Executive Manager Health & Safety, Transnet SOC

Dr Jessica Hutchings

Dr Jessica Hutchings is a practiced Human Factors Specialist / Ergonomist with 12 years of experience in applying Human Factors / Ergonomics in state owned enterprises, consulting and academia.

Jessica has 4 degrees with the most recent being a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Degree from the University of the Witwatersrand, specialising in Human Factors and Systems Safety in the application of accident investigations in the railway industry. Jessica also holds a Masters of  Science Degree in Human Factors from the University of Nottingham (in the UK), and 2 degrees from Rhodes University which are a Bachelor of Science Honours Degree in Ergonomics and a Bachelor of Science (BSc) Degree majoring in Ergonomics and Psychology. 

Jessica has given a number of presentations at both local and international conferences on the important role of Human Factors / Ergonomics, and its application in South Africa, with a particular focus on transport Ergonomics. 

Jessica is employed at Transnet  SOC Limited as  an Executive Manager: Health and Safety (Human Factors). Jessica brings a modern approach to Safety, with the emphasis on understanding Safety from a systems perspective.

Board Member, Rail Safety Regulator

Mr Sisa Lunga Mtwa

I am a graduate engineer (BSc (Chemical Engineering), from the University of Cape Town. I am also a Certified Director and have been a member of the of the Institute of Directors (IoDSA) since 2006 and a Fellow (F. Inst. D) since July 2021. I also hold a BSc (Fort Hare) and have completed the GIBS Global Executive Development program, which I passed with Distinction.

I have extensive operational and strategic executive and board level experience acquired in the Manufacturing, Transport and Logistics sectors. In a career spanning over 30 years, I have occupied various technical, operational, general and executive management positions at Unilever, Shell, SAB Miller, Volkswagen and Metrorail where my last position was as Chief Executive Officer, when I left them in March 2010. Through this experience, I have acquired the capabilities for successfully running multidisciplinary business operations. My time working at Metrorail also familiarized me with the governance policies, procedures and the institutional, legislative and regulatory framework applicable to state owned companies.

I have also presented at various conferences and guest lectured at the Centre for Transport Studies of the University of Cape Town.

Since my venture into entrepreneurship, I have been working as a business strategic advisor and consultant to boards, CEOs and their executive teams in leading strategic change programs in business transformation and turnaround.

My current Board positions include being an Independent Non-Executive Director of the Railway Safety Regulator (RSR), where I am the Chairperson of its Safety Committee and a Member of the Board Procurement Committee and the Human Resources and Remuneration Committee.

Areas of Expertise and Particular Competence:

• Business Leadership and Direction
• Business Strategy Development and Execution
• Business Transformation and Turnaround
• Corporate Governance, Enterprise Risk Management and Compliance
• Engineering and Technical Management
• Management Systems Development and Implementation
• Manufacturing Operations Management
• Strategic Leadership Coaching and Mentoring
• Transport and Logistics General Management 

As someone who has a passion for capacity building in our institutions, I also enjoy volunteer experiences with family and friends.

Regional Technical Manager, Rail Safety Regulator

Ms Nozipho Ntshingila

Business Readiness Manager, Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa

Mr Abram Nkgabutle

Principal Investment Banking and Project Finance Professional, Development Bank of Southern Africa

Ms Nangamso Maponya

Ms. Nangamso Matebese-Maponya BiographyHaving started her career at the PIC, in 2005, Nangamso is an Investment Banking and Project Finance Professional at the DBSA, responsible for infrastructure projects within the Transport, Logistics and Water sectors. She also participated in financing and monitoring of projects in Broadband, Oil & Gas, Student accommodation and Maritime, as well Fund of Funds and Private Equity investments.A Unisa BCom (Hons) graduate, she now holds a master’s degree in Finance and Investments with London School of Business and Finance, an MSc – Finance with Geneva Business School and a Chartered Banker MBA, with the Bangor University, in Wales.

She is also a Harvard Business School (Executive Education) graduate, having completed a General Management Programme in 2019.In 2011, she participated in a South Africa – France government exchange programme involving South African young professionals across different sectors.As part of her master’s degree, Nangamso completed a primary research on BRT Efficiencies, using Johannesburg’s Rea Vaya BRT as an area of study, the results of which contribute to her work and sector strategic direction at the DBSA.In 2016, Ms Maponya represented DBSA in the Women in Transport Awards, in which the organisation won the Best Performing Organisation in Transport, mainly for the deals she had originated and executed; the banks contribution in the transport sector; and the involvement/ development of women professionals in executing its mandate.

She was then invited to a panel of judges for the Annual National Women in Transport Awards and to the Advisory Board of Annual Africa Transport Evolution Conference, as well as the Africa Rail Conference.Nangamso is passionate about investing in women-centric transport and considered a thought leader around issues of women emancipation and economic inclusion.She currently serves as an independent Chairperson of Sizwe Medical Fund Investment Committee an Advisory Member of the Tiger Brands ESD Fund (Dipuno Fund) Investment Committee; the Board of Trustees of the Gauteng Partnership Fund (GPF), a member of their Fundraising and Investment Committee and is a chairperson of their Audit and Risk Committee.She previously served as a member of the Board and Audit & Risk Committee of Piotrans (Pty) Ltd, a Phase 1A Bus Operating Company of Rea Vaya BRT in Johannesburg; and as a member of the Board of Tafari Capital.