EDP announces new Board
The Western Cape Economic Development Partnership (EDP) today announced the appointment of its first Board, to be chaired by Ms Barbara Hogan (previously the Minister of Health as well as Minister of Public Enterprises).
With the new EDP Board to hold its first official meeting at the end of August, the other ten members are: Mr Ashoek Adhikari (General Counsel of Regulatory and Corporate Affairs, Media 24), Mr Blum Khan (CEO, Metropolitan Health), Ms Carli Bunding-Venter (Economic Development Manager, George Municipality), Mr Dhiresh Ramklass (Capital Projects Advisor, National Treasury), Ms Jenny Cargill (an investment expert and special advisor on the Green Economy to the Department of the Premier of the Western Cape), Professor Julian May (Director, Institute for Social Development, University of the Western Cape, Mr Kashif Wicomb (until recently the Provincial chairperson of the Black Management Forum), Mr Pieter Lodder (General Manager, Klein Karoo Agri-Business Centre), Ms Vuyiseka Dubula (Secretary General, Treatment Action Campaign), and Ms Xoliswa Daku (CEO of property investment, development and management company DCI Holdings).
Commenting on the new board, Barbara Hogan noted: "The EDP's first board represents exciting diversity of experience of each member, and by embracing this diversity we acknowledge the critical element in the success of the EDP will be the building of collaborative relationships that cut across many fault lines. The EDP is an innovative organisation beyond politics: it's about good people coming together to do good work and make a real difference to the economic future of the Western Cape and to the country as a whole."
The EDP is an independent, non-partisan organisation accountable to its members which, since its official launch in April already number well over 100 organisations involved in the economic development of the province. Representing all sectors of the regional economy, organisations include public entities; business, industry and professional organisations; knowledge, research and policy institutes; civil society; those involved as economic development promotion and intermediary support organisations; and trade unions.
Alan Winde, the Western Cape Government's Minister for Finance, Economic Development and Tourism and Chair of the EDP's interim Steering Committee said: "The Western Cape Government is delighted that the board of the EDP is now in place and can begin to play a meaningful role in creating a new era for the Western Cape's economy. This board comes armed with the skills and experience to actively lead the EDP in its vital task of building partnerships that will strengthen and streamline the way that we conduct business within our region and internationally. Through the EDP, we will build a Western Cape that is a better place to invest, do business, get a job and earn a living, for everyone."
Andrew Boraine, convenor of the EDP, adds: "I am very excited at the prospect of working with the all members of the new EDP Board. In particular, having known and worked with Barbara Hogan for over 30 years, I know we have a person of absolute principle and integrity to lead us. The Board will be the public face of the EDP, a cross-sector partnership dedicated to providing a space for all stakeholders to come together to co-design our economic future and co-implement solutions. The EDP is the place where we will strive to create a common agenda from the often differing economic visions, strategies and plans. The role of the Board will be to lead this process by setting an example of collaborative and effective partnerships."
According to Professor Brian Figaji, chair of the independent board selection committee appointed by the EDP to drive the board nomination process, and chair of the Development Bank of Southern Africa's Development Fund: "We are confident that the incumbents of the first Board will collectively bring the required range of expertise and skills necessary for the functioning of the Board. We are also satisfied that they are broadly representative of the diverse experiences necessary to enrich the work of the EDP. I would also like to thank all those organisations that nominated candidates, and to the 59 high-calibre individuals that made themselves available for selection. It was a not an easy task to make the final choice, but I am confident we have found 11 individuals who clearly demonstrate the qualities of collaborative leadership so necessary to guide a partnership of this nature."
Prof Figaji also thanked the members of the independent selection committee for their diligent work in selecting the first EDP Board. Along with Prof Figaji, these include Mr Kevin Kiewitz (National Chair of the Black Conveyancers Association of South Africa and regional coordinator of the Black Business Council), Ms Nasima Badsha (CEO of the Cape Higher Education Consortium (CHEC) representing University of Cape Town, University of Western Cape, Stellenbosch University and Cape Peninsula University of Technology), Ms Ntsietso Sesiu (Director of Service Delivery Integration in the Western Cape Department of Local Government), Ms Lele Mehlomakulu (Head of Human Resources at Allan Gray and a board member of Accelerate Cape Town), Ms Louise Muller (director of shareholding management in finance at the City of Cape Town) and Mr Zackie Achmat (Co-director of Ndifuna Ukwazi).
Statement issued by the Western Cape Economic Development Partnership by Rabbit in a Hat Communications, August 7 2012
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