Who we are
The leadership of the ST&I Research Centre, drawn from innovation policy, business and development finance.
Leaders across policy, business and finance
The Policy Research Company of the ST&I Business Forum, guided by people who work where innovation policy, industry and capital meet.
Key roles and credentials
- Chairperson, NACI
- CEO, VWCapital
- Founder, TUT Institute for the Future of Work
- MSc, Saïd Business School, Oxford
Tilson Mphathi Manyoni
Chief Executive Officer of VWCapital, Chairperson of the National Advisory Council on Innovation (NACI), Deputy Chairperson and Founding member of African Innovation Council (AIC)-Princeton Africa World Initiative, and former Head of Policy for the Black Business Council. Founder of the TUT’s Institute for the Future of Work (IFOW).
He is a member of the Board of Trustees for Indlulamithi South Africa Scenarios 2030 and the SASOL Foundation, and a member of the Technical Advisory Group (TAG) for the ILO/Productivity SA Productivity Ecosystems for Decent Work Project.
Holds two Master of Science degrees: one from the University of Southern Queensland (Australia), majoring in Project Management, and the other from Saïd Business School, University of Oxford (United Kingdom), in Major Programme Management. In addition, he holds a Bachelor of Technology in Industrial Engineering.
Key roles and credentials
- CEO, ST&I Business Forum
- Founder, Ingcebo Green Africa
- PhD, University of the Witwatersrand
- World Economic Forum Global Shaper
Dr Nomhle Ngwenya
Dr Nomhle Ngwenya is Chief Executive Officer of the ST&I Research Centre and CEO of the ST&I Business Forum, where she provides strategic direction for advancing South Africa’s innovation ecosystem and strengthening collaboration between business, government and academia.
She is the Founder and Principal of Ingcebo Green Africa, an ESG advisory practice. She serves as a statutory appointee to the National Advisory Council on Innovation (NACI) and to the KwaZulu-Natal Climate Change and Sustainable Development Council.
Her career spans corporate banking at Nedbank and the PIC, asset management and development finance, and her work sits at the intersection of innovation policy, ESG, climate finance and development finance. She holds a PhD in Geography and Environmental Sciences from the University of the Witwatersrand.
A recognised thought leader in science, technology and innovation, sustainability and ESG, she is a World Economic Forum Global Shaper, one of the Mail & Guardian Top 200 Young South Africans, and a 2026 40 under 40 award winner.
Partner with the Centre
We invite universities, research institutions and business partners to collaborate as research and co-authoring partners, founding and programme funders, data partners, and members of our Research Advisory Panel.