PLAY AFRICA - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Chairman of the Board
- Founder of Ademia Capital
A chartered accountant (CA) and chartered financial analyst, Alton is the founder of Ademia Capital, a company specialising in private equity advisory and fund raising services. Previously he was CEO, partner and investment principal, of Sanlam Private Equity. He has experience as a deal maker for the Industrial Development Corporation of South Africa (IDC). Alton is the past director for Southern African Venture Capital Association (SAVCA) and other companies and private equity funds across sectors.
Dharshni is currently Transformation, Inclusion and Equality lead at Rand Merchant Bank, where she is associated with several initiatives including the Firstrand Volunteers Program and RMB Fund. Dharshni has held several roles at RMB, including business manager for global markets talent and various finance roles, including head of finance banking group treasury. Prior to her tenure at RMB, she was an articled clerk and audit supervisor at PwC South Africa.
Job Titles:
- Founder
- Member of the Board
Gretchen is the Founder of Play Africa, and she currently serves as the Deputy Director of Imagine Children's Museum in Everett, WA, USA. In honour and recognition of her excellence and innovative leadership in the global cultural sector, she was named an Oxford Cultural Leader 2019, Oxford University and Said Business School. Also, she was named "100 Women for 100 Years" by Nelson Mandela Children's Fund in honour of the centenary of Nelson Mandela's birth.
Job Titles:
- Business Development Coordinator
John is a chartered accountant (CA) and senior business rescue practitioner. He brings decades of experience in negotiation experience with development banks/DFIs and has worked as an interim manager of businesses in distress, and in property development and construction. He is founder and chair of the Gumboots Foundation, which supports community-based programmes in Alexandra township.
A Diepkloof, Soweto born author, writer, social commentator, lecturer, poet and speaker. As a writer he has contributed for several publications including The Daily Maverick, The Thinker, The Southern Cross and The South African. Lawrence read philosophy and theology at St John Vianney Seminary Pretoria, Heythrop College, University of London. Lawrence is the Director of the Centre for Ethical Business Leadership at St Augustine College, and serves on several boards including the Johannesburg Roads Agency and is Chairman of Ithemba Recovery Foundation.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- Special Advisor to Mrs. Graça Machel
An international development professional with 15 years' experience, Leila Akahloun serves as special advisor to Mrs. Graça Machel. Through her work with the Graça Machel Trust, she advances international advocacy efforts around child health and nutrition, education, women's economic empowerment, leadership and good governance. She sits on the Board of Trustees of Ashoka Southern Africa and the Ngalo Foundation, and in 2018 was named Global Top 100 Most Influential People of African Descent under 40 in the Humanitarian Sector.
Job Titles:
- Project Manager, Outreach
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- Founder and Owner of Rehana Moosajee Consulting
Rehana is founder and owner of Rehana Moosajee Consulting. Formerly Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) for Transport at the City of Joburg, Rehana now is a consultant and facilitator in systems-change processes ranging from developing wellbeing economies, food systems, eco-mobility, place-making and staying connected to nature in rapidly urbanising contexts.
A compliance, risk and audit professional, Shelleen brings 17 years' experience leading risk and audit teams, including as the previous head of compliance for business banking with Barclays/Absa. In addition to the finance sector, Shelleen has professional experience in several other areas, including consulting and retail.
Job Titles:
- Manager, Visitors Experience
Bringing 10 years' professional experience in quantitative and strategy analysis, financial engineering and private equity, Vuyiswa is currently an Associate Principal at Edge Growth Ventures, funding early stage and growth stage businesses in South Africa. She is a board member for the Student Enterprise Programme at African Leadership Academy, and a candidate for a Doctorate in Business Administration.
Job Titles:
- Associate Director, Growth & Development