Dr Josh-Junior Thabang Chiloane
Chairperson & Co-Founder
Dr Josh-Junior Thabang Chiloane is a prominent figure in the South African financial and public policy landscape, with a rich background in banking, government relations, and communications.
He is currently the Head of Financial Inclusion and Public Policy at the Banking Association of South Africa. His career in the banking sector included his role as the Executive Head of Nedbank's Group Strategic Relations and Public Affairs, a position he held since 2011. In this capacity, he played a pivotal role in managing stakeholder relationships, particularly within the public sector.
Thabang graduated from the Argus School of Journalism and holds a Bachelor of Communications degree from Charles Sturt University in Australia. He completing the Global Executive Development Programme (GEDP) at the Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS), and holds a Master of Business Administration degree from Regenesys Business School in Johannesburg. His exceptional contributions to the field of business management were recognised when he was awarded an Honoris Causa in Business Management by Unisa in November 2021.
Thabang is a respected member of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Banking Association Board and a key contributor to the Board of the Ikusasa Student Financial Aid Programme (ISFAP). Previously, he was General Manager of Group Government Relations at the banking group Absa and headed group communications at Sanlam. His vast experience in the public sector includes overseeing communications for the Deputy President of South Africa between 2006 and 2008.
Earlier in his career, he played pivotal roles in various government departments, heading up communications for the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government, the National Department of Housing, and the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Transport. Additionally, he spent two years at the Government Communication and Information System (GCIS), setting up BuaNews, the Government News Agency. His journey began as a print journalist at The Pretoria News and later as a radio news reporter at the South African Broadcasting Corporation. He attended the 8th Aids International Aids Conference in Marrakesh, Morrocco, at the tender age of 18 as both a delegate and reporter for The Pretoria News in December 1993. Thabang was recognized as the 1999 African Radio Journalist of the Year.
Beyond his professional life, he is an avid reader and music lover, working on a book that delves into the challenges of surviving a plane crash and other life experiences.
Thabang is deeply committed to giving back to society. He has played a pivotal role as the founding Chairperson of the Institute for Stakeholder Relations and served as the former Deputy Chairperson of the Tshwane University of Technology's Council. His involvement extends to the world of music as a Board Member of the Vusi Mahlasela Music Development Foundation (VMMDF). He is the current President of the Rotary Club of Waterkloof, and actively participates in the Rotary District 9400's publicity committee.
Cassandra Cordelia Gabriel
Executive Director & Co-Founder
Cassandra is a highly experienced organisational consultant with strategy, stakeholder relations and sustainable development expertise. She has international advisory experience in private and public sector organisations, across diverse industries and sectors.
Stakeholder relations is her passion and throughout her career, Cassandra has prioritised stakeholder consultation, through social empowerment and local economic development, internal employee engagement and in developing win-win stakeholder partnerships.
Cassandra’s work experience spans 26 years across civil society, government and the corporate sector. Her formal working experience has been in Parliament, telecommunications and the defence sectors. Roles she held included head of public education and outreach for the Constitutional Assembly (Parliament); Ministerial Media Officer; and Executive: Parliamentary, Government Relations and Business Development for Telkom and Denel.
In 2005 she formed a niche consulting firm, Gabriel and Associates. Over the past 18 years she has successfully completed consulting assignments across diverse industries and sectors, and in many countries. She has designed and delivered a broad range of development-focused programmes. This includes research, knowledge management, strategy facilitation, stakeholder engagement, communications and change management.
Cassandra is an analytical thinker, a good researcher and an excellent writer. She has a passion for training, facilitating and public speaking. She has represented her companies at Parliamentary presentations and has represented her country in many bi-lateral and multi-lateral meetings and conferences (INDIA, UAE, Brazil, State Visit to France, UN World Summit on Information Society), at the UN International Telecommunications Union (ITU) and at the Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation (CTO).
Cassandra has been a Director and Chairperson of Boards since 2005. In 2006 she was appointed as Chairperson of the Universal Service and Access Agency (USAASA) by the Minister of Communications. In 2023 she became the Executive Director and Co-Founder of the Institute for Stakeholder Relations (ISR). She was also appointed to the advisory council of Africa Business Excellence.
Her formal qualifications include a Masters in Business Leadership, Honours Degree in Gender Studies, Postgraduate Diploma in Telecommunications Management, and a BA Degree in Fine Art. She has completed her coursework for the Doctorate in Business Administration at GIBS (UP) and intends to resume her research thesis on stakeholder relations in the near future. She is also a PROSCI certified change management professional. She is currently completing a programme in Sustainable Business Leadership at the Institute for Sustainability Leadership, University of Cambridge.
Jennifer Seif
Director : Fundraising Portfolio
Jennifer Seif is a fundraising activist providing management consulting services to the non-profit sector. She has 35 years’ experience in primary and higher education, academia, government, and civil society and is a strong advocate for social, economic, and environmental justice. In the non-profit space, she has worked as a volunteer, founder, director, and board member. She is a seasoned resource mobilisation practitioner and grant writer and has raised $35M USD in funds from a wide range of South African and international donors including development agencies, UN agencies, government, corporates, and philanthropic foundations.
Prior to establishing her consulting business, her previous employers include Fair Trade Tourism, the World Conservation Union, the University of North West, and the University of Cape Town. She has also consulted to the Small Enterprise Development Agency (SEDA), the International Labour Organisation (ILO), UN Environment, Fairtrade International, provincial development agencies, business development support providers (BDSPs) and NGOs in South Africa, Madagascar, Europe, and Jordan.
Jennifer holds a BSc in Economics (Georgetown University), an MA in African Studies (Boston University) and a Certificate in Business Management (UNISA). She defines herself as a sustainable development generalist with knowledge and experience across many elements of the Sustainable Development Goals, and depth in multiple sectors including green economy, education, decent work, and community empowerment. She gets behind causes and organisations that she feels passionate about and helps them change the world, one project at a time.
ISR - The Institute of Stakeholder Relations is very excited to have Jennifer join the Board of Directors in October 2024.