With over 35 years of experience, Ashley has made transformational contributions to various industries in corporate South Africa. As a seasoned CFO, he is on a mission to drive Strength in Collaboration. Through his work in sectors such as food & agriculture, real estate, renewable energy, higher education, medical technology, legal fraternity, and sports science, Ashley has proven himself as an expert in his field. His investment group, Safricang, is a testament to his dedication and commitment to these areas.Ashley is an accomplished professional with a wealth of experience serving on various boards and governance committees. In recognition of his expertise, he was nominated for the prestigious South African CFO of the Year Award in 2020. Currently, Ashley is the driving force behind a few entrepreneurial ventures - his grouping has investments in Ashley Francis Consulting, AOTA Online, WeDo Tomorrow, and Four Minute Medicine. He also holds the position of Non-executive Director of the Legal Resources Trust, an organization that is instrumental in protecting land and education rights.As an entrepreneurially focused CFO of the University of Cape Town, Ashley aimed to establish a financially sustainable institution. To achieve this, he focused on profitable ventures within the university, such as food and hospitality services. Despite the student and labour protests that occurred between 2015 and 2017, Ashley introduced a commercial development division in the finance department. He also implemented an austerity programme that reduced the university's costs by R112 million. Additionally, Ashley created a brand and identity for the finance department and initiated a project to fully digitize its operations.At the start of his career, Ashley took on the role of CFO at V&A Waterfront. He played a key role in transforming the organization from a parastatal to a full-fledged commercial entity. This involved introducing a new corporate structure and bringing in new Board Members, which proved to be highly successful. Ashley's efforts were instrumental in the finalisation of the sale of the Waterfront Group, which was eventually sold for R 7.2 billion in 2006. Drawing on his many years of corporate experience and strategic entrepreneurial vision, Ashley founded Ashley Francis Consulting - a purpose-driven venture that made significant contributions to South Africa's higher education sector.Ashley’s passion for African development and innovation is reflected in everything he does.You can contact Ashley at: ashley.francis@safricang.com