Engaging and Empowering Women in South Africa
Key Contact
Dr Rufaro Nyakatawa › Business Development Consultant – Africa, Jersey Finance
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Jersey’s strong relationship with Africa stands as a testament to the ties between both regions. On average annually, between 2017 and 2020, Jersey supported £6 billion of Africa GDP and supported 916,000 jobs (Jersey’s Contribution to Global Value Chains Report, 2021).
Africa is one of our key markets, and this month, our Business Development Consultant for Africa, Dr. Rufaro Nyakatawa continued to gain traction in the region for Jersey’s international finance centre, engaging with women who work or have an interest in South Africa’s finance industry.
Our second Perspectives: Women in Leadership event in South Africa focussed on women leading meaningful changes to make an impact beyond financial returns. This women-only event, hosted annually to coincide with South Africa’s National Women’s Day, provides a space to empower and celebrate women in the finance industry.
Led by Dr Rufaro Nyakatawa, Jersey Finance’s Business Development Consultant for Africa, the event was centred around an engaging panel discussion where guests heard from a number of inspirational women: Sindi Mabaso-Koyana, Executive Chairperson of African Women Chartered Accountants (AWCA) Investment Holdings; Moushmi Patel, Executive Director and Partner at Sanari Capital; Tshepiso Kobile, Chief Executive Officer of Southern African Venture Capital and Private Equity Association (SAVCA); and, Simone Cooper, Head of Business & Commercial Banking at Standard Bank.
Each speaker shared their unique career journeys and the challenges and opportunities they faced navigating South Africa’s financial landscape. Following a thought-provoking Q&A session, guests were given the opportunity to share their own experiences during a networking lunch.
The event not only celebrated the accomplishments of women in finance but also forged a path toward a more inclusive and empowered future. We are pleased to have hosted this annual event once again and provide a platform to inspire more women to take up leadership positions, champion meaningful change and catalyse real impact within their professional journeys and beyond.
Hosted by The Tax Faculty, the ‘Annual Cross-Border Considerations for Advisors 2023: Global Families and Business Owners’ conference focussed on the changes, challenges, and opportunities of utilising professional skills to enhance the customer and advisory journey.
On the second day of the hybrid conference, Dr Rufaro Nyakatawa moderated a panel featuring Dr Zolani Buba, a distinguished legal expert specialising in business rescue and tax law, and Vuyiswa Ncontsa, Southern Africa Regional Director at African Venture Philanthropy Alliance (AVPA).
The panel covered the need for capital enabling development, obstacles in deal-making, how the African Continental Free Trade Area acts as a catalyst for intra-African trade and how family offices can look at Africa as an investment opportunity, among other topics.
The conference was well attended by South Africa-based private wealth professionals interested in the most prevalent changes impacting clients and their wealth and the expansion of their businesses from Africa to beyond.
On Thursday 24 August, we co-hosted an event with 100 Women in Finance – a global organisation committed to gender equity in finance by promoting diversity, raising visibility, and empowering women to find their personal path to success.
The event focussed on creating visibility around women in finance who are pioneers in the industry and are paving the way for others to follow in their steps.
Dr Rufaro Naykatawa featured on a panel discussion alongside Helena Conradie, Chartered Financial Analyst, TenFour Partners, where they shared their insights into doing business in Africa and prioritising social responsibility and sustainability, as well as their perspectives on leadership, change, growth, and challenging limits, to make an impact in your career and your community. Following the panel discussion, which was moderated by Tania Pringle, Executive Partner at Verum Capital, guests enjoyed High Tea and networking.
To find out more about Jersey’s relationship with Africa, please get in touch with Dr Rufaro Nyakatawa.
Future Africa-focussed Events:
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