Preparing for a Successful B-BBEE Verification

A panel of verification professionals from leading verification agencies joined us to share their experience and answer some pressing questions. We shared practical insights on how to ensure a successful and hassle-free verification process. Our Verification Support Process and key success factors were discussed.

Download the webinar slide-deck

We started the webinar by presenting on the preparation, verification process, and best practices and then commenced with the panel discussion.

Hosted by:
Erosha Govender (CEO)
Transformation Specialist and CEO of Alternative Prosperity Advisory and Products (Pty) Ltd
Erosha holds B.Eng. (Chemical), PDBM (UKZN), SMDP (USB) degrees. She is responsible for operations management at Alternative Prosperity, thus ensuring effective execution of the business strategy through the client-facing team, development of bespoke Transformation Strategies for large listed clients and practices as a Transformation Specialist. She has worked with Financial Sector clients such as Discovery, Sanlam, Santam, Allan Gray and Investec Asset Management. She held various positions within the BHP Billiton Group, including as Transformation Manager of the Manganese division where she was responsible for accelerating B-BBEE and Transformation, external stakeholder engagement and internal and external communications. Erosha has extensive experience in the mining, metals and manufacturing sectors, which includes process optimization, project management, community development and socio-economic transformation within the South African context.

and

Eric Ackroyd (COO)
Transformation Specialist and COO of Alternative Prosperity Advisory and Products (Pty) Ltd
Eric completed a B.Com and B.Com Honours in accounting and is a Chartered Accountant, a registered Economic Empowerment Professional and has completed the B-BBEE Management Development Programme. He served as Technical Director of the Association of B-BBEE Professionals and has accumulated 14 years’ experience in Transformation and B-BBEE. Eric was the Verification Director with EmpowerLogic for 11 years before joining Alternative Prosperity. Prior to moving into the B-BBEE field, he worked as a financial auditor for 12 years, including 3 years in the UK and in Germany. Given his 27 years in the audit, verification and financial world, Eric has an in-depth understanding of best practice B-BBEE, financial and ownership concepts. His client experience ranges from sole proprietors to small, medium, large and multinational businesses. Eric is particularly experienced in the Financial, ICT, MAC, Construction and Property sectors.

Joined by:
Gabi Greyling (Technical Director, AQRate)
Gabi completed a BCom Economics and Finance at UCT. She entered the B-BBEE industry when employed by Codex Ratings in April 2011 where she gained experience in the B-BBEE Codes as well as Sector Codes. Gabi joined AQRate Verification Services in 2012 as a Senior Verification Analyst. She successfully completed the B-BBEE Management Development Programme through UNISA in 2014 whereafter she became a Technical Signatory. She was appointed as Technical Verification Manager in May 2015 and Technical Director in 2021.

Gianna Le Roux (Verification Executive, Empower Logic)
Gianna holds a BCom degree in Internal Audit and has successfully completed the B-BBEE Management Development Programme. She has more than 10 years’ B-BBEE experience as a Verification Analyst and Technical Signatory. Gianna manages the verification team at EmpowerLogic and is passionate about building relationships with clients, continuously improving the verification processes and empowering people through sharing her knowledge and experience in the B-BBEE industry.

Japie Britz (Commercial Director, BDO Verification Services)
Japie completed his LLB degree in 2007 He has gained extensive B-BBEE knowledge and experience in the past 10 years as a Verification Analyst, Technical Signatory and Consultant. Japie held positions with AQRate Gauteng, Premier Verification and Siyaya Skills Institute (an EOH subsidiary). He completed the B-BBEE Management Development Programme in 2016. Since August 2018, Japie is heading the Gauteng operations of BDO Verification Services and was appointed as Commercial Director in March 2020.

Kyle Mitchell (Operations Director, Honeycomb BEE Ratings)
Kyle has worked in the B-BBEE industry since 2010 and has been a Technical Signatory since 2017. He successfully completed the NQF7 B-BBEE Management Development Programme. Kyle acts as Technical Signatory on De Beers, Anglo, Massmart, Discovery, Pick n Pay, Hollard and others.

Marsha Arnold (General Manager, The Legal Verification Team)
Marsha holds an MBA and successfully completed the B-BBEE Management Development Programme. She has been working in B-BBEE since 2008 and has been a Technical Signatory ever since. Marsha was the Regional Manager for Grant Thornton for 5 years. Marsha became a SANAS Technical Assessor in 2010 and has been a SANAS Lead Assessor since 2019. She has extensive business experience in a number of industries.

Tebogo Morare (Director at Siyandisa Verification Solutions)
Tebogo Morare is a Director & Shareholder at Siyandisa. He holds a National Diploma in Internal Auditing and has completed the UNISA BBBEE MDP course NQF Level 7 (With Distinction). Tebogo has been in the BBBEE verification industry for more than 14 years and has occupied senior positions in verification companies as Senior/Lead analyst & Technical Signatory. Tebogo’s industry contributions include being appointed as a consultant responsible for the re-alignment of the BBBEE Construction Sector Codes. He is a Lecturer at Unisa and Wits offering the B-BBEE MDP course. Tebogo serves on the board of the Association of BEE Professionals (ABP) previously known as ABVA. Siyandisa Verification Solutions is an accredited verification agency established in 2015 and owned by 3 black partners. Siyandisa is the 1st agency to conduct all their verification process online with our own built-in system named the BEE Doctor.