SecurityHQ (www.securityhq.com), the 2021 IBM Beacon global security solution award winner, provides an outsourced, 24/7/365, cyber security threat detection and response service through its more than 300 expert engineers based in London, New York, Sydney, Dubai, Pune and South Africa. The Southern African company has a dedicated, cyber- security server in a South African Tier-3 data centre supporting its Security Operations Center (SOC) in Johannesburg for its local clients while being able to call on the monitoring and assistance from SecurityHQ engineers around the world on a best-in-class secure basis.

Pilara Partners is a black women-owned company. As an active shareholder, Pilara looks to partner with its fellow shareholders, directors and management of investee companies. Our objective is to participate in companies where our leaders and our team can assist in the strategic growth of the organisation whether this be organic or acquisitive. We have an entrepreneurial mindset and the experience of governance and leadership in listed publicly traded companies. Our founders are former executives from listed companies who have become successful professional entrepreneurs in their own right.www.pilarapartners.com

Marsden Advisory (www.marsdenadvisory.com) is a team of M&A professionals with over 75 years’ combined experience having concluded over 25 transactions for R12bn in the past seven years, including acquisitions, disposals, restructurings and debt financings domestically and outside South Africa, including the UK, Europe, Australia, the USA, South America and rest of Africa. We provide an outsourced, expert service on a variable cost basis so that corporations are adequately capacitated/resourced while undertaking mergers, acquisitions, disposals, corporate restructurings, BEE transactions and/or financing. Our clients include listed and major private companies in the technology, financial services, FMCG, medical and industrial sectors, notably Bidcorp (food wholesaling), Old Mutual (financial services), Famous Brands (franchised restaurants and fast food), Multichoice (pay-TV), Altron (technology), Reunert (technology and electronics) and Net1/Lesaka (technology and financial services). Our services include project management of transactions from initiation to close, valuations, information documents for internal approval processes, information documents and analysis for external parties (e.g., disposals, financing), managing due diligence processes, negotiation and drafting of terms and agreements, interaction with investment banking, tax, accounting, legal and other specialist advisors, overseeing regulatory processes, monitoring conditions precedent and ensuring that transactions are fully implemented.

Corporate finance executive at listed Altron Group. Previously, corporate finance executive with the (then) listed Altech group and subsequently for Altron TMT which encompassed Altech and Bytes when Altech was delisted by Altron in 2013. Allied Electronics Corporation Limited (Altron) is listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange and focuses on the telecommunications, multi-media, information technology (TMT), and, power electronics industries. The group was founded in 1965 and listed in 1975. Altron employees approximately 13,000 people and it’s revenue for the financial year ended Feb 2014 was ZAR27.8bn.Material projects include the ongoing restructuring and divisionalising of the 14 businesses within Bytes and Altech into Altron TMT, the disposal of the 1m customer base of Autopage, the refinancing of R3.6bn in long term debt for Altron, the disposal of Altech’s East Africa businesses, BEE restructuring arising from the merger of Bytes and Altech, multi-R'bn off-balance sheet financing solutions, formalising a Mauritius offshore hub, various domestic and international acquisitions, financings and disposals ranging from R10m to R2bn.

M&A advisory firm to companies on capital raising, new ventures, acquisitions, black economic empowerment and corporate restructuring

Senior relationship and new business development partner. Advisory partner to Hollard group, Regent Insurance group and Ethos private equity. Charged with developing Deloitte’s eminence and profile in the financial services market (particularly in the insurance sector), mentoring younger partners and advising on client relationships.

Leader and coordinator of the merger and acquisition services of Deloitte in Southern Africa, ranging from corporate finance advisory, due diligence, valuation, tax, legal, post-merger integration to consulting. Lead client service partner to Ethos private equity and general oversight of preferred arrangements for private equity clients. Corporate Finance Advisory partner responsible for growing advisory offering and positioning in the market.

CEO, President and a founder of an entrepreneurial “start-up” business for Sage Group and Swiss Re Life & Health America. Operated in US variable annuity market and international offshore markets for global investment products. Product distribution through largest independent broker dealer networks, banks and regional wirehouses in US and wholesale distribution through global financial institutions (HSBC, JP Morgan and Wachovia). Actively supported and directed distribution initiatives and relationships. Led initial outsourcing and leading edge technology arrangements for contract holder and broker administration. Reported to Board, Chairman and CEO of Sage Group, an independent US board of leading business professionals. Managed relationship with CEO and executives of strategic partner, Swiss Re. Led capital raising program and divestiture by Sage Group during one of worst periods for insurance companies historically and weak investor confidence generally.

Chief financial officer and chief investment officer for life assurance, employee benefits and mutual fund operations of Sage Group Limited, a South African publicly traded financial services organization. Also responsible for strategic investments and developments for the group. Established investment management joint venture with Coronation Holdings, the country’s leading independent money manager, which was first outsourcing of investment management by a major financial institution in South Africa. Motivated and assisted in merging and streamlining group executive and operating structures from three into one. Refined investment processes and reporting, including accommodating new "four-funds" tax approach. Initiated and managed development of structured international investment products. Automated budgeting and financial planning systems to provide interactive real-time modeling for strategic analysis.

A founder and partner in the Financial Institutions Team of Deloitte & Touche South Africa, a multidisciplinary group incorporating audit, tax and management consulting. Directed consulting projects on risk management, securities trading, reengineering and structured finance for large retail banks, investment banks, development financiers, money managers, insurers and corporate treasuries. While on secondment to Touche Ross London, involved in the first privatizations in Russia in 1992 and 1993, assisting the International Finance Corporation with developing secondary equity markets and related infrastructure.

One of two graduates selected by the University (and one of seven across the country for all universities) to participate in a pilot program of the Institute of Chartered Accountants whereby the first year of articles at a professional firm were replaced by one year lecturing at University with the requirement that a masters degree also be undertaken.