The Lecture will take place on 07 May 2025 at the North Campus Conference Centre, and will focus on the theme: “Values-Based Leadership: A Blueprint for a Thriving Nation.”
Hosted by the Faculty of Humanities and promoted by the Faculty’s Raymond Mhlaba Centre for Governance and Leadership, the Lecture is a prestigious annual event that brings together local community members, academics, students, and professionals to explore critical issues related to leadership, ethics, and governance.
It is a collaboration between the Faculty of Humanities and the Archbishop Thabo Makgoba Development Trust, a partnership that seeks to contribute to the development of ethical leadership in South Africa and beyond.
This year’s lecture focuses on the importance of values in creating a path for a thriving nation in all spheres of leadership to foster a more just and equitable society – an area in which Dr Luhabe has made significant contributions.
Dr Luhabe is a renowned business leader and a leading advocate for women’s economic empowerment. She pioneered efforts in the 1990’s that allowed South African women to become investors for the first time after the country’s transition to democracy.
Her innovative work, which includes founding a Women's Venture Capital Fund to support women-owned enterprises, has helped shape the economic landscape for women across the nation.
With a career spanning close to four decades, Dr Luhabe has chaired and served on numerous boards, including the International Marketing Council of South Africa and various global entities, and has received multiple honorary doctorates for her visionary leadership and groundbreaking contributions to social entrepreneurship and women's economic empowerment.
Preceding her keynote address in the evening will be a Masterclass by Dr Luhabe earlier in the day, targeted at senior students and early-career scholars. The session will focus on the Economic Empowerment of Women, drawing on her experience as a leader.
Dr Luhabe’s leadership and commitment to social entrepreneurship have earned her recognition both in South Africa and internationally. She has also been recognised by the World Economic Forum as one of the world’s leading women entrepreneurs.
The Raymond Mhlaba Centre plays a crucial role in promoting the values of ethical governance and leadership, in alignment with the legacy of its patron, the late Dr Raymond Mhlaba who was the first Premier of the Eastern Cape. The Centre is dedicated to revitalising the humanities and empowering future generations with the knowledge and tools to lead with integrity.
Professor Pamela Maseko, the Executive Dean of the Faculty of Humanities, highlighted that the lecture series is part of a broader effort to engage both local and national audiences in meaningful dialogues around leadership that is rooted in values of fairness, accountability, and ethical decision-making.
“We are incredibly honoured to have Dr Wendy Luhabe as this year’s keynote speaker. Her immense experience in pioneering social entrepreneurship and her unwavering commitment to leadership development and women’s economic empowerment makes her ideal to speak on the importance of ethical leadership in building a more inclusive and prosperous society,” said Prof Maseko.
Mandela University lecturer, Dr Bridget De Villiers and former Mandela Bay Development Agency (MBDA) chairperson, Phil Goduka, will be respondents.
This year’s Nelson Mandela University-Archbishop Thabo Makgoba Development Trust annual lecture promises to be an inspiring and thought-provoking event for anyone passionate about leadership and social change.