Layla Jeevanantham Email & Phone Number

Johannesburg, Gp, Za

Johannesburg Area, South Africa

I was tasked with setting up the function which included establishing its overall strategic direction and resourcing in line with this strategy. The three key pillars of the strategy I developed, are Risk Mitigation, Regional Integration and Business Enablement. With respect to Risk Mitigation we develop plans, best practice guidelines, training and tools to support the teams in the 15 countries where we operate, to manage active and emerging public policy and regulatory risks. The risks that my function deals with are varied in nature but can be bucketed into three critical policy themes which are Environmental Policy, Consumer Health Policy and Economic Regulation.In the Regional Integration space, we collaborate with Regional Economic Communities in Africa (such as SADC, COMESA and the EAC) who develop policy for their member states, so that we can directly input into policy as it is being developed. The third pillar of the strategy positions the function as a business enabler by directly inputting into the business plans of the Revenue Growth Team, the New Business Team and the Mergers and Acquisition function. We support them in achieving their objectives, directly contributing to business growth.Key Achievements:Drove the creation of a SADC Business Council EPR platform, which orchestrates the harmonisation of waste policies for the region.Created a framework for the standardisation of the Risk Mitigation Process, resulting in mitigation of active risks. (The target was 60% but the function achieved 71% in 2021; 70% in 2022 and 87% in 2023).Oversaw the development of a Laffer Curve Model for advocacy use.Developed Training to upskill PACS leads in the markets on Public Affairs.

Midrand

I supported the Corporate Affairs and Legal and Regulatory teams in Vodacom’s International Markets, to make a material contribution to Vodacom being the leader in customer excellence. I coordinated engagement with Regional and International Institutions on behalf of Vodacom Group, working with Vodafone Group and the GSMA. This enabled Vodacom to maximise public policy opportunities and manage risks in their international markets. One of the key focus areas of my portfolio was to develop strategy and positions, including due diligences, on new public policy issues.Key Achievements:• Legal and Regulatory guidance on Vodacom’s Technology Roadmap 2020 strategy for the African markets.• Vodacom’s participation in and sponsorship of the Africa Mobile 360. This included creating access for Vodacom to key meetings with politicians from our African Markets.• Drove the development of a best practice Safe and Secure Toolkit for our African markets.• Developed the company’s International Institutions Engagement Strategy • SADC Minister’s Meeting engagement 2018

Johannesburg Area, South Africa

While managing this portfolio I worked with the team to ensure that Vodacom Group and Vodafone Group interests were protected from public policy risk. I worked closely with Vodacom International Business, Vodacom Group CBU, Vodacom International OpCos and Group Strategy to provide them with public policy support on consumer products and services matters.All consumer products and services matters were reported on and managed in accordance with company governance requirements and processes. I developed Group-wide strategies, to be used by our Operating Companies in representation with key stakeholders on consumer products and services issues. My core focus area was consumer protection.Key Achievements:• Customer Excellence Strategy (Presented as best practice across Vodafone Markets globally).

Johannesburg

As Alcohol Policy Manager I drove the creation of SAB positions on key alcohol related issues and created strategies and real impact programmes to engage key stakeholders on public affairs issues that impacted the company. I created, implemented, measured and managed programmes in the areas of drink driving, foetal alcohol spectrum disorder and underage drinking. All programmes were in conjunction with either an NGO or a government department. I also managed the company’s compliance committee for the vetting of commercial communications to ensure that its 14 brands complied with internal and external industry requirements. The sole purpose of the committee was to avert one the company’s greatest risk, being the advertising ban.While in this role, I was a member of the Global Alcohol Knowledge Committee and as such represented the company on public affairs issues in respect of commitments made by global alcohol producers to the World Health Organisation. I headed up the work stream for the development of a Global Toolkit for Real Impact Programmes, which formed the standard for such programmes in the business units globally.While in this role, I was also the company representative (and only alcohol company) on the government task team that saw to the re-introduction of breath testing, for the prosecution of drink driving matters.Key Achievements:Managed the following projects:o Healthy Mother Healthy Baby (30 % reduction FASD incidence in the Northern Cape by 2014.o You Decide (Prevention of Underage Drinking: 500 000 learners reached by June 2014)o Future Leaders (Prevention Underage Drinking TV Programme: 2 seasons by 2014)o Road Offences Panel Programme (Prevention of Drink Driving: 400 offenders went through the programme in the first year of its launch)o Alcohol Evidence Centres launchedBreath Testing Task Team (re-introduction of breath testing for Drink Driving offences)Development of Toolkit for Real Impact Programmes

Johannesburg

I kept abreast of global geopolitical events, to assess the impact these events may have on policy development and created strategy to proactively avert the potential risks to the business. As such, I maintained a strong working knowledge of key public policy issues. The core of this role was focused on content development, data management, proactive communication internally and externally and internal and external stakeholder relations.

Johanneburg

In this role I had to communicate SAB positions and policies, on alcohol related issues to internal and external stakeholders to create awareness and understanding of the company’s alcohol strategy. I managed the majority of the projects and programmes under the company’s alcohol strategy and also provided support to the broader Corporate Affairs team to help influence the public policy environment that the company operated in.Key Achievements:Represented the company on the Global Alcohol Knowledge Community Development of training focusing on responsible alcohol consumption, targeting corporates.

Johannesburg

The company’s core focus is forensic investigation, predominantly within government and the public sector. My role reported directly to the CEO, and I project managed the overall forensic investigation, where we identified irregular or criminal conduct, quantified and recovered losses, and identified appropriate remedial and preventative action. In addition to project managing, I attended to all the legal aspects of any project undertaken by the company. Due to the nature of the work, I cannot divulge any further detail.

Johannesburg

My efforts were concentrated in the areas of the Liquor Law, Law of Contract and Labour Law.I had experience in litigating out of and making appearances in the CCMA and various Bargaining Councils. While being Legal Advisor to various companies, I attended to the drafting and reviewing of Contracts to minimise risk exposure for the said Company. I also negotiated contracts on behalf of the Company and assisted in the resolving of disputes that arose from them.Key Achievements:Legal negotiation on contract for the production of the Opening Ceremony of 2010 FIFA World Cup.

Johannesburg

While in the Corporate Affairs function, I developed and implemented training for SAB employees around SAB’s policy for the Responsible Use of Alcohol. The training ensured compliance with the Marketing Code for The Industry Association for Responsible Alcohol Use and all internal policy that is related to the responsible marketing of SAB’s products.Key Achievements: Assisted in the development of the Code on Commercial Communication, which is a policy that regulates advertising.

Johannesburg

I managed our relationship with the key stakeholders such as the Gauteng Liquor Board, the Gauteng Liquor Traders’ Association and the SAPS. I developed a strategy for and oversaw the successful lodging of 2891 permit applications for shebeeners in the region. As the person ultimately responsible for licensing I attended to training of internal and external stakeholders on licensing legislation and requirements. I was responsible for the training of SAB’s sales teams and new employees in the Region, on the Competition Act.Key Achievements:Taverner Training (“Responsible Trader Programme). I had the key responsibility to manage the CSI project “Taverner Training” where Taverners were trained on being responsible traders and on how to run their businesses.

Johannesburg

Employed by the Legal Aid Board as a candidate attorney, I worked at the Land Claims Unit of the Wits law Clinic for six months. My most significant achievement during this time was appearing at the Supreme Court of Appeal as supervising attorney alongside Attorney Geoff Budlender, the key drafter of the Prevention of Illegal Evictions and Unlawful Occupation of Land Act (PIE). I focused on cases involving two specific pieces of legislation, namely, the Extension of Security of Tenure Act, ESTA, and the PIE.I was then seconded to the Jeppe Magistrates’ Court to act as Public Defender based at the court. Responsibilities here included running trials, lodging formal bail applications, and drafting pleas. I worked at the Family Unit for two months where I regularly appeared in the Central Divorce Court, before being recalled to Jeppe Magistrates’ Court to assume the role of Senior Public Defender for the District Courts I then moved on to the Labour Law Unit, where I was responsible for 90 cases, and saw many of them through arbitrations at the CCMA and various Bargaining Councils.Key Achievements:• Appearance at Supreme Court of Appeals on Land Claim matter.

Management Development Programme

I was nominated as one of 30 executives by the Board of Directors to attend the Managing Development Programme which is offered.

Bachelor Of Laws (Llb), Law

I completed the post graduate LLB degree after having done a Bachelor of Arts degree from 1996 to 1999 with majors in Law.

Bachelor'S Degree, Social Sciences

Activities and Societies: In first year I was the class representative for our International Relations class, and in second year I was.