Sixty talented individuals have emerged as finalists in the annual Standard Bank Rising Star Awards. The Standard Bank Rising Star Awards programme is a national platform that awards individual performance in the business arena. The sixty finalists emerged from a rigorous three-phase judging process to be named as finalists and represent the top echelons of South African workplace talent.
From a record number of close to 400 entries this year, a panel of select judges from USB-ED chose five potential winners in each of the programme’s 12 industry categories. These categories embrace a broad spectrum of different professions within business sectors that include banking and financial services; energy and chemicals; construction and engineering; entrepreneurship; ICT; transport, logistics and supply chain; media and advertising; mining and minerals; professional services; manufacturing, retail and FMCG; public and private services; as well as tourism, leisure and hospitality.
Standard Bank’s Global Head of Resourcing, Amelia Muller, said the Rising Star Programme was established for the purposes of recognising, celebrating and connecting young talented people who have a capacity for achievement and success and who contribute in an inspirational manner to the future of the nation.
“Originating in South Africa, this programme has identified and assisted over 200 of the country’s most talented young leaders and continues to go from strength to strength,” she says. “Standard Bank’s collaboration with industry icons such as the Rising Stars has always been the objective of sustainable engagement – a way to express Standard Bank’s long-term commitment to the youth of the African continent. This inspirational platform allows for our young stars to shine and be recognised, reflecting the legacy of skills development and leadership progress that represents the core of Standard Bank’s ambitions in Africa.”
“We’re delighted at the number and calibre of nominations received this year,” says Laura Barker, Managing Director of BlackBark Productions, organisers of the Rising Star Programme. “The increasing momentum of the Standard Bank Rising Star Awards year on year since its inception in 2012 proves that there is keen interest among the country’s leading business organisations to see the issue of young talent elevated to the national agenda. It is our privilege to provide a platform that creates opportunities for talented individuals in the 28 to 40 year age bracket to grow, connect and give back.”
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The Standard Bank Rising Star Awards branched out into Kenya in 2014 and there are plans to launch in Botswana later this year. Barker says her long term vision is to develop a Pan African network of talented young people that will enable individuals to share their exclusive knowledge and expertise with peers from different sectors within the corporate world as part of a “living community”. The objective is to create role models and opinion leaders capable of inspiring other future South African talent. A local online Rising Star Network is already in place, effectively creating inter-connected, interactive group driven social and growth platforms.
Sponsors of the Standard Bank Rising Star Awards include Standard Bank, USB-ED, Sasol, ArcelorMittal, Technology Innovation Agency, merSETA, SITA, Hilton Worldwide, ASTD, Mulderbosch, and Who’s Who.
The winners will be announced at a gala dinner on Friday, 24 July at the Sandton Hilton in Johannesburg.
This year’s finalists are:
Banking & Financial Services – sponsored by Standard Bank
• Bernard Sebopa – Old Mutual
• Cindy Naidoo – PPS
• Joseph Ndaba – FNB
• Kristel Sampson – Standard Bank
• Tracy Hart – Standard Bank
Construction & Engineering – sponsored by ArcelorMittal
• Alden Van Wyk – Murray & Roberts Power & Energy
• Hendrik (Hein)Pretorius – Murray & Roberts Construction
• Mbali Mbuli – Murray & Roberts Construction
• San-Mari Pretorius – Aveng Grinaker-LTA
• Thato Twala – Aveng Grinaker-LTA
Energy & Chemicals – sponsored by Sasol
• Dudu Hadebe – Eskom
• Hanno (Abraham Johannes Cornelis) Van Staden – Sasol
• Jacqueline Bisschoff – Utility Administration Services
• Kelello Sammering – Eskom
• Nokuthula (Thuli) Mtegha – Shell
Entrepreneur
• Arthie Moore – Celebrating Humanity International
• Grant Gavin – RE/MAX PANACHE
• Laura Reynolds – Recruitgroup
• Tamsyn Ferreira – ALIFURN
• Thabang Mabuza – Ulwazi Resource Consulting
ICT – sponsored by Technology Innovation Agency
• Antoinette Johnson – Innovation Group
• Lynette Van Wyk – Centracom
• Marcelle Appelcryn – Britehouse Automotive
• Michelle Ramnath – Britehouse
• Stefan Terblanche – Centracom
Manufacturing, Retail & FMCG – sponsored by MerSETA
• Chevonne Engelbrecht – Evraz Highveld Steel
• Manisha Bhika – ArcelorMittal
• Nikola Whelan – Pharmacare Limited trading as Aspen Pharmacare
• Ronnie Mulaudzi – Massmart Services
• Sivaan Marie – Bidvest Foodservice (Pty) Ltd
Media & Marketing
• Clyde Tlou – SuperSport.com
• Dineo Mahao – Retro Booiz & Other Projects Pty (Ltd)
• Jessica Wheeler – Grey Africa
• Preetesh Sewraj – Product of the Year – South Africa
• Ziyanda Buthelezi – MultiChoice Africa
Mining & Minerals
• Abigail Mukhuba – Exxaro Resources
• Jayshree Brijball – Exxaro Resources
• Mogaleadi Sandra Seabela – Optimum
• Nicholas Maphari – Exxaro Resources
• Ziphozonke Buthelezi – Sierra Rutile
Professional Services
• Grant Wilkinson – Global Business Solutions
• Janko Kotze – PwC
• Lee Naik – Accenture
• Palesa Makobe – KPMG
• Shaun Hangone – Von Lieres Cooper Barlow & Hangone
Service: Public & Private – sponsored by SITA
• Brightness Mangolothi – Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University
• Dr Kajal Lutchminarian – King Edward Hospital
• Gerinda Jooste – SAICA
• Lusanda Ncoliwe – Umgeni Water
• Tatenda Zingoni – BroadReach Healthcare
Tourism, Leisure & Hospitality – sponsored by Hilton Worldwide
• Amy Mortlock – STA Travel South Africa
• Fanie Meintjes – Hilton Worldwide, South Africa
• Grant Oliver – Hilton Worldwide, Hilton Cape Town
• Nadia Virasamy – Moving into Dance Mophatong
• Roxanne van Niekerk – Hilton Worldwide South Africa
Transport, Logistics & Supply Chain – sponsored by Unitrans
• Cecilia Albertyn – G4S
• Connie Mdladla – Khaas Logistics
• Daniel Van Der Merwe – DHL Express
• Darrin Hedley – G4S
• Kevin Stout – Unitrans
