Ms Thokozile Zambane is a highly accomplished and seasoned corporate and finance legal specialist with extensive infrastructure development, finance, dealmaking and M&A experience (over 12 years’ experience). She is currently serving as a partner and Chief Operating Officer (COO) at Bayakha Infrastructure Partners, a South African fund manager licensed under the FAIS Act.

Ms Zambane possesses a strong background in project finance, PPPs, acquisition finance, asset finance, structured trade and commodity finance, and preference share funding. Proven track record of success in structuring, negotiating, and managing complex financial transactions for major corporates, commercial banks, development finance institutions, and state-owned entities.

Professor Mark Smith is Dean of Programs at emlyon business school (FR) where he oversees pre-experience programs in business and management for around 9000 students. He has worked in four triple-accredited schools and three in senior management roles including Director of the Stellenbosch Business School, Cape Town (SA) and Faculty Dean at Grenoble Ecole de Management (FR). He also led the Doctoral School in Grenoble.

Prior to working in France, Prof Mark Smith worked at Manchester Business School (UK). His research interests focus on careers and labour market policy and outcomes for women and men including working conditions, working-time, and work-life integration.

Dr Emmanuel Oritsejafor is the Chair of the Department of Political Science at the University of North Carolina in Durham, North Carolina in the USA, a position he has held since 2017.  Dr Oritsejafor has 34 years of teaching experience alongside a solid track record having held the following positions, among others:

• Chair of the Department of Public Administration, North Carolina Central University, Durham, NC. where he provided administrative and academic leadership and realigned academic unit in preparation for NASPA accreditation.
• Senior Fellow, United Negro College Fund – International Entrepreneurship Program- South Africa and South Korea. Dr Oritsejafor coordinated Bilateral Trade meetings between United States higher education institutions and Multinational Corporations in Johannesburg- South Africa and Seoul -South Korea.
• Senior Fellow UNCF-sp. where he led trade mission to South Africa in Partnership with the University of South Africa (UNISA).

One of Dr Oritsejafor’s significant achievements was being appointed by the Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs to facilitate and coordinate strategic international education projects such as partnership agreements, study abroad and curriculum development at the division of Academic Affairs Coordinator of Strategic International Education Projects.

Professor Jean Kabongo joined the College of Business of the University of South Florida (USF), Sarasota-Manatee campus in 2010 and is currently the Muma College of Business Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Accreditation and a professor of strategic management and entrepreneurship. Prior to joining USF Sarasota-Manatee campus, Prof Kabongo taught at Millersville University of Pennsylvania and the Virginia State University.

Prof Kabongo’s general research foci include issues related to strategy and environmental sustainability, entrepreneurship, and management issues in emerging economies. He has published more than 20 articles in peer-refereed academic journals. Prof Kabongo has consulted on entrepreneurship and small business development initiatives at the local level in the United States and Sub-Saharan Africa. Since 2011, he has been working with the North Sarasota Redevelopment Office in the City of Sarasota, Florida, to support and strengthen small businesses in the community as part of the Economic Development and Recovery initiative. Since 2017, he has been consulting for the Congolese government on a World Bank Group project focusing on the development of small-scale farmers in the Province of Kongo central, West of Democratic Republic of Congo.

Mr Jos Maroba is Head of R&D at Discovery Health, where he sets the product strategy and drives the innovation agenda for Discovery Health. Mr Maroba manages the Discovery Health product portfolio: Discovery Health Medical Scheme,Discovery Gap Cover, Flexicare, Healthy Company, and Prepaid Health. He also manages teams of Actuaries, Data Scientists and exManagement Consultants.

Mr Maroba is a qualified actuary who has also held the following positions at Discovery Holdings:

• Product Development Actuary, Discovery Health, Aug 2022 – Dec 2023
• Business Development Actuary, Vitality Global, Jan 2012 – Jul 2022
• Executive Associate to the CEO of Discovery Vitality, May 2010 – Dec 2011
• Actuary, Vitality Research and Vitality Institute, May 2010 – Dec 2011

He was seconded from Vitality Global to Generali Holdings AG where he held the positions of Head of Product Development, Generali Vitality (Jan 2020 – Jul 2022) and Product Development Actuary, Generali Vitality (Mar 2016 – Dec 2019).

He has worked as an Actuary at Sasria SOC Limited and as a Consulting Actuary at Deloitte Capital Markets.

Mrs Ledile Sebati is the Provincial Director of Operations at SALGA Limpopo, where she has been responsible for overseeing the provision of support to member municipalities in the Limpopo province since 2018. She has over 30 years of experience in local economic development, planning legalities, policy development, and local government mechanization.

Ledile is a seasoned Town Planner with a degree from the University of Johannesburg (formerly Technikon Witwatersrand), and she is registered with the South African Council of Planners. She also holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Public Law from the University of the Western Cape, a Postgraduate Diploma in Program Management with Cranefield College and a certificate in Women in Leadership from the University of North-West. She is currently pursuing a Master of Philosophy in Development Finance with the University of Stellenbosch. To further her career, Ledile also studied for a Certificate in Mining & Minerals from the University of Limpopo.

In more concise terms, Ledile Sebati is a highly experienced and qualified Town Planner with a proven track record of success in local government. She is currently responsible for overseeing the provision of support to member municipalities in the Limpopo province.

Dr Victor Randall is a professor of finance, business economics and banking in the Department of Business and Economics at Coburg University of Applied Sciences and Arts (Bavaria); since 2017 he is the Director of the MBA program Financial Management. Since 2023 he is Vice-Chair of the University Examinations Board, Member of the Senate and University Council. For over a decade he consults as finance expert and international appraiser for DAAD, FIBAA and other accreditation agencies.

Before academia he was Head of Capital Markets at BMW AG HQ Munich, responsible for the development and execution of global refinancing operations of the BMW Group in DCM, ABS and the formulation of credit policy.

Previously he worked at Deutsche Bank AG HO Frankfurt for a decade, holding several management positions in the coverage of German corporates in the automotive and aerospace industry, executing corporate finance transactions for equity via domestic and/or international stock issues; raising debt, equity-linked instruments; M&A advisory mandates Financial DD, disposals, restructuring and divestitures of equity stakes through secondary placings and block trades.

Ms Mmaphuti Rankapole holds a Master of Business Administration degree from Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) and a BCom degree from Wits University.

With over 15 years of marketing and category management experience in the FMCG and fast food industries, Ms Rankapole brings solid leadership skills in delivering growth, building brands' momentum in dynamic and competitive markets, developing and executing business strategies that are aligned with consumer insights, market trends, and cross-functional teams. She has a remarkable track record of driving innovation, enhancing brand equity, increasing market share, and improving service levels and quality.

With a special interest in continuous improvement, extensive experience and the professional network that she accumulated in her various roles, Ms Rankapole adds to the depth of expertise in the SBL Advisory Board.

Ms Keneiloe Selamolela holds a Master of Business Administration and a Master of Philosophy in Change Leadership degree from Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS).

Ms Selamolela currently occupies the position of Chief Transformation Officer at OUTsurance. Her previous work experience includes being Head of Learning and Development at OUTsurance, National Training Manager at Medscheme and Training Manager at MTN. Ms Selamolela has also served as a Non-Executive Director in the boards of Association for Savings and Investment South Africa (ASISA) and the Insurance Sector Education and Training Authority (INSETA).

She brings extensive experience and a professional network that she accumulated as a manager, executive, and Non-Executive Director in various companies.

Ms Khwathelani Tshikovhi holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of KwaZulu-Natal. She also holds a BCom Honours and a Bachelor of Commerce degree.

Ms Tshikovhi has over 20 years of insurance and banking experience with leadership skills ranging from strategy to people management. She describes herself as “a seasoned client experience expert, passionate about solving for clients, brokers, employees, suppliers and partners” Ms Tshikovhi has served as a senior manager in the following companies: Investec Private Bank, PeopleTree Group, Professional Provident Society, Nedgroup Insurance Company, Liberty Group, and Santam. She has also served as a Member of the City of Johannesburg’s Group Risk Governance Committee.

She brings extensive experience and a professional network that she accumulated while working for these companies.