Dr. Vuyo Mahlati in May 2010 was appointed by the President to serve as one of the inaugural members of South Africa’s National Planning Commission for five years. In March 2009 she was a South African Delegate and Technical Advisor for the Presidency to the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women where she presented on the Financial Crisis theme. This enhanced South Africa’s contribution to bringing urgency and intensifying the global call for inclusive economic growth and development. Vuyo also convened the technical team that facilitated the launch of India Brazil South Africa (IBSA) Women’s Forum premised on the call for “an inclusive macroeconomic framework”. This culminated in the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding in India, October 2008 by the three Heads of State and publications she co-authored currently influencing the discourse.
Vuyo obtained her PhD from the University of Stellenbosch. Her thesis, focusing on the role of value chains in mainstreaming rural entrepreneurs into global markets was the only one selected by the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences to be presented at the University’s New Voices in Science Colloquium. Vuyo’s leadership draws from vast experience as a policy specialist trained in the UK London School of Economics as well as her corporate leadership and entrepreneurship. Her directorships include being the non executive director of Lion of Africa Insurance Company, a subsidiary of the Johannesburg Stock Exchange Listed Brimstone Investment Company. She has served two terms as the Chairperson of the South African Post Office Board of Directors which includes the Post Bank. She previously served for two terms on the Financial Markets Advisory Board as well as member of the Financial Services Board Licensing Committee. She was a director of Alexkor Mining Board, and fund manager Umbono Capital (now One Stone). Vuyo’s entrepreneurial experience includes participation in major business ventures that include the listed Sasol Oil and Tongaat Hullet.
As a recognized global thought leader Vuyo participates in global think tanks on corporate diversity leadership and inclusive development. In 2011 she participated in the 2011 Aspen Seminar in Colorado, USA, as well as the Kiel Institute for the World Economy. Locally she is part of the team working on a 25 year Gauteng Transport Strategy (Africa’s gateway). Vuyo is the recipient of the 2008 Black Management Forum Presidential Award, as well as the Black Business Executive/ABSA Kaelo (Guidance and wisdom) Award.
