The Businesswoman of the Year Award has been honouring South Africa's outstanding businesswomen since 1980. It has grown in stature over the last 29 years, to become the premier event of its kind in the country and a notable part of the South African business calendar.
Corporate
Boni Dibate
Boni is currently Executive Manager: Service Delivery at ATNS (Air Traffic & Navigation Services).
However, her working career started in the Health sector. She is also a registered Clinical Psychologist.
She has worked in various positions in the Transport Industry in the past 10 years ranging from Human Resources Manager at Spoornet to Chief Executive Officer at Esselen Park Centre of Excellence, South African Express Airways and Transtel respectively.
She has also served on numerous Boards and was President of Business Women Association between 2002 and 2003. She has immense experience in the Aviation industry and is a member of the Customer Relations Workgroup representing ATNS at CANSO (Civil Air Navigation Services Organisation).
Leisel Ann Ramjoo
Ms Leisel Ramjoo is currently the Executive: Network Core Operations at Telkom Ltd. She has been with Telkom for the past fifteen years. She started off her career in the Human Resources department as a Administrative Officer and then spent 7 years gaining experience as a Training Officer, HR Consultant, and HR account Manager. Her career path changed completely and over the last 8 years has worked within the National Networkk Operations Centre (NNOC), leading various technical teams within the Telkom Core network divisions.
Leisel was appointed to Executive: Network Core Operations in April 2004 and is responsible for the Configuration of Telkom Networks and complex services and the Management of Customer Networks. Recently, she has led the Telkom Operations FIFA Confederations Cup project team and is tasked to do the same for the World Cup project for Telkom Operations.
Lael Bethlehem
Lael Bethlehem is the CEO of the Johannesburg Development Agency, a company wholly owned by the City of Johannesburg. Lael has been with the City since mid 2002, when she was appointed as head of Economic Development. Prior to that, Lael worked in national government serving as Chief Director of Forestry in the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry for four years. Before joining DWAF, Lael had worked as a researcher in the labour movement (at the Industrial Strategy Project and then at Naledi) and as research coordinator at Nedlac. Lael has a Masters degree from Wits University, where she was active in the student movement in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
Lael is married to Emilia Potenza and they have two daughters.
Venete Klein
One of the most influential women in banking in South Africa, Venete Klein has a leadership style that perfectly combines compassion with big business. She is a financial powerhouse, humanitarian, mother and bridge-builder all rolled up into one rather formidable package. Klein may be small in stature, but her passion for creating business with heart is larger-than-life. She holds down the position of Executive Director for Retail Banking at ABSA and taking care of 10 million customers and 15 000 staff members is ‘just another day at the office’. She is responsible for Absa’s Transactional and Deposits cluster incorporating the Branch Network, Distribution, Sales & Service, Customer Market Solutions, Pricing, Meeg Bank (Eastern Cape), Absa’s Africa Retail Bank and AllPay (Absa’s social grant and wage payment channel). She continues to thrive in the competitive world of high finance. Respected by colleagues and staff members alike, Klein is known for her motherly guidance and no-nonsense approach.
The former Minister of Finance appointed Klein to serve on three financial sector-related advisory bodies: the Standing Committee for the Revision of the Banks Act of 1990, the Standing Committee for the Short Term Insurance Act and the policy Board for Financial Services and Regulation since 2001. She is also a visiting Professor at the University of Free State and regularly presents at Stellenbosch University, University of Louisiana and Cornel University (US) to MBA students. Over the years she has studied extensively overseas and is a graduate of Harvard and holds a number of international qualifications from MIT, Insead, IMD and Wits.
When it comes to firsts, Venete is always leading the charge. She was the first South African to be invited to serve on the World Trade Organisation’s International Policy Commission. The first woman and person of colour to serve as Vice Chair of the Agricultural Business Chamber, and the first woman to be appointed as President of the AHI (Afrikaanse Handels Instituut / Afrikaans Chamber of Commerce) in its 66 year history. Klein is a member of the International Policy Commission, a trustee of the Absa Foundation Trust and the Community Impact Trust as well as being the economic advisor to the premier of the North West.
Entrepreneur
Anne Pratt
Anne Pratt is a multi-awarded business woman and a director of one of South Africa’s leading executive search companies, Memela Pratt & Associates.
Ms Pratt holds a Social Science degree from Natal University (Economics, Industrial Psychology), an Honours degree in Psychology and an MBA degree from the University of the Witwatersrand. During her MBA she won the Nedcor award for the full-time student who made the most outstanding contribution to business. In 2008 she obtained a certification in Board Directorship, through GIBS, University of Pretoria Business School.
In 2003 Ms Pratt won the BWA Nedcor Gauteng Regional Achiever awards and in 2004, 2007 and 2009 was nominated for the Top Women in Business and Government Awards in the entrepreneur category.
She is a member of the Black Management forum, the Business Women’s Association, the Institute of Directors and participates regularly in leading business school panel discussions, guest lectures and at leading conferences. Ms Pratt is a member of the International Women’s Forum advancing women’s leadership across careers, cultures and continents by connecting the world’s most preeminent women of significant and diverse achievement.
Ms Pratt also has a passion for property investment, development and interior design, a part time hobby that has become a substantial business.
Anne Pratt began her career in consumer marketing in 1983 with Lever Brothers, Unilever, as part of its graduate recruitment programme. During this time, she also lectured at Natal University, Durban, in Consumer Psychology.
She joined major advertising agency McCann Advertising in 1988 where she was Client Service Director of the retail agency. Following her MBA, Ms Pratt was Marketing Executive and sat on the Management Board of one of the Altron companies, a major JSE listed company.
In 1995 Ms Pratt was a founding member of Woodburn Management Selection (Pty) Ltd and in 1998 formed Anne Pratt & Nyasulu (Pty) Ltd which became Anne Pratt & Associates at the beginning of 2001. She was joined in 2005 by Totsie Memela who became a 51% majority shareholder of Memela Pratt & Associates. Anne is a Director of Memela Pratt & Associates (Pty) Ltd.
The company was featured in the “Best Companies to work for” in 2003. PMR Intelligence’s updated survey in 2004, rated the company in the category Top Management as the winner of the prestigious Golden Arrow Award. Memela Pratt & Associates is positioned as a premium, top rated executive search company in South Africa.
Ms Pratt has developed an impressive track record in executive search and management selection for senior executive and non-executive board positions, across a wide range of disciplines and companies in South Africa, Africa and globally.
She has invested in property in South Africa and offshore and since 2003 has been a director of Golden Circle Investments 123 Pty Ltd, an investment and consultant business. Golden Circle holds 49% of the shares of Memela Pratt & Associates. She manages a total asset base in excess of R60 million.
Carol Weaving
With Carol the saying should definitely read “stick with her and you will see action and energy!”.
The energy, passion and enthusiasm she exudes make it impossible to be a passive bystander with any project she tackles - and completes.
In 2005 she led the 70 percent acquisition of Thebe Exhibitions and Events - formerly South Africa RAI - by the Thebe Tourism Group, in a well-applauded BEE partnership, opening many a door of opportunity for clients.
She is at the cutting edge of the exhibition and events business in Africa, leading one of the continent’s most forward thinking and successful exhibition and events organisations. She is also a former chairperson of the Exhibition and Event Association of Southern Africa.
All of this has ensured dramatic market share increase - today the Thebe group owns several major exhibition titles including show portfolios of the strongest exhibition brands in Southern Africa like Decorex, the Business and Franchise Opportunities Expo and the World Holiday and Travel Fair - and promotes the ultimate form of communication, direct personal contact.
She has been the driving force behind the Meetings Africa exhibition, the foremost business tourism platform and a one-stop-shop for captains of business tourism - the continent’s largest annual gathering of the conference, special events and incentive travel sector. So successful is this event that South African Tourism acquired the exhibition - with Carol managing it until 2010. The group has also joined forces with South African Tourism to stage a sports tourism exhibition.
The inaugural Events & Sports Tourism Exchange, to be held in mid 2011, will enhance sports tourism to South Africa and showcase the country’s experience and expertise in hosting and managing large international events. South African Tourism clearly partners with cutting edge leaders.
Also known for her excellent managerial skills, including managing venues, Carol landed the contract to manage the Coca-Cola dome in Johannesburg, one of the most versatile venues in South Africa. This contract is valid until 2019 - the third term in a row.
A hands-on strategic operator, she enthuses her team and empowers people to deliver, whatever it takes. She is known for her dynamic leadership by example and cool-headedness, allowing people to develop - and apply - their creative skills.
So, a passive bystander? Not with Carol in the vicinity. Working with her is not for the faint-hearted, but the reward is equally enthusing!