Meet the participants
Mr Reuben Beelders
Chief Investment Officer, Portfolio Manager
Gryphon Asset Management
Ms Thea Fourie
S&P Global Market Intelligence
Head of Economics and Country Risk: Sub-Saharan Africa
Dr Hubert Joynt
Programme Manager: Centre of Excellence
Infrastructure South Africa
Dr Nthabiseng Moleko
Development Economist
University of Stellenbosch Business School
Mr Maarten Ackerman
Chief Economist, Citadel
Mr Ackerman joined Citadel in October 2003 and is part of the advisory and asset management teams. He is responsible for global and local economic strategy and global portfolio construction and manages the Citadel range of Global Objective Matching Portfolios. He is an advisor to a number of Citadel’s ultra-high net worth clients. He is also a member of the Chartered Institute of Securities and Investments in London and a faculty member at the University of Stellenbosch Business School – Executive Development. He holds a Master’s degree in Econometrics from the University of Pretoria, and lectured at the University of Pretoria and the University Stellenbosch before joining the Bureau for Economic Research in 1998, where he focused on macro-econometric forecasting. Prior to joining Citadel, he was a portfolio manager at Peregrine Quant from 1999 to 2003.
Mr Reuben Beelders
Chief Investment Officer, Portfolio Manager, Gryphon Asset Management
Mr Beelders is Gryphon’s Chief Investment Officer as well as a Portfolio Manager. Having served as the Head of Strategy, he has experience covering all asset classes. He chairs the Gryphon Investment Committee. He has been an industry professional since 1996, has commercial and accounting experience, is a Chartered Accountant and is a Chartered Financial Analyst Charter holder.
Ms Annabel Bishop
Chief Economist, Investec Bank Limited South Africa
Ms Bishop joined Investec in 2001 and is the Chief Economist. She has worked in the macroeconomic, econometric, risk, financial markets, political risk, public finance and regulatory, among other, fields for around 25 years. She is the holder of the Sake/Beeld Economist of the Year award for 2010 and has won numerous monthly Reuters Econometer awards, and various Focus Economics (Economic Forecasts from the World’s Leading Economists) categories for correctly forecasting a range of economic variables. She has authored a wide range of in-house and external articles, published both abroad and in South Africa. She has also guest lectured at Gibbs, the University of Pretoria, Wits, UJ and other academic institutions, and has presented at various national and international conferences. Author of the “Financial Services sector and its support to the economy section” in the Better Choices Ensuring SA’s Future.
Ms Annabel Bishop
Chief Economist, Investec Bank Limited South Africa
Ms Bishop joined Investec in 2001 and is the Chief Economist. She has worked in the macroeconomic, econometric, risk, financial markets, political risk, public finance and regulatory, among other, fields for around 25 years. She is the holder of the Sake/Beeld Economist of the Year award for 2010 and has won numerous monthly Reuters Econometer awards, and various Focus Economics (Economic Forecasts from the World’s Leading Economists) categories for correctly forecasting a range of economic variables. She has authored a wide range of in-house and external articles, published both abroad and in South Africa. She has also guest lectured at Gibbs, the University of Pretoria, Wits, UJ and other academic institutions, and has presented at various national and international conferences. Author of the “Financial Services sector and its support to the economy section” in the Better Choices Ensuring SA’s Future.
Mr Frank Blackmore
Chief Economist, EFConsult
Mr Blackmore established EFConsult, an economics consultation business focused broadly on economic analysis and financial modelling, in 2016. He helps his clients to make sense of the current and expected future economic and business environment in order to empower them to make informed decisions that focus on optimising their core business and implement their corporate strategy. To this end he provides objective economic advice and develops innovative and value adding business solutions that form the basis for client decision-making. This requires undertaking research and data analysis, econometric and financial modelling, scenario and risk analysis and the application of his knowledge and experience to best present the relevant opportunity, risk, resource allocation, project, dispute, regulatory or market expansion scenario faced by clients.
Dr Roelof Botha
Economic Advisor, Optimum Investment Group
Dr Botha completed the Honours- and Master’s degrees in economics via evening classes (cum laude) at the University of Pretoria and a Doctorate at the University of Johannesburg (erstwhile RAU). Professional experience (spanning more than 45 years) includes the following: economic policy advisor at National Treasury; financial editor of a daily newspaper; senior lecturer in economics at various Universities and chief economist of the SA Federated Chamber of Industries. He has published more than 2,000 articles and research reports and more than 1,000 organisations (companies, employer organisations and public sector institutions) have utilised his experience in analysing key macroeconomic and socio-political trends in the Southern African region. He is currently the economic advisor to the Optimum Investment Group and is the author of several columns in national and regional publications, including Media24, GrowSA, Business Maverick and The Bright Side, published by the international firm Currencies Direct.
Dr Koos Coetzee
Independent Economist
Dr Coetzee retired at the end of 2018 as the Economist of the Milk Producers Organization after 24 years in the dairy industry. He completed his schooling at Dewetsdorp High School and Sentrale Hoërskool in Bloemfontein. After military service he obtained the B.SC. Agric Degree at the UOFS with Agricultural Economics and Economics as major subjects. He has farmed for 20 years in the Dewetsdorp and Redersburg districts. During that time, he is actively involved in organized agriculture and serves in the management of the Free State branch of the NWKV as well as on the NWKV’s general council. In 2000 he obtained the Ph.D. degree in Agricultural Economics with a thesis on the economics of machinery replacement.
Mr Richard Downing
Econdow CC, Member Economist
Mr Downing is the owner of a consultancy business – Econdow CC, Economic & Business Confidence & Analysis. He has various clients such as SACCI, private sector and public sector projects. His qualifications are: (1) BCom, UOFS – Economics, Statistics, Actuarial Mathematics (1972); (2) BCom Hons, University of Pretoria – Economics (1975); (3) M Comm, University of Pretoria – Economics & Econometrics (1985).
Mr Emile du Plessis
Finometrica, Senior Economist
Mr du Plessis is a senior economist with over 11 years’ experience in the financial services industry, covering unique international thematic research, investment strategies, global markets performance and econometric forecasting. He is a regular speaker at executive meetings, industry forums and on radio programmes. He previously served as board member at the Bureau of Market Research. His economic forecasts on international fixed income securities, capital markets, equities, commodity prices, currencies, inflation and domestic production are published weekly by Bloomberg and Reuters. He won the 2019 Refinitiv StarMine Award for Most Accurate Forecasting in Reuters Polls. His econometric models of a bank’s credit exposure are utilised in fulfilling the regulatory requirement of International Financial Reporting Standards 9. He established and leads an applied Behavioural Economics capability across 15 countries delivering 3x-10x financial return across key strategic projects.
Mr Johann Els
Old Mutual, Chief Economist
Mr Els joined Old Mutual as an economist in 1991. Johann is responsible for all areas of macro-economic research. This includes analysis of the global economy – specifically those economies that impact most on South Africa, namely the USA, Europe and China. He is also tasked with detailed research of all South African economic variables. Specific focus areas include the rand, inflation, interest rates and fiscal matters. Johann provides economic input into the investment processes of the various investment boutiques within Old Mutual Investment Group. In addition, he serves as economist for the broader Old Mutual. His economic research is done with one thing in mind: What is the impact on the different asset classes and thus investment decisions?
Ms Thea Fourie
S&P Global Market Intelligence, Head of Economics and Country Risk: Sub-Saharan Africa
Ms Fourie became the Head of Country Risk and Economics for the Sub-Saharan Africa region at S&P Global Market Intelligence in August 2022. She leads a team of subject matter experts developing the forward-looking insights and analysis, supporting clients to anticipate and manage critical business risks as well as leverage strategic opportunities. She is based in Pretoria at the company’s South African office. Her expertise includes analyzing and forecasting economic developments in Nigeria, South Africa, Zambia, Mozambique, Namibia, Reunion, Niger, Benin and the Central African Republic. She is also responsible for country and sovereign risk analysis and the day-to-day economic coverage of these economies. She covers major development on the continent through special report writing and presentations to clients.
Dr Chris Harmse
Sequoia Capital Management, Consulting Economist
Dr Harmse was appointed as the consultant economist at Sequoia Capital management in November 2022. He is also the director of the economic consultant company CH Economics (Pty) Ltd from where he now concentrates on economic, portfolio investment and financial management consultation. He aims to get directly involved with the public as an economic, investment and portfolio advisor. He does economic commentary on various radio stations and writes an economic and financial market report for the Independent News Group (Pretoria News, the Star, Cape Times, Cape Argus etc) on a weekly basis. Dr Harmse was appointed as the director of the African Trade, Finance and Investment Research Centre at the Da Vinci Institute in July 2022.
Dr Johannes Jordaan
Economic Modelling Solutions (EMS), Economist
Dr Jordaan has over 21 years’ experience ranging over several aspects of economics, including lecturing, socio-economic impact assessment studies, economic impact modelling, cost escalation modelling, macroeconomic modelling, policy analysis, economic forecasting and general economic research. He holds a PhD in Economics from the University of Pretoria that he obtained in 2004. He also has a bachelor’s degree in Town and Regional Planning. He has been managing his own economic consultancy Economic Modelling Solutions CC (EMS) since 2011 where he focuses on economic modelling, forecasting and research. Johannes is also an associate econometrician at Econometrix Pty (Ltd) since 2012 where he performs a number of economic modelling, forecasting and analysis responsibilities.
Dr Fanie Joubert
UNISA, Senior Lecturer
Dr Joubert has been a Senior Lecturer at the Department of Economics (University of South Africa) since August 2009. His duties include lecturing, course management, new module design, research and supervision of postgraduate students. In 2020 he received the award for best doctoral thesis in the Economics Department. He was previously employed as an economist at Efficient Group Limited. His duties included economic analysis, modelling and forecasting. He was also responsible for various reports including inflation, money supply, retail and wholesale trade, mining and manufacturing, GDP, monetary policy and state finances.
Mr Ulrich Joubert
Independent Economist
Originally from the Cape, Mr Joubert’s career took him through the civil service, some state corporations and the banking industry. He was the Group Economist of Transnet from October 1989 until March 2006. He joined Kruger International in April 2006 as economist until May 2012. Since April 2009 he has been involved with the Bureau of Economic Research at the University of Stellenbosch. He serves on the board of the Helpmekaar Study Fund and is an adjudicator of the Sanlam Financial Journalist of the Year competition. He is a past chairman of the Johannesburg Afrikaanse Sakekamer as well as the Economic Advisory Committee of the Afrikaanse Handelsinstituut (AHI). He is a regular commentator on the radio and TV and writes regularly for the Beeld newspaper. He has won the Beeld economist of the year competition four times.
Dr Hubert Joynt
Programme Manager: Centre of Excellence, Infrastructure South Africa
Dr Joynt is the Programme Manager of the newly established Centre of Excellence at Infrastructure South Africa (ISA). He is an EXCO member of ISA. Prior to this, he joined the Presidential Infrastructure Coordination Council (PICC) Technical Task Team. He also served in many senior and executive management positions in the consulting engineering and local government sectors. He received his Doctor of Commerce degree from UNISA in 2005. Academic achievements include Best Student and Senate Medal awards. He obtained degrees in development planning, transportation planning and transport economics. Hubert is currently registered for his second doctorate, a PhD in Public Management and Governance.
Mr Dawie Klopper
Financial Advisor & Investment Economist, PSG Wealth
Mr Klopper started his 42 year career in the investment industry in 1981 at Sanlam as an equity analyst. Thereafter, he spent some time as an economist at AHI after which he was appointed as portfolio manager at stockbroker George Huysamer and Partners. He was then offered the position of head of portfolio management (private clients) at ABSA Trust, a position he held for 4 years. In 1997 he moved to the newly created PSG Investment Services as director and portfolio manager in Pretoria. He became CEO of PSG Fund management in 2000. In 2004 Dawie joined PSG Konsult to provide his expertise and extensive knowledge in the investment field directly to private clients. The practice that he joined specializes in stock broking, private client portfolio management and retirement planning. He is a regular participant in several radio programs, mostly on RSG and Pretoria FM.
Ms Elize Kruger
Independent Economist, Carpe Diem Research Services
Ms Kruger is an independent economist with 28 years’ experience in both macro and microeconomics. She has worked and excelled in the stockbroking industry as well as in the health, wealth, transport and energy sectors. Currently, she is involved in the gas industry, while also consulting on macroeconomic trends, among others providing economic input to BankservAfrica and Ctrack. In recent years she consulted to the hedge fund manager KADD Capital and an Oxford Economics associate company, NKC African Economics (now Oxford Economics Africa). She compiles forecasts of key macroeconomic metrics and publishes in-depth reports, while also delivering frequent media commentary and publishing research briefs on important economic events as and when they occur in the South African economy. Previous clients include Economistcoza, Mediswitch, Synntech Consulting Engineers, Vunani Securities, Nodus Capital, Thebe Securities, Kagiso Securities, Sasol, Department of Public Enterprises (DPE), the National Pathology Group (NPG), South African Society of Physiotherapists and the South African Medical Association (SAMA).
Mr Gerhard Kuhn
Senior Economist, Industrial Development Corporation
Mr Kuhn holds a Master’s degree in Economics from the University of Pretoria and also has a B Com (Econometrics) degree. He joined the Industrial Development Corporation in 1996 and has been responsible for sector analysis and modelling. Since 2004 he is working in the macro-economic unit of the Research and Information Department, with the following responsibilities: (1) Macro-economic analysis of both the global and South African economies; (2) Economic modelling and forecasting at the macro, as well as at the sector level; (3) Conducting of economy-wide impact analysis for specific projects and/or sectors; (4) Compiling sectoral multipliers for the South African economy; and among others; (5) Maintaining a comprehensive economic database.
Mr Christo Luüs
Economist, Ecoquant (Pty) Ltd
Mr Luüs matriculated in 1978 and studied at the University of Johannesburg (formerly RAU) and through UNISA. He joined the United Building Society in the mid-1980s as an econometrician and was involved mainly in economic modelling and forecasting. In the late 1990s, he was appointed as chief economist and head of the Absa Bank Group Economic Research Department in Johannesburg and was appointed to the Absa Group Strategy Committee and Group Operational Committee. He was inter alia responsible for general economic research and modelling, financial investment research, and various bank publications. He conducted presentations, both nationally and internationally, to clients, correspondent banks, interest groups, and at seminars and conferences. In 2007 Christo started his own economic consultancy, Ecoquant (Pty) Ltd, in association with Quantec Research. Econometric modelling, sectoral research, financial / investment market research, economic impact assessments and authoring various reports and publications, have formed part of his work.
Prof Daniel Meyer
Professor, University of Johannesburg
Prof Meyer is a Professor in the College of Business and Economics (CBE) at the University of Johannesburg (UJ), South Africa. He is a National Research Foundation (NRF) rated researcher. Daniel is a Development Economist and a specialist in regional and local economic development analysis and policy development. He has developed various innovative measurement tools, indexes, and scales to analyze regional economies. He has recently established a research unit with a focus on index development. He also has a research focus on macroeconomics and the linkages with good governance. He has authored more than 130 internationally peer-reviewed research papers since 2015 and has also presented more than 60 international conference papers including a number of keynote addresses. His research is multi-disciplinary through the combination of development economics, business, public management, and governance. He has established a large international network of research partners across the globe with a strong focus on the Visegrad group of countries. He has also successfully completed and delivered more than 40 regional development strategies for local governments and provincial governments.
Dr Nthabiseng Moleko
Development Economist, University of Stellenbosch Business School
Dr Moleko is a Development Economist who is a core faculty member at the University of Stellenbosch Business School (USB) where she teaches Economics and Statistics as a Senior Lecturer since 2017. As a former CEO at a Development Agency, Project manager and Researcher at the Eastern Cape Socio-Economic Consultative Council, she has worked extensively in the economic development landscape. The Minister of Trade & Industry appointed her as a Board of Trustee for the National Empowerment Fund, where she Chaired the Boards Investment Committee between 2018-2020. She was re-appointed to serve as a Trustee and was appointed as the Chairperson of the National Empowerment Fund in 2022. She also serves in the strategic advisory committee of the Development Bank of Southern Africa’s Infrastructure Fund since 2021. The Minister of Higher Education appointed her as a member of the Ikhala TVET College Council in 2014 where she served as the Deputy Chairperson, member of EXCO and Chairperson of the Academic Board. Nthabiseng holds an Honours in Business Science (Economics) from University of Cape Town and an MPhil in Development Finance from Stellenbosch Business School. She completed her PhD in Development Finance at USB on Pension Funds and national development and is the first South African woman to be conferred a doctorate in this discipline.
Dr Lumkile Mondi
Senior Lecturer, University of the Witwatersrand
Dr Mondi is a senior lecturer at the School of Economics and Finance (SEF) and the Wits Business School (WBS) at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa. His research interests include macroeconomics, political economy, climate change, energy justice and just transition, technology and innovation in the energy sector including battery storage, hydrogen and mining of energy metals. He is a Senior Advisor to the Pallinghurst Partnership and a member of the Group’s Senior Advisory Panel. He is a director of Sedibelo Resources Limited, a lead independent director of Gemfields Group Limited and the chairman of Thelo Rolling Stock Leasing, an IDC subsidiary. Dr Mondi is a trustee of the South African Housing Development Fund, FinMark Trust and the Centre of Excellence in Financial Services. Dr Mondi was a member of the State-Owned Enterprises Presidential Review Committee. Previously, Dr Mondi served as a member of President Mbeki’s Economic Advisory Panel.
Dr Elna Moolman
Head of SA Macroeconomic Research, Standard Bank
Dr Moolman is currently the Head of SA Macroeconomic Research at Standard Bank. Her career started at the University of Pretoria in 1998 as lecturer in econometrics, macroeconomics and macroeconomic modelling, where she also worked extensively on macroeconomic modelling projects for SA and other sub-Saharan African countries as part of the modelling unit at the Department of Economics. She has published several articles in local and international academic journals and has served as external examiner for post-graduate students at various SA universities. Elna has 17 years’ experience as private sector economist and has been the top-rated SA economist in the annual Financial Mail analyst ratings from 2008-2019. Elna holds a PhD (Econometrics) degree from the University of Pretoria, an MA (Economics) degree from New York University and a BCom (Actuarial Science) degree from the University of Pretoria.
Ms Sanisha Packirisamy
Economist, Momentum Investments
Ms Packirisamy joined RMB Asset Management in February 2008 as an economic analyst. Appointed as economist at Momentum Asset Management 2012, she was responsible for developing and managing a best practice framework for integrating key macroeconomic inputs and trend shifts that best inform an optimal asset allocation process in partnership with the strategist, portfolio managers, portfolio construction, fixed income and equity research teams. Since August 2015, Sanisha has provided input for the Momentum Investments division within a macro framework to inform investment opportunities and strategies, taking account of the changing investment and economic narrative in South Africa and globally. Sanisha is also a regular economic commentator on key media platforms, including a monthly columnist of the Financial Mail.
Mr Hugo Pienaar
Chief Economist, Bureau of Economic Research (BER)
Mr Pienaar started his career as an economics reporter at Die Burger newspaper in Cape Town. During 2003, he was nominated as one of best newcomers in the prestigious Sanlam financial journalist of the year awards. In the same year, he left the media industry and helped to establish a newly formed economic consultancy firm. Hugo was appointed as an economist at the Bureau for Economic Research in 2006 and promoted to chief economist in 2018. He takes responsibility for the BER’s macro forecasts and won the Thomson Reuters South Africa Economist of the Year award in 2014, as well as the 2021 Refinitiv StarMine Award for Most Accurate Forecasting in Reuters Polls. In 2021 he was awarded the Media24 South African Economist of the Year accolade for most accurately forecasting South African macroeconomic variables. Hugo holds a Master of Economics Degree (cum laude), Stellenbosch University.
Prof Jannie Rossouw
Visiting Professor, Wits Business School
Prof Rossouw is a Visiting Professor at Wits Business School. He previously worked at the SA Reserve Bank and at the University of the Witwatersrand. His research interests encompasses both monetary and fiscal challenges facing South Africa. He often comments in the media on domestic and international economic and financial prospects.
Mr Jeffrey Schultz
Chief Economist, Middle East Africa, BNP Paribas
Mr Schultz is the Chief Economist at BNP Paribas South Africa and is based in Johannesburg. He specializes in fundamental South African economic trends and is the lead economist for the South African economy, servicing BNP Paribas Group’s corporate and institutional banking operation in London and the US as well as the institutional and corporate client base in South Africa. Prior to joining BNP Paribas in 2013, he was employed at Barclays Africa where he was an economist. He holds a Bachelor of Economics (Honours) degree (with distinction) from Rhodes University, as well as a Master of Commerce degree in Financial Economics from Stellenbosch University in the Western Cape. He was ranked as the top forecaster of the inflation and policy rate in 2019 by Bloomberg and for general South African macroeconomic indicators in 2016 by Reuters, joint 2nd in political and industrial relations research by the Financial Mail in 2017 and 4th in in the Innovative research category by the Financial Mail in 2015.
Mr André Strydom
Investment Advisor, Finance Consulting
Mr Strydom is currently working as an Economic and Investment advisor within the Personal Financial planning space, servicing mostly individual HNW clients and SME companies. In 2007 he matriculated with an A-average at Swartland High School. In 2010 he received his BCom Degree (Economics Stellenbosch). In 2011 he received his BCom Hons (Economics Stellenbosch). In 2013 he received a PG Diploma Fin Planning (Stellenbosch). In 2013 he received a CFP Qualification. From 2012-2013 he worked as junior investment advisor at Exceed Asset Management.
Mr Francois Strofberg
Senior Economist, Efficient Wealth
Mr Stofberg joined the Efficient Group in 2014 as an Economist. Since then, he has been groomed by Chief Economist Dawie Roodt. He fulfils a dual role in the Group of companies, acting as Senior Economist to Efficient Wealth and Managing Director of Efficient Private Clients. As a key member of Efficient Private Clients, Francois helped to grow net-AUM by 25% annually, and achieve profitability in the first two years of operations. Efficient Private Clients is a global investment firm that specialises in global asset management and restructuring the estates of high net worth individuals. Our team of stewards partner with high net worth individuals to provide investment expertise so they can make better personal and business decisions. In the end we not only preserve and grow the wealth of our clients, like most asset managers, but we assist them in creating more wealth.
Mr Jee-A van der Linde
Senior Economist, Oxford Economics Africa
Mr van der Linde is an economist at Oxford Economics Africa and joined the company in 2018. He is responsible for the macroeconomic analysis of South Africa. In 2020, FocusEconomics named him the best economic forecaster for Zimbabwe. He has a master’s degree in Risk Management from the North-West University in Potchefstroom.
Mr Wilbie Venter
SAFEX Trader, NEXGRO (Unigrain)
During the past 20 years Mr Venter has held positions as currency and commodity analyst, Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) broker, options trader and financial technical analyst at three entities: Standard Corporate and Investment Bank, Senwes and, currently, Nexgro (Unigrain).
Ms Nicola (Nicky) Weimar
Chief Economist, Nedbank Group Ltd
Ms Weimar is Nedbank’s Chief Economist. She has been the senior economist since 2000. She received her Masters in Economics from the University of Stellenbosch in 1994 and soon advised government on economic procedures and policies in her capacity as an economist in the Central Economic Advisory Service, which has since been integrated into the President’s Office. Her experience in the banking, securities and brokering industries has given her a broader knowledge of a wide range of fields within economics, including sector analysis, fixed investment trends, as well as the relationship between real economic trends and developments within the financial markets. At Nedbank, Nicky focuses on trends in the overall economy, looking at cycles in the economic growth, inflation and interest rates. She regularly does talks all over the country to all sorts of audiences, including business forums, property groups, large corporate firms, and government entities.
Prof Johan Willemse
Agricultural Economist
Prof Willemse is well-known as an economist and had a successful academic career as Professor at the UFS. He is a member of Boards of Directors and involved in a family business with his daughter and wife. He received various awards for his work such as ABSA/Sake award as the economist of the year in 2004, with regular invited columns in Sake24 publications since then; Weekly columnist for Landbouweekblad on economics and agricultural markets; Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Science award for entrepreneurial activities in 2010; Nominated as Bloemfonteiner of the year in 2009; and UFS Alumni Management award as an extraordinary achiever in 2013.
