09-05-2025
- Business
- The South African
EXPLAINER: About the B20 Task Forces
The B20 Task Forces are the strategic engine of B20 South Africa, responsible for developing business-driven, actionable policy recommendations to be presented to the G20.
Each Task Force is comprised of global business leaders, entrepreneurs, academics and civil society representatives, collectively committed to advancing inclusive growth and sustainable development.
Guided by a diverse leadership structure – comprising of Chairs, Deputy Chairs and Co-Chairs – these platforms reflect regional, sectoral and gender diversity.
Through expert consultations, stakeholder dialogues, and collaborative drafting, the Task Forces are on track to deliver robust policy proposals that reflect global imperatives, cementing B20 South Africa's role as bridge between business, policy and shared prosperity.
This Task Force will focus on enhancing global trade flows, removing barriers to market access, and encouraging sustainable investments that benefit businesses of all sizes. Of particular importance will be initiatives to empower small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) by improving their access to financing, international markets, and value chains.
Chair:
Busi Mabuza – IDC
Deputy-Chair:
Mmakgoshi Lekhethe – IDC
Co-Chairs:
Nardos Bekele-Thomas – Africa Union Development Agency – New Partnerships for Africa's Development (AUDA-NEPAD)
Professor. Benedict Oramah – Afreximbank
Duncan Wanblad – Anglo American
Mary Vilakazi – FirstRand
Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem – DP World
José Serrador – Embraer
Mpumi Madisa – Bidvest Group
Dr. Patrik Kovacs – Business at OECD
Harsha Agarwal – Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI)
Dr. Miao Janmin – China Merchants Group Limited 4
Barbara Cimmino – Confindustria David Roth – Amazon
H.E. Wamkele Mene – African Continental Free Trade Area
This Task Force will focus on promoting inclusive job creation, addressing skills gaps, and aligning education systems with future workforce needs. This task force will develop policies to foster innovation in workforce development and drive equitable access to education and training.
Chair:
Paul Hanratty – Sanlam
Deputy-Chair:
Shadi Chauke – Sanlam
Co-Chairs:
Asif Valley – Microsoft Professor
Haroon Bhorat – Sygnia Ltd
Saïd Alj – Sanam Holding
Dr. K.P. Krishnan – Shriram Capital Private Limited
Mary-Alice Vuicic – Thomson Reuters
Nicola Galombik – Yellowwoods Holdings
Renate Hornung-Draus – International Organization of Employers
Leila Fourie – Johannesburg Stock Exchange
This Task Force will address one of the most urgent challenges of our time: driving a just, sustainable, and inclusive energy transition. Its mission is to develop bold, actionable policy recommendations that accelerate the adoption of renewable energy, strengthen energy security, foster innovation in green technologies, and support global climate resilience efforts.
Chair:
Daniel Mminele – Nedbank
Deputy-Chair:
Shamini Harrington – Minerals Council South Africa
Co-Chairs:
Simon Baloyi – Sasol
Leslie Maasdorp – British International Investment
Dan Marokane – Eskom Holdings
Dipak Patel – South African Presidential Climate Commission 5
Roger Martella – GE Vernova
Peter Njenga – Kenya Electricity Generating Company (KenGen)
Paolo Scaroni – Enel
Catherine Koffman – Green Climate Fund
This Task Force will develop recommendations to advance digital inclusion, enhance cybersecurity, and foster innovation in emerging technologies such as AI and blockchain. Its work will also explore enabling policies for smart infrastructure and digital trade.
Chair:
Phuthi Mahanyele-Dabengwa – Naspers
Deputy-Chair:
Bassim Haidar – BH Holdings Group
Co-Chairs:
Charles Murito – Google
Lauren Dreyer – Space X
Lord Karan Bilimoria – International Chamber of Commerce
Shameel Joosub – Vodacom
Sir Mohamed Mansour – Mansour Group
Smriti Irani – The Alliance for Global Good- Gender Equity and Equality (AGG-GEE)
Kate Purchase – Microsoft
Ling Hai – Mastercard
Segun Ogunsanya – Airtel Africa Charitable Foundation
Shalini Khemka – E2Exchange
This Task Force will develop recommendations to combat corruption, enhance transparency, and foster robust compliance systems. The focus will include aligning global regulatory frameworks and encouraging responsible business conduct.
Chair:
Ruwayda Redfearn – Deloitte Africa
Deputy-Chair:
Ashleigh Theophanides – Deloitte Africa
Co-Chairs:
Maria Archimbal – Yacimientos Petrolíferos Fiscales (YPF, SA)
Nicola Allocca – OECD Business Group
Caroline Lee – International Ethics Standards Board for Accountants (IESBA)
Dr. Futhi Mtoba – Non-Executive Director
Mary Obasi – Bank of America
Farzana Mohomed – NEOM
Yılmaz Argüden – ARGE Consulting
Reynaldo Goto – BRF Brazil
Keki Mistry – Housing Development Finance Corporation (HDFC)
Uche Ike – United Bank for Africa
This Task Force will focus on promoting sustainable agricultural practices, improving supply chain resilience, and ensuring equitable access to nutritious food.
Chair:
Debra Mallowah – Bayer
Deputy-Chair:
Midred Pita – Bayer
Co-Chairs:
Alice Ruhweza – AGRA
Emily Rees – Crop Life International
Nicole Roos – Nestle
Seelan Gobalsamy – Omnia Group
Yasmin Masithela – ABSA Group
This Task Force will focus on driving innovation in financing models, ensuring greater inclusivity in financial systems, and addressing infrastructure gaps critical to economic growth. Particular attention will be given to empowering small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) by removing financial barriers, expanding access to affordable credit, and fostering their integration into global markets.
Chair:
Sim Tshabalala – Standard Bank Group
Deputy-Chair:
Lungisa Fuzile – Standard Bank Group
Co-Chairs:
Daniel Pinto – JPMorgan Chase 6
Anne Richards – Fidelity International
Samaila Zubairu – Africa Finance Corporation
Luciana Ribeiro – eB Climate & eBCapital
John W.H. Denton – International Chamber of Commerce
Strive Masiyiwa – Econet Global
Benjamin Hung – Standard Chartered
Thierry Déau – Meridiam
Andrew Torre – VISA
Gianluca Riccio – Business at OECD (BIAC) & Lloyd's Banking Group
This Task Force will focus on modernising industrial sectors, strengthening manufacturing capacity, and promoting sustainable development across industries. It will explore innovative approaches to enhance productivity, improve resilience, and encourage investment in emerging markets, fostering equitable growth and development.
Chair:
Andrew Kirby – Toyota
Deputy-Chair:
Nigel Ward – Toyota
Co-Chairs:
Delphine Traoré – Sanlam Allianz
Nádia Júnia Almeida de Souza – Khenē Brazil
Shinta Kamdani – Sintesa Group
Dany Qian Jin – JinkoSolar
Stephen Saad – Aspen Pharmaceuticals
Yemi Ahouanmenou – Benin Textile
NOTE: More Co-chairs are expected to join throughout the B20 South Africa Presidency
Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1
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