Learn a little bit more about the expert speakers at the HR Africa Summit.

Dr T A Banjoko

I was educated ... in the United Kingdom and Nigeria and trained to be a Dentist.
My first job was…as a dentist before I realised the world was much bigger!
What I do now is... design programs, that seek to address concrete issues facing Africa, for instance, skills capacity and capabilities, the brain-drain and foreign exchange remittance issues. Mobilizing the information, inform policies on human resources and the Diaspora needed to address some of Africa's nagging development issues head-on
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Dean Strooh

What I do now is... Head, Human Capital, MTN Group (HR IT, benchmarking, metrics, finance and surveys)
In my spare time I … play golf really, really badly
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Victor Adenrele Banjo

What I do now is... oversee strategy formulation as the Chief Human Resources and Services Officer at Virgin Nigeria. In this role, I am responsible for Human Resources, Security and Supply Chain. In my spare time I …dance salsa, play golf, enjoy cycling, and support youth entrepreneurial /empowerment projects.
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George Simataa

My greatest business lesson learnt has been each of us has a million-dollar idea in our head. The first step in turning your idea into millions, maybe even billions of dollars, is to protect that idea.
The best advice I ever received is not to discuss my problems with someone incapable of contributing to the solution, because those who never succeed themselves are the first to tell you how.
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Debbie Goodman

My greatest business lesson learnt has been... passion and talent PLUS discipline and hard work is the enduring formula for ongoing success.
The best advice I ever received is...it always takes longer to get things off the ground than you think - so plan properly and don't get disheartened.
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Ronnie Toerien

The best advice I ever received is to have a clear vision of what you want to achieve and go all out to get it.

I believe HR to be the most significant challenge facing businesses today and if they do not understand and focus on the strategic impact of HR, the consequences could be dire for the future of the business.

I have been involved in Human Resources since 1990, first in Training and later in the implementation and support of HCM solutions. I also provided HR Consulting to various organisations as an Independent Consultant for several years before joining PeopleSoft as a Solutions Consultant in 2004. I joined Oracle as part of the acquisition of PeopleSoft in 2005. I have over 12 years experience in Qpac Payroll and PeopleSoft HCM and over 3 years JD Edwards HCM and Oracle E-Business Suite HCM experience. More
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Samuel S Allotey

STANBIC BANK (GHANA)

I was educated at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana; Air University, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama, USA; Troy State University, Montgomery, Alabama.

My first job was Avionics Engineer, Ghana Air Force (1984)

What I do now is Head of Human Resources, Stanbic Bank, Ghana Ltd
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Pat Smythe

My greatest business lesson learnt has been...Networking is as important as Knowledge.
The best advice I ever received is...Live each day as if you'll die tomorrow, but live your life as if you'll live forever.
I believe HR to be … The Conscience Barometer of an Organisation
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Hanli Pretorius

The best advice I ever received is... Keep perspective. Without proper balance in your life you become ineffective in your work. Ensure you make time to fulfil the other roles in your life.
I believe HR to be... A strategic partner to business, a facilitator, an employee and employer champion, an enabler of organisational performance... The contribution HR can make to the organisation is only limited by you.
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Dr Theo H Veldsman

I was educated University of Port Elizabeth; Rand Afrikaans University; University of Potchefstroom.
My first job was at the Chamber Mines Research Organisation, at that time a world leader in applied research in particular deep level mining.
What I do now is to team with clients to find and implement leading edge solutions to the strategic people challenges they face.
In my spare time I garden and back pack.
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Clelland Kruger

What I do now is... I am the HR Director for iBurst. I started with the company about 1 ½ years ago. I was the first HR person employed in the company and my initial role was to set up the entire HR department and set the HR vision and strategy.
In my spare time I... Spare what? I live in Pretoria so I spend most of my spare time looking at the boot of the car in front of me. But on a serious note, I love to garden as I feel close to nature and enjoy the tranquillity as well as watching what I have planted grow (much like my job I guess). I also have a passion for animals and work as a volunteer at the SPCA on as many weekends as I am able to.
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