Dr. Ongama Mtimka is a political risk expert and the Founder & Director of Lawula Investments, a premier African consultancy that transforms complex challenges into actionablestrategies for sustainable growth. 

With a career spanning nearly two decades, he provides strategic advisory, political-economic analysis, and development facilitation to a diverse clientele, including global corporations, development agencies, and governments. 

His hands-on expertise encompasses writing business plans, conducting feasibility studies, and leading public participation processes, contributing to tangible outcomes across the continent.

In addition to his corporate leadership, Ongama serves as a Senior Lecturer at Nelson

Mandela University, where he contributes to the academic disciplines of South African Politics and Political Economy.

He is also the President of the South African Association of Political Studies, where he advocates for the discipline’s relevance in policy and investment decision-making. 

He holds a PhD in Political Economy, a Master’s in South African Politics and Political Economy, and a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism, underpinning his integrated approach to research, strategy, and development. 

He has presented at international conferences in Brazil and the United States of America in recent years, represented the Eastern Cape at the International Trade Centre in Geneva Switzerland, and conducted an investment promotion trip to Bangalore, India.

Professor Matshediso ‘Tshidi’ Mohapeloa (DBA -TUT, MBA -Mancosa BA -NMU), is a full Professor, the Dean of Commerce for Rhodes University. 

She was previously the Director of Rhodes CfERI, (Centre for Entrepreneurship Rapid Incubator) and Coordinator of Postgraduate Diploma (PGDip) in Enterprise Management at the Rhodes Business School. She is the Chair of EDHE’s community of practice (CoP) in Entrepreneurship Learning and Teaching.

She comes with extensive experience from development – to- business -to-academia as a researcher, a consultant, an academic, and a development expert. Areas of expertise include entrepreneurship with a social focus, engaging communities in research with impact, and a keen interest in strengthening innovative solutions incorporating technology to mitigate social and environmental challenges.

She sees entrepreneurship as a ‘means to an end’ through working with young entrepreneurs, corporate entrepreneurs (intrapreneurs), creatives, in diverse entrepreneurial spaces to create societal and innovative solutions.