Marcel Jakubec is a Managing Director within Accenture’s Financial Services Strategy Practice — after starting his consulting career 15 years ago at Genesis Analytics. As an experienced strategist, Marcel works with clients across Africa, and his passion lies in growth strategy, business model development, and innovation. Marcel has close ties with the development landscape, having spent the first half of his career working with donors, NGOs and the private sector in the financial Inclusion space.

Kajal Singh is a Chartered Accountant (SA) with over 19 years of management experience, specializing in Treasury Management, Financial Reporting, and Strategic Financial Planning. Currently serving as Manager: Treasury & Financial Planning at uMngeni-uThukela Water, Kajal has a proven track record in developing robust financial strategies, optimizing cash flow, and ensuring financial sustainability for large organizations. She has also held the role of Acting Chief Financial Officer, contributing to strategic execution and integrated risk management. Kajal is a SAICA-accredited assessor, a board member and Chairperson of the Finance Committee at SaveAct Trust, and Chairperson of the Umgeni Water Retirement Fund. Known for her analytical skills, leadership, and commitment to excellence, Kajal is dedicated to building resilient financial systems and adding value to organizational processes.

Mandla Nkomo has a rich, twenty-five-year career in the African agri-food sector. He currently serves as the CEO of Partners in Food Solutions, a consortium of seven world-class food companies working together to provide technical and business expertise to African food processors. Previously he served as chief growth officer for CGIAR’s Excellence in Agronomy Initiative.

Mandla was born in Zimbabwe, but has spent most of his life moving between Zimbabwe and South Africa. After studying biochemistry and food science in college, he started out working in agricultural production where he helped farmers solve challenges like access to markets, finance and lack of technical know-how. He also has experience in the food processing space, including running a small dairy factory. Mandla has previously worked with the international organizations TechnoServe and Solidaridad. All of these professional sojourns, in his own words, “have given me a good perspective of how the entire food sector functions and intersects.”

He has a strong belief in the potential of the African continent and its people, and is committed to contributing to transitioning the food and agriculture space to a point where it is sustainable, supports livelihoods, and provides safe, healthy and nutritious food to its people.

Director in the Climate Change Adaptation Unit at the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE), has extensive experience in the development of climate change adaptation policy and project implementation. Prior to his role at the DFFE, he worked as a Project Manager and Coordinator in several organisations. Phago’s passion is creating grassroots impact through policy development and project implementation. He currently serves as a trustee on two boards, where he works towards building more sustainable and resilient livelihoods.

Martha recently retired from the Agence Francaise de Développement, AFD, France’s overseas development bank after 30 years. Prior to her retirement she was the Executive Director for human resources for AFD after spending four years in South Africa as the Regional Director for Southern Africa overseeing AFD’s activities in Angola, Namibia, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique and of course, South Africa.

Martha has an extensive background and experience in development, with wide-ranging global expertise in strategic planning and implementation in Africa, Asia and Latin America. Among other positions Martha served as the director of the Banking, Public Enterprise and Local Authorities Department of AFD. In this role, Martha managed the teams to address borrowers’ and client’s needs for innovative financing and capacity-building solutions including microfinance. She also headed AFD’s Asia Department during a period of significant expansion into Asia.

She has lived in places as diverse as France, Gabon, East Africa, South Africa, and the United States. She holds a Master’s degree in International Relations from the Johns Hopkins School of International Studies (SAIS). In 2014, Martha was awarded the Légion d’honneur in recognition of her work.

Nolufefe Nonjeke-Dlanjwa is the Programme Manager at SaveAct. With a health promotion and training for transformation background, she focuses on community, socio-economic development, and sustainable livelihoods.

Nolufefe joined SaveAct in 2008, championing the rollout of the savings group methodology around the Eastern Cape. Since then, she hasn’t looked back or hesitated about how revolutionary this kind of work is—especially for vulnerable households.

With over 20 years of experience in the rural development and NGO sector, Nolufefe is very determined to contribute towards SaveAct’s audacious goal of reaching 2 million women and youth in the next 10 years.

Angela Pillay heads up SaveAct’s administration and programme support. She started working in the NGO space 30 years ago, supporting communities who suffered social, economic, and political exclusion under apartheid.

Angela has been part of SaveAct since its inception, dedicating herself to its growth and ensuring that staff and communities receive the structures and support they need to thrive. Angela has a deep belief in the organisation’s
mission to empower communities.

She is deeply committed to SaveAct, having seen how the work transforms lives. Being part of this journey is a calling, and with this purpose, Angela continues to bring dedication, care, and the drive to ensure growth and community impact.

Nomthandazo Mbonambi joined SaveAct in 2013 as Programme Co-ordinator and has over 11 years of experience in community development, facilitation, team management, and some M&E.

She has a Bachelor of Social Sciences and Post-graduate Diploma in Food Security from the University of KwaZulu-Natal.

For Nomthandazo, being part of SaveAct is more than just giving her time to try and make a difference; it is about collaborating with others to make a lasting positive impact to create a better future for generations to come. It is deeply rewarding.

Mfaniseni Priscilla (Mbhe) Mdlalose joined SaveAct on 1 October 2025 as the Network and Training Officer. She brings over 20 years of experience in community development, public service, and NGO sector. Mbhe is also bringing her strategic insight, facilitation skills, and passion for building collaborative ecosystems that advance women’s and youth empowerment through financial inclusion and sustainable livelihoods.

Before joining SaveAct, Mbhe served as the National Coordinator for Tshintsha Amakhaya, a national alliance of civil society organisations working to strengthen rural livelihoods and land, water and food justice. In that role, she coordinated a multi-stakeholder collaboration and supported advocacy processes that linked grassroots realities with provincial and national policy dialogues. Previously, she was the Chief Executive Officer of the Council for the Built Environment (CBE), where she coordinated transformation initiatives and inclusive participation of South African built professionals within the built environment professions.

Mbhe holds a Master’s in Town and Regional Planning and is currently pursuing a PhD in Community Development at the University of KwaZulu-Natal.