EAC Speakers
Mbali Mkhize
Ms Mbali Mkhize is the senior director marketing, and communications at Mangosuthu University of Technology (MUT). Her career spans more than 20 years of experience in higher education as a fundraiser, reputation and brand management and communication specialist, and practitioner in the internationalisation of universities. As a professional fundraiser, her portfolio includes a mix of funded projects through foundations, corporations, government, and individual donors, standing at R34 million for 2023/7.
Her academic qualifications are BA Communication Science (Unizulu), BA Hons, MA, Post-Graduate Diploma in Business Management, and Advanced Diploma in Education (UKZN). Mbali has also received continuing and professional development in marketing and communications, fundraising and development and international relations at these universities through CASE Summer Institutes:
- Boston University (Massachusetts), USA
- Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire, (USA)
- University of Vermont (USA)
- Spelman College (Atlanta, Georgia), USA
- Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University, Tallahassee, (USA).
She has presented at international conferences in the USA, UK, and at a few African countries (Botswana, Mozambique, Kenya).
She has formed international linkage programmes with over 20 universities in the US, Europe, Asia, and Africa; funded through the:
- United States International Aid Agency (USAID)
- The United Negro College Fund Special Programs
- Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA)
- ASSOCIATION LIAISON OFFICE for University Cooperation in Development serving international universities.
- Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit-(GIZ)
- Department for International Development (DFID)
- Desmond Tutu Trust (DTT)
- Tertiary Linkage Partnerships Programme (TELP).
She was a 2022/23 DAAD fellow selected among 102 applications across Africa, Global South and Asia for a programme called “Dialogue on Innovative Higher Education Strategies” (DIES) and is jointly coordinated by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) and the German Rectors‘ Conference (HRK) and funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). She is also a 2022 SA DIES-DAAD fellow anchored by the University of the Free State and the University of Venda.
She has also worked as a corporate communications director for the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC), managing the HSRC’s communications across six offices in various provinces. She is the Editor-in-Chief for two MUT quarterly newsletters, an editor of a Weekly newsletter and speech writer. She is the founder and convener of the 10th Empowered Administrators Conference (EAC) hosted by MUT; which to date has empowered over 2000 office professionals from across the country, the US, Nigeria, Zambia and Malaysia.
Zama Sishi
Zama Sishi is an experienced Stakeholder Relations, Communications & Public Relations Strategist in the academic / university field. She is one of the founding members of the MUT’s Empowered Administrators Conference (EAC). Currently the Director of stakeholder Relations Management at Mangosuthu University of Technology where amongst other roles, she is responsible for driving sustainable stakeholder relations programmes and developing communication strategy and annual plans and other strategic documents such as policies, guideline documents, and SOPs for effective functioning of the marketing and communication initiatives of the institution.
Her academic qualifications are BA in Communication Science (Unisa), Postgraduate Diploma in Communication Management (University of Pretoria), MPhil in Strategic Communication Management (University of Pretoria), BTech Commercial Administrations (DUT), and National Diploma Office Management (MUT).
Zama has also received professional development in marketing and communications, creative writing, brand management, international mobility, and cultural exchange. She recently participated as a fellow for the United States International Visitor Leadership Programme. The fellowship provided her an opportunity to establish linkages with Universities in the United States, Egypt, Kenya, Uganda, Liberia, Burkina Faso, Bennin, DRC, Tunisia, and Guinea Bissau. She has also completed the KMUTNB Staff Mobility Programme: Cultural Diversity from the King Mongkut’s University of Technology North Bangkok.
Zama’s accomplishments within her various roles in Marketing and Communications include the following:
- Winning an excellence award at the Marketing, Advancement & Communication in Education (MACE) congress for coordinating a world-class conference, the Empowered Administrators Conference. www.eaconference.co.za
- Resuscitating the MUT alumni relations office and restarting the contacts database from zero to more than 70% contactable alumni within a space of three years.
- South Africa – Sweden University Forum (SASUF) conference presentation on the role of stakeholder management during disasters under the theme: Building resilience amongst disadvantaged communities in the event of future disasters. #SasufGoesDigital2030
- South African – Sweden University Forum (SASUF2023) Sustainability Forum presentation. Topic: Challenging the view on knowledge and power
Dr JM Makua
Dr. Manyane Makua is an academic with extensive experience in the field of teaching and learning. He is currently serving as the Acting Deputy Vice-Chancellor Teaching and Learning at the Mangosuthu University of Technology (MUT) since 2020. He is the Founder and Chair of the Annual Focus Teaching and Learning Conference.
Dr Makua holds a PhD from the University of Limpopo and a Postgraduate Diploma in Business Administration from the University of Bath, UK.
In terms of professional experience, Dr. Makua has served in several leadership roles at MUT. He has been the Senior Director of the Teaching and Learning Development Centre since 2013, providing strategic academic leadership and overseeing staff professional development and student support initiatives. He has also served as the Director of the Quality Management Directorate and held teaching positions at the University of Limpopo.
Throughout his career, Dr. Makua has been involved in programme and curriculum development, accreditation processes, and postgraduate supervision. He has conducted research and published papers on topics such as assessment in higher education, graduate attributes, policy development and implementation, academic development and social justice in education. He has also served as a reviewer, editor of academic books and journals
He has participated in various Higher Education national projects, including serving as a Member of the Higher Education Quality Committee (HEQC) and as a Deputy Chair for South African University Teachers (SAUT).
Sthembiso Phakathi
Sthembiso is an experienced business advisor and has built many strong business relationships over many years. He works with his clients to harness culture and build competitive advantage through strategic focus, business connection and execution excellence. He has deep passion for organisation design and behavioural change management. Sthembiso works with C-suite executives to navigate their challenges and help them better understand the impact of technological, social, and economic change. His work also involves helping business executives harness new capabilities such as leading through ambiguity, managing increasing complexity, being tech-savvy, managing changing
customer and talent demographics, and handling organizational cultures.
He uses his extensive organizational design experience to lead large scale corporate transitions across sectors and industries, with the primary focus on the Energy, Resources and Industrials sector. He has co-authored and published articles about Future of Work in the Mining industry. Sthembiso is currently a Director in the Human Capital practice at Deloitte Consulting focusing mainly on Organizational Transformation. He is a part-time lecturer at Wits University in the department of Economics and Human Sciences and is a visiting lecturer at the Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS). He's conducted research in marketing management, operating models and strategy analysis. Sthembiso holds an MBA from the University of South Africa and an MSc in Strategic Marketing from Cardiff University, UK. He also holds other engineering qualifications and has completed Management and Leadership programmes at the University of South Africa.
Kwenzi Khuzwayo
Kwenzi Khuzwayo’s career started at Mangosuthu University of Technology (MUT), almost 25 years ago, where she rose through the ranks of HR Generalist, Manager, Rewards Specialist, and ultimately Deputy Director: Remuneration and Budget, all in the Higher Education Sector. She also has many accolades against her name, from Winning the Best Contributing Employee of the Year Award in 2005 at MUT; to receiving an award from Wits University for being the best student in the Sculpturing Future Leaders Development Programme.
Kwenzi is a Public Speaker certified by the Dale Carnegie Institute and a seasoned Global Remuneration Specialist
certified by the World at Work in collaboration with the South African Rewards Association (SARA). Her qualification includes GRP, CCP, ND: Personnel Management (MUT) and BTech HR (Durban University of Technology), MDP University of Pretoria.
She is a Philanthropist and a founder and Director of Ubemuhle Consulting and serves on the Board of various organisations and NPOs, which enables her to participate strategically in planning and ensuring corporate Governance within those organisations. She also volunteered to conduct workshops for CV Modeling and Mock Job interviews with MUT students.
Danielle Venter
Danielle Venter is a distinguished expert in the realm of Information Technology (IT) and Project Management, who has a remarkable career spanning over two decades in these fields. She holds a prominent position as the head of the IT project management portfolio and the service delivery and support services at the Information Technology & Network (IT&N) department at MUT.
Danielle's journey in the IT industry has been characterised by her unyielding passion for enhancing user experiences
through the strategic integration of technology. Her deep understanding of IT systems, coupled with her keen eye for optimizing user interactions, has been instrumental in shaping successful IT projects under her stewardship. Beyond her professional accomplishments, Danielle is a true advocate for coaching and the development of young talent. She undertakes the pivotal responsibility of nurturing interns who join the IT team on an annual basis. Her dedication to fostering the growth of young professionals reflects her commitment to giving back to the industry by shaping the next generation of IT leaders.
At the core of Danielle's philosophy is the principle of working smarter, not harder. She firmly believes in the transformative power of innovative technology solutions that streamline processes, optimize workflows, and enhance overall efficiency. Her relentless pursuit of cutting-edge advancements in technology has led her to be a beacon of innovation in the IT landscape.
Lenore Goss-Matjiea
Mrs. Lenore Goss-Matjie is the CEO of Styled by Lenore, a South African registered business, that specializes in supplying quality, designer clothing, uniforms (corporate, beauty and wellness spas, etc), footwear, accessories, accredited products in the medical, health care and wellness fields (medical scrubs, lab coats, hospital bedding, personal protective clothing, syringes, needles etc). Her company also sources and supplies furniture and homeware. She is a qualified Image Consultant, Fashion Stylist, Make-up artist, Hospitality Coach and Trainer, etiquette and Protocol Consultant and Motivational Speaker, who is passionate about helping others improve their image, personally and professionally.
She is a former Professional Latin American Dance Champion and was appointed as the Head for Sponsorship and Fund-Raising for the South African Dance Foundation, a Not-for-Profit Organisation (NPO), which attracts dancers from numerous countries for SA-hosted events such as “Rumba in the Jungle” and the “South African Open Dance Championships”. She also focuses on ensuring that development is realised at the grass-roots level in poor communities.
Lenore was honoured and awarded as Standard Bank’s top 100 influential Women in 2020, DRG Top Businesswomen 2022 and recently nominated for the Leading Businesswoman for 2023 Awards where she is recognised for her contribution to the development of her business within the fashion and styling sector. She was most recently honoured with the Best Fierce Woman in Business 2023 Award for her achievement in leading women in small business. She strives to empower, educate, and inspire all women to be the best versions of themselves. In her role as Deputy Chair of Women in Business at the Durban Chamber, Lenore’s focus is on the growth of women entrepreneurs, ensuring top-class advice from the front lines, on how to enable women start-up businesses, teaching the art of perseverance and building self-esteem, through the understanding of basic business principles.
Qualification: She has a Bachelor of Primary Education Degree from the University of KwaZulu-Natal (formerly Natal) and served as an educator in the Education Department for over 10 years. As a former educator, encouraging young people to liberate themselves through the power of knowledge and education, is a cause that is very close to her heart. She completed the Marketing Course with the University of Cape Town. She is a SAAIP, GIECA, IBICA and EAATSC qualified image consultant, fashion stylist, and equete and protocol consultant. She is a qualified Professional Dance adjudicator, choreographer, a chairperson of adjudicators with the Imperial Society of Dance (London), British Dance Council, as well as the South African Dance Teachers Association and is a member of the South African Dance Foundation. She owns her own Dance Studio, where she teaches across all dance ages.
Achievements: Lenore was crowned Miss India KwaZulu-Natal in 1998. She has also been featured in numerous newspaper articles and publications including the KZN Top Businesswoman. Lenore was also featured and interviewed in the award-winning documentary “When Voices Meet” which aired on DSTV and showcased on several international film shows in the US, Europe and South Africa, which advocated for social cohesion, promoting non- racism within the youth through the arts (music and dance).” She was the undefeated KwaZulu-Natal Professional Latin American Dance Champion and ranked 3rd in South Africa. She excelled in the performing arts where she performed on an international platform.
Lenore lives with a chronic health condition known as Fibromyalgia. Although there is no cure for this yet, this has not stopped her from pursuing her ambitions and dreams, including living her version of the best life possible.
Sandile Masengemu
Qualifications:
- Absa IMD Accelerated Development Programme (MBA Equivalence) , University of Switzerland (IMD)- 2022
- Postgraduate Diploma Banking and Financial Support Services, University of Cape Town – 2018,
- Post Graduate Diploma (Middle Management program), Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) – 2012,
- National Diploma In Accounting, Mangosuthu Technikon – 2002,
- Financial Advisory and Intermediary Services (FAIS) First Level Regulatory Exam for Key-Individuals Moonstone – 2012
Total years with the Absa Group:
- 09 years (2014 – Present) with Absa Group and a total of +20 years in financial services.
Skills and expertise:
- Management, Customer Service, Banking, Risk Management, Financial Analysis, Business Analysis, Project Management.
Experience:
- A seasoned leader in the Banking Industry, Sandile boasts a remarkable two-decade journey marked by consistent growth and noteworthy achievements. From his beginnings as a FNB Teller in 2003 to his current role as Provincial General Manager at Absa NBFS/AIFA KZN and Mpumalanga, Sandile's career showcases a track record of leadership, strategic acumen, and client engagement. With accolades including the Best Sales Consultant award in 2005 and recognition as the Best Newcomer in 2008 and Community Builder of the Year in 2012 at Nedbank, Sandile's impact is undeniable. His approach blends visionary leadership, distribution strategy expertise, and a commitment to fostering sustainable growth, making him an essential asset within any team he is a part of.
Sandile Mahlaba
Past and Work Experience:
Sandile is from uMlazi in Durban. He is a proud Alumnus of Ogwini Technical High School and MUT to which he is also ensuring his impact is being made. He also studied at the Thabo Mbeki African Leadership Institute and Walter Sisulu Leadership Academy. His volunteer work includes being a Community Police Forum member as sector chair, Board advisor for AIESEC in South Africa, many more youth development and Community development projects and programmes. He is the Patron of GoDigitalSA Foundation having co-founded it to ensure that the digital transformation is implemented in schools across the country and the continent.
Current position:
Sandile Mahlaba, is currently working as the Provincial PS Executive FOR KZN & MPL in a leading global company in the Technology Sector. He is also responsible for Digital Transformation in the Government Sector.
Current Company/ organisation you are working for: Microsoft South Africa:
Sandile Mahlaba is a leader of radical digital transformation/revolution in Government. He is a distinguished community Leader and Business Professional with great insight in youth and community development, leadership in several community structures. Sandile is known for his thought leadership in politics, community development, and business transformation modelling. Mentor and Coach to young community leaders and advisor to leaders in government. Epic Speaker, Trainer and Transformational Strategist with the edge in the 4th Industrial Revolution Thought Leadership & Digital Transformation Agenda.
Fun Fact: I love my 3 Labrotties (Cross: Lab and Rotweiler dogs)!
Remember me
A quote from you: "The world is advancing with the 4th Industrial Revolution and beyond. Digital transformation is happening every day and we have an opportunity to learn a new digital skill to stay relevant. We are all in the journey of Digital Transformation, lets support each other to learn. “EachOne TeachOne"
Pastor Khanyi Msweli
Pastor Khanyi Msweli is a qualified Social Worker with experience spanning just over ten years with the Department of Social Development. She holds a Master’s Degree in Public Administration which she obtained from the University of Kwa-Zulu Natal. Prior to assuming her current position as Social Development Manager with eThekwini Municipality, she was employed by Mangosuthu University of Technology as Deputy Director in the Institute for Rural Development and Community Engagement.
She is one of the directors for Progressive Primary Health Care, a Non Profit Organization based in KwaZulu Natal. She also serves as the Chairperson of the Board of PROTEC, a national Maths, Science and Technology organization with its Head Office in Johannesburg.
Pastor Kay, as she is affectionately known amongst her peers and colleagues in the religious fraternity, is an ordained Pastor leading a church in Greater Cato Manor. She is a woman of faith and a dynamic preacher of the Word, with a special grace to bringing hope and healing to different audiences.
Her approach is the integration of the theory of the word of God into practice as a foundation towards achieving a transformed and fulfilled life. This serves as a frame of reference for her growing Inspirational Talking career.
Pastor Kay is a mother and a grand mother.
Jay Roopsunker
I am honoured to introduce myself as a conference speaker for the 10th Empowered Administrators Conference. With decades of experience in the education industry and expertise in the fields of Electronics, Information, Communications & Technology and Digital Marketing, I have had the privilege of sharing my insights with diverse audiences across various workshops, and seminars. As an accomplished professional, I hold a qualification in Project Management which has further bolstered my knowledge and credibility in this domain. Throughout my career, I have worked tirelessly to enhance my skills in the digital domain. My extensive experience in this field has granted me a deep understanding of the challenges faced by administrators today and has enabled me to develop innovative solutions that drive sustainable growth and success.
Guided by principles of excellence, collaboration, and continuous learning, I am committed to delivering a dynamic presentation that will inspire administrators to embrace their full potential and make a lasting impact within their respective organizations.
Jade Mthiyane
Jade Mthiyane believes that the value of one’s personal brand is concluded before one speaks; personal exhibition and pneuma are a striking and mighty launch pad for successful personal branding. Jade is a South African entrepreneur with proficiency and zeal for brand engineering, image consultancy, fashion design, inspirational speaking, visual communication and event innovation.
Born in Ntuzuma Township, Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, Jade is the founder of Klin Dlozi Pty Ltd; a conglomeration of sub-brands dedicated to inspiring a “Klin” mind, health, spirit, lifestyle and Africa holistically.
Born in Ntuzuma Township, Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, Jade is the founder of Klin Dlozi Pty Ltd; a conglomeration of sub-brands dedicated to inspiring a “Klin” mind, health, spirit, lifestyle and Africa holistically. She is currently a staff and student at Mangosuthu University of Technology, employed as an Events Coordinator while completing her Post-Graduate Diploma in Marketing. She has a strong brand leadership foundation supported by her under-graduate qualification obtained at the esteemed Vega School and is the recipient of the 2008 Pencil Award for the Diploma in Brand Communications. Jade has worked in the higher education sector for nineteen years and is passionate about evolving the African youth into repositories for global solutions. She is also passionate about developing a cohort of African female teenagers who will later reinstate gender parity globally. Jade has had the privilege to collaborate with successful brand building initiatives such as SA Fashion Week, Durban Tourism Indaba, SA Bridal Fair, Jewellex Africa, Joyous Celebration, Women in Art, MUT Maidens and more.
Disruptive thinking, creativity and innovation is what fuels Jade to develop unconventional concepts that create memorable brand experiences and meticulously “Klin” brand image. She looks forward to collaborating with like-minded forces whose ambition is to conquer the fear of launching and maintaining omni-present brands that will change the way the world perceives Africa.
Ms Moretlo Mokuele
Ms Moretlo Mokuele is a member of the Technical Team supporting the Administrator at MUT. She holds a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Pretoria’s Graduate School of Business. She has served in the capacity of Executive Director Human Resources at two institutions of higher learning in this country over a period of 11 years. Prior to joining the higher education sector, she served in different senior positions in the provincial and national government departments, as well as at parastatal institutions.