Wayne Naidoo, who served as chair in the 2019 / 2020 and 2020 / 2021 fiscal, was re-elected to the position of chair. 

The Exco's tenure runs in tandem with that of the board of directors, playing a role in working closely with the board of directors in collectively directing the association's affairs.

The executive committee of the ACA now includes:
  • Wayne Naidoo
  • Thabang Skwambane
  • Karabo Songo
  • Monalisa Zwambila, and
  • ACA CEO Mathe Okaba.

The incoming board is as follows:


Wayne Naidoo opened the meeting by welcoming all attendees and followed with the 74th AGM chairperson's report for 2021. He highlighted that the past year has arguably been the most challenging period of our lives, but gut feeling has allowed us to steer our way through these uncertain times.

Naidoo added that in all of the years during which he has served on the ACA board, he has never before seen the collective coming together of the leadership as has been the case in the past year and the resultant progress that was made across all portfolios and respective committees.

According to Naidoo, 2021 served up the 'brief of the year' and how the ACA leadership stepped up and tackled it head-on. According to Naidoo, the highlights comprised:
  • the most transformed board in the history of the ACA in terms of gender and race
  • seeing the transformation committee established to tackle key issues of diversity and empowerment
  • a new membership package introduced to cater for the broader industry
  • a brand refresh
  • MDDA funding, which saw the securing of R3.4-million in bursaries for Red & Yellow learners and a further R1-million in post-qualification funding for women in leadership
  • the inaugural Effie Awards South Africa launched to replace the Apex Awards, and
  • a tighter and more collaborative industry working in synch to promote the value offered by the ACA. 
"All of this would not have been possible without your injection of passion and the ownership that you applied so rigorously to your respective portfolios, along with your engaged contribution on the board," said Naidoo.

He thanked the Exco and the Secretariat and thanked the CEO for inspiring everyone to rise to the challenge and walk the talk with rigour. A special mention was made to pay tribute to one of the ACA's very own, Thandi Mhlongo, a colleague and friend who passed on. 

In closing the AGM, Naidoo congratulated and thanked everyone again for the opportunity and honour to serve the industry.

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