Sovereign Africa Ratings

Wayne Hugh Irving Phillips, a seasoned professional with over three decades of experience, is a registered Chartered Marketer renowned for his strategic acumen and leadership prowess. Graduating with a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Natal, he embarked on a distinguished career journey, holding pivotal roles in organizations ranging from Transnet to IBM. Notably, Phillips played a pivotal role in shaping the marketing landscape, serving as Regional Chairman of the Marketing Federation of South Africa (MFSA) in KwaZulu-Natal and contributing to the Services SETA's Occupations Framework Outcomes for the Marketing Industry. His expertise spans marketing, sales, business leadership, corporate governance, and strategy, making him a sought-after consultant and advisor for businesses of all sizes. As the founder of Better, a consultancy specializing in strategic marketing, mergers and acquisitions, and leadership development, Phillips has demonstrated a commitment to driving organizational success. His extensive directorial experience across various industries, coupled with his international accreditation as a mediator, underscores his multifaceted approach to problem-solving and stakeholder management. With a keen focus on sustainability and triple bottom line principles, Phillips is poised to leverage his expertise and insights of steering organisations towards strategic growth and sustainable operational excellence as Chairman of the Board.

Mr Sipho Ngidi is the Managing Director of SN Advisory Service, a business he founded to house his leadership development consultancy. He is an executive and management coach. He serves on the boards of EOH Holdings and Toyota South Africa Motoring, where he chairs the Nominations and Remuneration Committee and is a member of the Audit Committee. He serves as the committee's chairperson for human resources and compensation at Trimrite. Sipho has held board positions with both state-owned and privately-owned businesses. His corporate background includes leadership positions in the banking, packaging, and beer brewing sectors.

Advocate Kevin Malunga is an Admitted Advocate of the High Court in South Africa, a member of the American Society of International Law, and a member of the Poverty and Economic Policy Research Network. He served as South Africa's second deputy public protector. He has served as an academic, bureaucrat, researcher, entrepreneur, anti-corruption commissioner, and ombudsman at various points in his career. He also worked for the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development as a State Law Adviser: Policy Coordination and Monitoring. He has additionally served as a researcher and assistant for the Committee on Institutional Models at the South African Chief Justice's office, where he also held the position of Acting Chief of Staff. Former Board member of the South African Qualification Authority Board member (SAQA). Trained in Hong Kong, South Korea, and Singapore in anti-corruption practises. He is a student at the University of Wisconsin-Madison Law School pursuing a doctorate in jurisprudence (S.J.D.). He also possesses a Master's degree in law (LLM) in international law from Georgetown University, a bachelor's degree in law (LLB) from the University of Natal, and Bachelor of Arts (Law) from the University of Swaziland.

Ms Elizabeth Mabena is a banking professional with a passion for engineering and data science. Her research interests include the use of machine learning techniques for credit scoring. Her experience in the financial sector is primarily in credit risk management. Elizabeth graduated with Honours and is currently studying for her Master's at the University of Johannesburg.