Arno van Haght, Dip HRM (SAIM), MBA (University of Cumbria, UK), is the founder and Managing Partner of Orogen (Pty) Ltd, a 100% Black-owned and managed South African strategic management and turnaround consulting company established in 2022. He is a seasoned strategist in corporate turnaround, business process reengineering, business optimisation, culture change, and communication, with over 20 years’ business experience across multiple industries. His experience and expertise spans, the private and public sectors, as well as non-profit organisations, including financial services, manufacturing, textiles, mining, legal services, and nuclear research and technology.

Arno specialises in leading the design and implementation of strategic programs that focus on corporate turnarounds and restructuring, market and business development strategy, business process reengineering and optimisation, public-private partnership initiatives, social marketing, behavioural change and culture change campaigns, socio-political engagement, mobilisation and activation programs, public relations, advocacy and reputation management, brand strategy, communication, corporate social responsibility strategy, and culture change.

Laura Malan, BSc Honours, cum laude (UCT), MBA, cum laude (GIBS) is an internationally accredited and highly respected executive coach, facilitator, lecturer, strategic consultant, intervention designer and programme director in the field of leadership and organisational development. Laura is a Professional Associate of the Gordon Institute of Business, a supervisor at the South African College of Applied Psychology (SACAP) and the founder of AViD Consulting and CSSC Management Consulting Group. With over 20 years of extensive business experience, she has worked with public, private and civil society organisations across six continents, in over 50 countries and across multiple sectors including advertising, education, financial services, ICT, legal services, non-profit sector, public sector, professional services, packaging, mining, FMCG, pharmaceuticals, telecommunications and the United Nations System.

Omphile Modibela-Netshiozwi, BSc Eng (Chemical) (Wits), LLB (Unisa) is a registered patent attorney and an admitted attorney of the High Court of South Africa with 12 years post-admission experience. She is the founder of legal firm Omphile Netshiozwi Incorporated which specializes in Intellectual Property, Commercial and Corporate Law. She also served on the Board of Directors of the Licensing Executives Society of South Africa and recently chaired the panel appointed by the Department of Science & Technology (now Department of Science & Innovation) to review the Intellectual Property Rights from Publicly Financed Research & Development Act and the National Intellectual Property Management Office.

Dr Nechama Brodie, BA (hons), PhD (Wits) is a veteran print, broadcast and online journalist and an experienced strategic corporate communications advisor who has worked with multinational corporations, international organizations, NGOs, state enterprises and media institutions and platforms across Africa, Latin America, Europe, North America and in India. She is the author of nine best-selling non-fiction books, two novels and is a lecturer at the University of the Witwatersrand’s Centre for Journalism.

Robyn Michaels, Certified Business Systems Analyst (UCT), is a Process Optimisation and Information Systems Specialist with significant CRM and business development experience in real estate, legal, hospitality, beauty, manufacturing, and textile sectors. With a passion to drive business growth, Robyn’s visionary approach to designing bespoke CRM tools and platforms deliver customised organisational performance and management information systems that enhance the efficiency of cross-functional production, marketing, and sales teams. By optimising revenue growth and reducing acquisition and retention management costs, she supports her clients in improving overall business outcomes.

Gerard Van Haght, Business Administration and Management with Distinction (DMS), and Certification in Real Estate, is a results-driven, and highly skilled sales and marketing strategist. With extensive experience gained in various industries, including property investment, real estate, FMCG, retail, textiles, and corporate sales, he is highly proficient in supporting his clients to build and defend sustainable revenue growth.  He has a passion for developing and executing on new business acquisition strategies, existing customer relationship management optimisation programmes, product and production workflow, and value chain management.

Taswell Alfred, Cost and Management Accounting (Nat Dip.), Technical Financial Accounting (Nat Dip.) (PenTech), is a registered member of the Institute of Professional Bookkeepers and Accountants, and founder of DETAS Accounting (Pty) Ltd.  

As a highly skilled financial management specialist and critical thinker with over 21 years of experience as a professional banker in retail, business, and private banking, Taswell’s commitment to meeting his clients’ requirements is further evidenced in his numerous certifications including those in Credit Management (IOB), Project Management, Accounting, Bookkeeping, and Industrial Psychology. With a passion for start-ups and business turnarounds, he has built a proven track record of supporting numerous small and medium enterprises and entrepreneurs, across multiple industry sectors to achieve extraordinary results.

Manubha Ramdunnie, BA Communications Science (Unisa), Higher Education Diploma (Transvaal College of Ed.), is an integrated marketing communications specialist. She also holds multiple diplomas in Media Management (AAA School of Advertising), Marketing Management, Advertising and Public Relations, Professional Counselling, and TEFL/TESOL in Business English, PEM (University of Pretoria). Having thrived in the corporate sector for over two decades, her passion for storytelling and proven competence in social behaviour change and brand communication (SBCBC) has delivered improved reputational value and brand affinity for her clients’ business – whether the focus has been on internal Employee Value Proposition (EVP), external Stakeholder Value Proposition (SVP) or change and turnaround management.

Lesedi Letwaba, CA (SA), PG Dip. Acc., BCom Acc. (UCT), has over 15 years of investment banking experience across multiple sectors, including mining, oil and gas, manufacturing, renewable energy, and textiles. His expertise includes general corporate finance advisory, M&A, debt and equity capital raisings, B-BBEE transactions and balance sheet restructuring/optimisation. He is the founder and CEO of Mokgalong group of companies, which focus on repurposing abandoned industrial zones and related infrastructure, property development, student accommodation and renewable energy.