulting on future manufacturing technologies for implementation in the African terrain.
Malika is a member of various industrial committees, including the National Advisory Council on Innovation (NACI), for industrialisation through innovation activities and a member of the BRICS future skills group.
Qualifications:
• PhD in Engineering (Djillali Liabes University)
• MSc of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering (Djillali Liabes University)
• BSc in Engineering Technology in Mechanical Engineering (Djillali Liabes University)
Atlantis Foundries (Pty) Ltd, Chief Executive Officer
He is an active member of the Cape Chamber of Commerce and currently serves as Chairman of the Cape Engineers and Founders Association representing employers in the Western Cape and has previously represented SEIFSA as part of the negotiating team in the Metals and Engineering Industry National Wage negotiations. He has over 30 years of experience working within the Foundry and Automotive Manufacturing sectors and is highly skilled in lean manufacturing and the implementation of Industry 4.0.
Mr du Plessis holds a National Diploma in Metallurgical Engineering from Pretoria Technikon (now the Tshwane University of Technology) and graduated from the University of Stellenbosch with a BA Hons in Business Administration
CSIR, Principal Engineer
Chanel Schoeman is a principal engineer at CSIR Future Production: Manufacturing, with a drive for innovation and enterprise development. Her career at the CSIR spans various areas, including supply chain and logistics, enterprise development and future-smart production. At CSIR Future Production: Manufacturing, her work involves the development of Learning Factories for industries such as automotive and mining, commercialisation of a metal additive manufacturing system, the development of a blockchain-enabled supply chain traceability platform for small and micro enterprises (SMEs), and the development of a new energy vehicle automotive industry strategy and roadmap for Gauteng and South Africa, alongside a team of experts.
She has more than a decade’s experience in sector studies, the development of opportunities or technologies – from techno-economic feasibility studies to business plans and the implementation thereof. Her work spans commercialisation and developmental initiatives, SMEs, large multinationals, and industrial parks across various industries, including manufacturing, agro-processing, ICT, aerospace, energy, etc.
She also has years of supply chain and logistics experience across various sectors, including fast-moving consumer goods FMCG, aerospace, agro-processing, and more, and has been a regular contributing author to South Africa’s Annual State of Logistics Survey over the years.
She started her career as an industrial engineer within the mobile telecommunications industry at MTN then joined the financial industry briefly, working at Momentum, before joining CSIR.
In addition to her BEng honours degree in industrial engineering, she also holds a BCom in commercial law degree and is a certified supply chain professional.
Jendamark, Owner, Executive Innovations Director, Member of the board
Yanesh Naidoo is an industry-leading innovator in the automotive sector, specializing in Industry 4.0 technologies. As the driving force behind Jendamark Automation's cutting-edge production lines, he ensures the incorporation of state-of-the-art features that boost flexibility, quality, and efficiency. Yanesh's visionary leadership has expanded the company's digital manufacturing technologies into new industries, offering solutions like Smart MES, Frontline Worker platforms, Cloud-Based Preventative Maintenance tools, Augmented Reality/Virtual Reality training, and AI-enabled Machine Vision systems. With over 18 years of experience at Jendamark, Yanesh has excelled in sales, design, and business development, including maintaining customer relationships, securing new business, and overseeing concept development. His expertise extends to project management, encompassing engineering assessments, supplier evaluation, project funding justification, and precise timing control.
Yanesh earned a BSc in Engineering with a focus on Mechatronics from the University of Cape Town, solidifying his academic foundation and complementing his extensive industry experience. Equipped with a comprehensive understanding of automation and Industry 4.0, he guides clients through successful journeys in embracing cutting-edge technologies.
Automotive Industry Development Agency, Chief Executive Officer
Andile Africa is the Chief Executive officer at the Automotive Industry Development Centre appointed in February 2023. His career spans over 20 years in the automotive industry having worked in various positions in production, logistics, project management and fleet management. Africa holds postgraduate degrees in Manufacturing Engineering and Supply Chain Management.
Tshwane Automotive Special Economic Zone, Chief Executive Officer
Dr Zulu is an experienced Transport Sector Specialist, with over 24yrs in the Transport Sector, Specialising in the:
• Ocean Going Shipping Logistics (Container Terminal, Offshore Crude Oil Operations)
• Ports Operations and Logistics
• Offshore Diamond Mining, Offshore Oil and Gas Operations and Infrastructure
• Heading Bilateral Affairs in Government (inc. IBSA/BRICS, IORA and National Policy Making
• Heading Science Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) programs
• Transport Education and Training for Professionals, SMME’s and Entrepreneurs
• Academic Lecturing at University - Advance Diploma in Shipping & Logistics (Container Terminal and Shipping Management)
• Automotive Sector focusing on Roll-on Roll-off (Ro-Ro) Supply Chain Logistics
Previously he was a Seafarer, Qualified Navigation Officer, Trained as Marine Pilot and a Master/Captain. He sits on various Boards and has worked for Transnet (TNPA), National Department of Transport, DUT, Worldwide Bergersen Shipping, Tide Water Marine (Angola Division). He has an MBA (Maritime Entrepreneurship), MCom (Maritime Economics) and PhD (Ocean Economy Leadership). He is the CEO of the Tshwane Automotive Special Economic Zone.
AITF, Chief Executive Officer
A mechanical engineer by profession, Mr. Selumane has over a decade of experience in the South African automotive industry, joining one of the world’s leading premium automotive manufacturers BMW Group at the company’s flagship Rosslyn plant in Tshwane in 2009.
Starting with BMW Group South Africa as a system planner engineer, he rose through the ranks of management and served as Manager: Corporate Strategy, Planning and Business Development; Head: Corporate Investment and Transformation; and Head of Government and External Affairs respectively.
Passionate about the catalytic potential of a transformed automotive sector to the South African economy, he served as a member of the Board of Trustees of the BMW Group Skills and Enterprise Supplier Development (ESD) Trust between 2017 and 2019.
Mr. Selumane was appointed CEO of the AITF in 2020 and works with all OEMs with production facilities in South Africa as well as sub-Saharan Africa.
Since assuming the reigns Mr. Selumane has ably steered the AITF in pursuit of its mandate to facilitate transformation across the sector’s entire value chain.
His area of exceptional expertise is that of Enterprise and Supplier Development, including procurement strategy development.
Speaking at the inaugural Black Industrialists and Exporters Conference held in July 2022, Mr. Selumane noted that AITF was gratified to see how black-owned component beneficiaries continue to benefit from the Fund’s support, and are taking their place in the competitive value chain.
A seasoned public affairs and PR professional, he oversaw the launch of the first in-car telematics project in South Africa in the early 2000’s as Manager: Connected Drive Services for BMW Group South Africa.
Mr. Selumane holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering (BSME) from Alabama A&M University (2008) where he made the Dean’s List and was also a Scholar Athlete.
BACS, Director
First Carrier History: Mining Industry (Boiler Maker Assistant) at Blasting and Excavation International from 2001 – 2002.
Second Carrier History: Automotive Industry (Dorbyl Automotive – Process Engineer, VWSA – Packaging Engineer, TRW – Project Engineer, Takata-Petri – Magnesium Die Cast Engineer and Toyota South Africa Manufacturing – Principal Engineer in Logistics) from 2003 to 2017.
Third Carrier History: Pharmaceutical Industry (Project and Maintenance Manager for Fine Chemical) in 2005.
Personal Best Achievement: Tutoring Maths and Science in township high school.
Position and Company Name: Director of BATYI AUTOMOTIVE COMPONENT SUPPLY - BACS
Company Establishment: Through AIDC Incubation Program in 2017.
Previous Activity of the Company: Assembly of Ford Ranger front bumper and Radiator Grills at AIDC Incubation Centre Ford Silverton Plant.
Number of People at the Incubation Centre: There were 235 people employed in the centre for assembly operation.
Programs launched successfully at Incubation Centre: MY18 and MY22 (New Generation Ranger).
Current Activity of the Company: Spray paint Radiator Grill Carrier, Upper and Lower Plastics Mouldings with Ebony Black and Asphalt Paint at Pretoria North.
Number of People at Pretoria North: There are 32 people employed for spray paint operation.
Current site Equipment: 800 m2 building, Generator, Compressor, 4 spray booths for spray painting and baking.
Current site output: 500 units per days for painted items.
Professional Achievement: Successfully left employment and start my own sustainable business in the automotive industry through difficulty and hardship of the environment.
People Who Had the Biggest influence in my life: My Mother, My Teachers and entire Family and Friends.
People Who Had the Biggest influence in my Career: My Mother, My Wife, Colleagues and AIDC, MSSL and Ford Team.
Leadership Style: Objective and Decisive Approach.
Philosophy of life: Lead by example
Hope for the Future: To see the company grow economically from tier 3 to tier 1 by 2030 through manufacturing of automotive components
BMW, Head: Government and External Affairs BMW SA
Mbasa started his career at the BMW Group almost 25 years ago as a graduate trainee. And has since worked in various positions within the BMW Group. Starting his journey with the group in After Sales, where he was responsible for Technical, Warranty and Motorplan topics. He then moved to Marketing and was responsible for product planning / pricing and competitor intelligence in the department. He was then transferred to the Sales Department where he was responsible for market analysis and new vehicle sales incentive programme. After that he became the Corporate Planning Manager responsible for company strategy topics. He is currently the Head of Government and External Affairs and brings a wealth of experience and knowledge in the automotive sector. He also serves in other industry bodies such the NAAMSA Transformation and Government committees.
AAAM, Chief Executive Officer
Dave Coffey who has spent most of his working career in the automotive industry graduated from the University of Natal in South Africa with a degree in B.Sc. Mechanical Engineering in 1984 and subsequently obtained an MBA from the University of Cape Town in 1992.
He is currently the CEO of the African Association of Automotive Manufacturers (AAAM). He previously held senior positions within various automotive supplier companies including Dorbyl Automotive Technologies and Bel-Essex Engineering. Before taking up his position at AAAM he was the Managing Director of Shatterprufe, a manufacturer and distributer of automotive glass in South Africa.
Dave has also been active in various business organisations during his career, including being President of the National Association of Automotive Component and Allied Manufacturers (NAACAM) twice, as well as being President of the Nelson Mandela Bay Chamber of Commerce.
Robert Bosch (Pty) Ltd, President Region Africa
Since mid-2014, Dr. Thill is responsible for Bosch’s business in Africa, reporting directly to Bosch Group management.
Prior to co-founding Bosch’s global venture arm as managing director in 2007, he worked as vice president of Bosch's global corporate strategy department as well as as senior manager in leading strategy consulting firms around the globe.
Dr. Thill holds university degrees in mathematics and physics, including a doctorate (“summa cum laude”) from Université Sorbonne (Paris, France). He is fluent in English, German, and French, and has a good working knowledge of several other languages.
Dr. Thill is vice-president of the African Association of Automotive Manufacturers (AAAM), as well as board member of the German-African Business Association, advisory board member of various other institutions and associations involved with promoting economical, business, and skills development in Africa.
Nedbank Group Economic Unit, Specialised Economist
Liandra holds a Master degree in Development Economics from the University of Johannesburg. She started her career in 2014 as an intern at Investment Solutions, gaining valuable insights into workings of financial markets. Liandra then decided to resume her studies on a full-time basis, obtaining her Honours degree, followed by her Masters in 2016. She joined the South African Reserve Bank’s cadet programme as an economist in 2017. Liandra soon earned a permanent position, working in SARB’s Financial Stability Department, where she was responsible for research and analysis of the household, non-financial corporate and real-estate sectors. During her stint at the SARB, she gained in-depth knowledge of the banking sector, evaluating the balance of risks faced by commercial banks and the financial markets. Liandra joined Nedbank in October 2021 as specialised economists. She is responsible for research on the global and regional economies, international trade and the balance of payments.
Nissan, Group Strategic Advisor for Policies, Political Affairs and External Relations, Africa
Mike Whitfield is Nissan Group Strategic Advisor for Policies, Political Affairs and External Relations Africa. He is the former managing director of Nissan Africa. He has spent 40 years with the company in Africa and Europe. Whitfield is a past president of Naamsa and currently in his second term as president of the AAAM.
SACP, General Secretary
Mr Kgabele Solomon “Solly” Mapaila left South Africa into exile as an anti-apartheid activist just after completing matric, to receive military training abroad under uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK). He subsequently studied military science at the Dr Hugo Nkabinde Military Training College in Uganda. Solly Mapaila served as a member of the MK, rising through its ranks to become an instructor and a commissar. He returned to South Africa in 1994 to form part of integration into the newly established South African National Defence Force. Holding a diploma in banking, Mapaila left the army to work in the banking sector later. After a while, he left the banking sector to establish the Swaziland Solidarity Network in support of the transition to democracy in Swaziland and to serve as a full-time organising officer for the SACP. He rose through the ranks of various organisations, notably the SACP. During his tenure as the SACP Second Deputy General Secretary and later the First Deputy General Secretary, Mr Mapaila led the campaign to fight corruption. He exposed the existence of state capture in South Africa and was the first to call for the establishment of the judicial commission of inquiry into state capture. This was six months before the former Public Protector Adv. Thuli Madonsela prescribed the commission as a remedial action in her report titled the “State of Capture”, with the proviso that the Chief Justice be the one to select a judge for the President to appoint to lead it. The call led by Mapaila gained wider traction afterwards. In July 2022, Mr Mapaila was elected the General Secretary of the SACP.
Ford Motor Company Africa, President
Neale Hill has recently been appointed president of Ford Motor Company Africa, effective 1 October 2021 where he leads the company’s strategic drive to transform and modernize Ford’s business across the African continent. His responsibilities have been expanded to include Southern Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa, as well as North Africa.
He also serves on the boards of Ford Motor Company of Southern Africa, and Ford Financial Services South Africa.
Hill was born in 1968 in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal. After matriculating from Westville Boy’s High, he went on to obtain a Bachelor of Social Sciences degree from the University of KwaZulu-Natal.
In 1991, Hill joined Ford as a Graduate Trainee. Less than five months into the programme he was offered a full-time position and has never looked back.
The first 15 years of Hill’s professional career at Ford were spent in various Marketing, Sales, and Service management roles. In 2000, he also completed a Strategic Marketing Programme at Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business in Durham, North Carolina, USA.
In 2006, Hill transferred to Ford Asia Pacific and Africa (APA) in Bangkok, Thailand, as Regional Launch Manager for all passenger cars, before being appointed Cross Carline Brand Strategy Manager when the APA office relocated to Shanghai, China.
In 2011, it was time for yet another continent change, and Hill transferred to Auckland as MD of Ford Motor Company of New Zealand. Two years later he relocated to Melbourne to take up his role as GM of Sales at Ford Motor Company of Australia.
In 2016, after a decade abroad, Hill returned to South Africa as Director of Marketing, Sales and Service at Ford SA and SSA.
In 2018, he was appointed Managing Director (MD) of Ford South Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa (SA and SSA).
And in 2019, he was nominated to the position of Vice-President for NAAMSA as one of the four elected office bearers.
Hill is married to Wendy. He is a keen golfer. Most holidays are spent in game reserves, with no cell phone reception, where he has a chance to indulge his passion for wildlife photography and bird watching.
Toyota South Africa Motors (TSAM), Chief Executive Officer
After graduating as a Mechanical Engineer from the University of Cape Town in 1988, Andrew joined Anglo America to pursue engineering in the Gold Mining Industry. After gaining his Professional Engineer qualification he joined BMW South Africa in the Motor Industry in theService Division. He gained experience in service, parts and retail operations along with valuable insight into the challenges and value of re-engineering and change management projects.
Andrew was afforded the opportunity to study an executive PMD course at Harvard Business School and then moved to the USA working for BMW North America for three years. He returned with his family to South Africa in 2000 and headed up the areas of Product Planning, Parts Operations and Brand Management.
In 2005 he joined Toyota South Africa Motors as Senior Vice President for Sales and Marketing, managing the Toyota, Lexus and Hino brands. At the beginning of 2011, he moved to Japan to take on global responsibilities for managing and leading the Lexus brand. (Offices in Nagoya, Toyota City, and Tokyo). He lived in Nagoya with his family and returned to South Africa in July 2013.
On his return from Japan, he took over responsibilities for the Corporate Administration team with offices in Sandton, Johannesburg and Prospecton in Durban where the Toyota manufacturing facility in based. During this period, he was responsible for Finance, IT, HR, Corporate Affairs and Corporate Planning. In January 2016, Andrew was appointed Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, assuming responsibilities for all operations and then in April 2016 appointed as President and CEO.
Andrew is the Chairman of the Toyota South Africa Board (TSA) and Toyota South Africa Motors Board (TSAM). Andrew also serves as a Director on the Toyota Financial Services South Africa Board (TFS) and Kinto South Africa Board.
Andrew served as the President of naamsa* in 2018 - 2019 and in 2020. He is currently serving as an Office Bearer in his capacity as the Immediate Past President. He is also serving as the Vice President of the AAAM.
Proudly South African, Chief Executive Officer
Mr. Mashimbye is a qualified financial accountant who studied at the Technikon Northern Gauteng (now Tshwane University of Technology) and the Technikon South Africa (now UNISA). He majored in Financial Accounting and Corporate Law and also studied towards his MBA with the Management College of SA (still to be completed). He is currently completing his studies towards his Corporate Governance qualification through the Chartered Secretaries Institute of South Africa. He has over 17 years’ experience in accounting and financial management in both the public and private sectors with Telkom, Edcon and the Department of Trade & Industry, with more than 10 years of these at senior management level. Mr. Mashimbye has served on the board of The Business Place and is currently a Director on the Board of the South African Savings Institute, where he previously also held the position of Audit and Risk Committee Chairperson. He has previously fulfilled the role of CFO (for a 10 year period), Acting COO and Acting CEO of Proudly South African and was appointed permanent CEO in December 2016.
AfCFTA Secretariat, Principal Industrial Development Advisor to the Secretary General
Mr Themba Khumalo is the Principal Industrial Development Advisor to the Secretary General of the AfCFTA Secretariat. This role entails coordinating the regional/continental value chains development work programme with the objective to prioritize key sectors with the highest opportunities to boost intra-Africa and production.
Prior to this role, Mr Khumalo had been working as a Director: Africa Integration and Industrial Development at the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition.
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