Founders
SONGEZO ZIBI
Chairman
Songezo Zibi is a writer and serves in several non-profit companies.
Prior to joining Absa, he was Editor of Business Day newspaper, also based in Johannesburg, from 2014 to 2016 after a year as Senior Associate Editor at the Financial Mail. As a journalist and editor, Songezo has written extensively about South Africa’s political system, economy and social dynamics. Since 2007 he has been a consistent and recognized voice for accountability, good governance, nation-building and the building of a dynamic, inclusive economy.
Songezo is currently on the boards of two non-profit organizations, namely, the Centre for Development and Enterprise (CDE), a research think tank based in Johannesburg; and the Open Society Foundation South Africa (OSFSA).
Author
In September 2014 Songezo completed a book, Raising the Bar: Hope and Renewal in South Africa which was published by Picador Africa/Pan Macmillan. The book is an analysis of South Africa’s political and social dynamics, and made clear proposals for political and administrative reforms in order to deepen and strengthen the country’s democratic culture and the rule of law.
The book was long-listed for the Sunday Times Alan Paton Award of 2016.
Recognition
In 2015, Songezo was recognized with the Rising Star Award by his alma mater, the Nelson Mandela University in Port Elizabeth.
LUZUKO KOTI
Non-Executive Director
Luzuko Koti is a seasoned communicator with over 23 collective years of experience in media, public service, private sector and currently non-governmental organisations. He has been Director of Communications & Marketing at the Nelson Mandela Foundation since January 2017. He has specific interest in developing strategies for communications and politics. Before joining the Nelson Mandela Foundation, Koti was General Manager and later Managing Director at Oresego Holdings and worked as a talk show host for SABC radio. He cut his teeth in journalism at the public broadcaster as current affairs producer in 1998 and later as senior reporter. In 2003 Koti became television assignments editor and went on to join the public service as Director of Communications at the Department of Provincial and Local Government (the DPLG) and later Chief Director for the same department. Koti studied towards both Journalism as well as Communication Science. He is a father of two
LUZUKO KOTI
Non-Executive Director
Luzuko Koti is a seasoned communicator with over 23 collective years of experience in media, public service, private sector and currently non-governmental organisations. He has been Director of Communications & Marketing at the Nelson Mandela Foundation since January 2017. He has specific interest in developing strategies for communications and politics. Before joining the Nelson Mandela Foundation, Koti was General Manager and later Managing Director at Oresego Holdings and worked as a talk show host for SABC radio. He cut his teeth in journalism at the public broadcaster as current affairs producer in 1998 and later as senior reporter. In 2003 Koti became television assignments editor and went on to join the public service as Director of Communications at the Department of Provincial and Local Government (the DPLG) and later Chief Director for the same department. Koti studied towards both Journalism as well as Communication Science. He is a father of two
LORATO TSHENKENG
Non-Executive Director
Lorato Tshenkeng is a reputation management and crisis communication specialist with keen interest in the disruption of life, work and play by technology.
He is the creator of #GovCommsSocial – a knowledge sharing platform for government communicators to help decode social media algorithms, understand data and trends, as well as best practices of communicating in this digital age.
Tshenkeng, a Mail & Guardian top 200 young achiever finalist – is the founder and CEO of Decode Communications. He’s passionate about using social commentary to advocate for professional activism, gender equality, social justice and volunteers at Future Kings – a mentorship programme for boys.
TESSA DOOMS
Director
Tessa Dooms is a Sociologist, development practitioner and political analyst. Having started her career in academia, Tessa has worked in diverse sectors including government, NGOs and the private sector, where she did work that aligns the objectives of various institutions and programmes with developmental objectives for the advancement of Africa.
She has 15 years’ experience as a development worker, trainer and researcher with expertise on governance, youth development and innovation, and has worked in over 10 African countries. In 2015 she was appointed to the National Planning Commission to advise the President on the implementation of the National Development Plan of South Africa. She has successfully led a youth policy think-tank called Youth Lab, and has lectured at three South African Universities. She is also on the board of the Kagiso Trust.
She holds a Masters in Sociology from the University of the Witwatersrand.
TESSA DOOMS
Director
Tessa Dooms is a Sociologist, development practitioner and political analyst. Having started her career in academia, Tessa has worked in diverse sectors including government, NGOs and the private sector, where she did work that aligns the objectives of various institutions and programmes with developmental objectives for the advancement of Africa.
She has 15 years’ experience as a development worker, trainer and researcher with expertise on governance, youth development and innovation, and has worked in over 10 African countries. In 2015 she was appointed to the National Planning Commission to advise the President on the implementation of the National Development Plan of South Africa. She has successfully led a youth policy think-tank called Youth Lab, and has lectured at three South African Universities. She is also on the board of the Kagiso Trust.
She holds a Masters in Sociology from the University of the Witwatersrand.
