JOHANNESBURG 28 JULY 2023 – Provincial Individual winners of the Gender Mainstreaming Awards Africa (genderawards.com) (GMAs) were recognised and celebrated at three live events in Gauteng, KZN and Western Cape, on 28 July 2023. 

"The GMAs individual categories enable us to identify individuals who actively work towards making Africa the gender-hub from which we are able to export stories of success and impact," states Colleen Larsen, Chief Executive at Business Engage. "We celebrate gender mainstreaming champions from East, West and Southern African organisations and individuals recognised by the judges as being at the forefront of advancing the business case for gender mainstreaming," she adds.

Khethiwe Nkuna, Responsible Business Executive for Accenture in Africa, emphasised that issues of gender mainstreaming in the workplace are still commonly seen as a sundry matter – and this needs to change. "Organisations must move beyond simply talking about it and create a workplace environment that genuinely supports the advancement of women and promotes equality," she says.

The Awards are an initiative of Business Engage and  Accenture is the naming partner for the third consecutive year. Other sponsors are : JSE, AECI and Vodacom (Silver sponsors); DP World and Assupol.  The Gender Mainstreaming Awards are hosted in collaboration with the 30% Club Southern and East Africa, the IoDSA and the SA Human Rights Commission.

“Gender equality and women empowerment are key priorities for business and society, and while much has been done to change the status quo, there are still significant strides to be made. Awards such as these help us recognise and elevate the work being done, and support continued awareness, not only of the successes achieved thus far, but of how we can do more as a collective society, men and women, to be active contributors to the commitment to gender equality on the African continent. For us, moving women forward in our business, sectors and communities are a business imperative, and we are proud to support such programmes in maintaining momentum,” says Esha Mansingh, Head: Corporate Affairs and Sustainability for sub-Saharan Africa at DP World.

The awards’ entries were free of charge and judged by a well-respected panel of adjudicators across South Africa.  "We are proud to have seen a 60% increase in overall entries received – phenomenal growth in itself – but also a big improvement in the quality of entries and the shared stories. A highlight which illustrates the value and growth of the GMAs in its 11th year," states Larsen.

Finalists of the Provincial Individual Awards who have been selected to compete in the Southern Africa Regional Awards are : 

Positive Role Model category (In alphabetical order) 

• Ann Leepile (Gauteng)
• CEO : Alexander Forbes Investments
• Bertina Engelbrecht (Cape Town)
• CEO : Clicks Group
• Bongiwe Ntuli (Cape Town)
• CFO : The Foschini Group
• Julia Modise (Gauteng)
• Group Human Resources Direct : BMW Group South Africa
• Malebo Mohale (KZN)
• Industrial Engineering Manager : Conlog
• Taki Netshitenzhe (Gauteng)
• Vodacom South Africa: Director External and Regulatory Affairs & Chairperson Vodacom Foundation
• Theriso Motsemeng (Botswana)
• Walk of Hope 

Inclusive Leader category

Top 6 Southern Africa

In alphabetical order

1. Anel Bosman : Group Managing Executive : CIB, Nedbank
2. Bertina Engelbrecht. CEO, Clicks Group
3. Bongiwe Ntuli, CFO, the Foschini Group
4. Gail Moshoeshoe: Partner Financial Services Africa, EY
5. Lee Naik : CEO TransUnion Africa
6. Dr Tshililo Farisani
7. RMB’s Africa’s Fearless Thinker Award

Top 5 : Results Southern Africa

In alphabetical order

1. Anne Waweru - Kenya
2. Avesh Singh – South Africa
3. Bertina Engelbrecht – South Africa
4. Dr Leila Fourie – South Africa
5. Dr Ntombi Mhangwani – South Africa

This year marks the 11th round of celebrations with the Champion awards for both the individual and corporate categories being announced on 5 October. 

-- ENDS -- 

NOTES TO THE EDITORS 

ABOUT ACCENTURE

Accenture is a leading global professional services company that helps the world’s leading businesses, governments and other organizations build their digital core, optimize their operations, accelerate revenue growth and enhance citizen services—creating tangible value at speed and scale. We are a talent and innovation led company with 732,000 people serving clients in more than 120 countries. Technology is at the core of change today, and we are one of the world’s leaders in helping drive that change, with strong ecosystem relationships. We combine our strength in technology with unmatched industry experience, functional expertise and global delivery capability. We are uniquely able to deliver tangible outcomes because of our broad range of services, solutions and assets across Strategy & Consulting, Technology, Operations, Industry X and Accenture Song. These capabilities, together with our culture of shared success and commitment to creating 360° value, enable us to help our clients succeed and build trusted, lasting relationships. We measure our success by the 360° value we create for our clients, each other, our shareholders, partners and communities. Visit us at www.accenture.com. 

ABOUT BUSINESS ENGAGE   Business Engage Association NPC is a non-profit company established in 2005. It is an exciting and inventive organisation at the forefront of strategic thinking on gender mainstreaming in the private sector. It is a collaboration of corporates working together to create the business case for gender mainstreaming. Business Engage is the 30% Club Southern and East Africa custodian. 30% Club is an international group of Chairmen, CEOs, senior executives and senior partners of the private sector and state-owned organisations that are publicly committed to achieving and sustaining at least 30% women on boards within a designated period because they believe it is good for the overall effectiveness of the boardroom – and therefore suitable for business. Focus is also placed on pipeline development to create sustainable change. Visit us at www.businessengage.africa

ABOUT JSE

The Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) has a well-established history of operating as a marketplace for trading financial products. It is a pioneering, globally connected exchange group that enables inclusive economic growth through trusted, world-class, socially responsible products, and services for the investor of the future. It offers secure and efficient primary and secondary capital markets across a diverse range of securities, spanning equities, derivatives, and debt markets. It prides itself on being the market of choice for local and international investors looking to gain exposure to leading capital markets on the African continent.

The JSE is currently ranked in the Top 20 largest stock exchanges in the world by market capitalisation, and is the largest stock exchange in Africa, having been in operation for 135 years. As a leading global exchange, the JSE co-creates unlocks value & makes real connections happen.

www.jse.co.za

ABOUT VODACOM

Vodacom is a leading and purpose-led African connectivity, digital and financial services company.From our roots in South Africa, we have grown our business to include operations in Tanzania, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (the DRC), Egypt, Mozambique, Lesotho and ,Kenya and Ethiopia. Our mobile networks cover a population of over 500 million people.Through Vodacom Business Africa (VBA), we offer business-managed services to enterprises in 48 countries. Vodacom is majority owned by Vodafone (65.1% holding), one of the world’s largest communications companies by revenue.

ABOUT ASSUPOL

Assupol Life is a South African life insurer that takes great pride in its commitment to serving the community. With a focus on innovation, we offer a comprehensive range of affordable funeral, life, savings, investments, and retirement products to meet the needs of the South African market. As a trusted household name, we are known for providing high-quality service and tailored products that cater to our target markets. With a strong emphasis on transformation, we are proud to have a workforce that is 85% African, and we actively promote the appointment of women in key positions, striving to contribute to a society that supports and empowers women. Celebrating our 110th anniversary this year, Assupol Life remains a leader in the financial services industry, upholding its legacy as a caring company since its inception. 

ABOUT RMB

Rand Merchant Bank (RMB) is a leading African corporate and investment bank (CIB) and part of the largest financial services group (by market capitalisation) in Africa – FirstRand Bank Limited (which is wholly owned by FirstRand Limited). We offer our clients innovative, value-added advisory, funding, trading, corporate banking and principal investing solutions. With a presence in 10 African countries, we have a significant footprint on the continent. We also have access to a network of retail banks, representative offices and branches across Africa, the UK, India and the US.

At RMB we are passionate about solving problems for our clients by asking the hard questions. We challenge accepted thinking. We analyse and seek solutions beyond the obvious. We are innovative in our thinking and turn challenges into opportunities, while delivering on Traditional values. Innovative ideas. Our ability to think differently, our collaborative spirit, our client-centric solutions and our belief that great minds don’t always have to think alike, is what sets us apart.

For more information please visit: www.rmb.co.za

ABOUT DP WORLD 

Trade is the lifeblood of the global economy, creating opportunities and improving the quality of life for people around the world. DP World exists to make the world’s trade flow better, changing what’s possible for the customers and communities we serve globally. 

With a dedicated, diverse and professional team of more than 103,000 employees spanning 75 countries on six continents, DP World is pushing trade further and faster towards a seamless supply chain that’s fit for the future.

We’re rapidly transforming and integrating our businesses -- Ports and Terminals, Marine Services, Logistics and Technology – and uniting our global infrastructure with local expertise to create stronger, more efficient end-to-end supply chain solutions that can change the way the world trades.

What's more, we're reshaping the future by investing in innovation. From intelligent delivery systems to automated warehouse stacking, we’re at the cutting edge of disruptive technology, pushing the sector towards better ways to trade, minimising disruptions from the factory floor to the customer’s door.

DP World’s service offering in sub-Saharan Africa comprises Logistics (parks and economic zones, contract logistics, freight management and market access) and Ports & Terminals. We have a presence in 48 countries in the region through owned operations and partnership networks, supported by 27,000 employees. With a fleet of more than 6,300 vehicles, over 260,000 points of sale, 1,5 million m² of warehouse space and total TEU capacity at ports of over 2 million, our reach is unparalleled. 

WE MAKE TRADE FLOW

TO CHANGE WHAT'S POSSIBLE FOR EVERYONE.