sa Business Club

Our organisation is managed and supported by a number of energetic members who form our committee.

Photographs by Tate Husband: thusband@wyndham.com

Mary-Anne Anderson Chairperson and Co-Director

Mary-Anne Anderson is a Capetonian who has spent the last 11 years and counting in the UK. She heads up Business Development and Strategy for the Infrastructure, Transport and Energy sectors at law firm Freshfields Bruckhaus Derringer. Mary-Anne has been involved with the SA Business Club for four years and keeps coming back for more - "I'm definitely drawn by the people!" In June 2010, she became the SA Business Club's first elected female Chairperson. Despite her busy work-life, Mary-Anne manages to make time to exercise her creative side by painting, sculpting and making jewellery, as well as working up a sweat at the gym or on a run. She also squeezes in the odd wine-tasting. Mary-Anne's dream guest speaker: "It's got to be Madiba!"

Jennifer Johnston Co-Director and CSR Manager

Jennifer Johnston hails from Johannesburg, but moved to the UK three years ago to work as a strategist for banking. Jennifer came on board the SA Business Club committee three years ago and in June 2010 was elected Co-Director. She says: "It's a rewarding combination of great people, fun times, diverse and engaging speakers and most of all, a powerful connection to my home!" While abroad, Jennifer has caught the travel bug in a serious way, so spends all the spare time she can on travel to new destinations. Jennifer's dream guest speaker would be Archbishop Desmond Tutu.

Dave Stewart Treasurer

Dave Stewart is the Zimbabwean representative on the SA Business Club committee, although he studied and worked in South Africa for ten years before moving to the UK 11 years ago. Dave is the CEO of London 1st Accounting: a business that specialises in innovative and professional contractor and small business accounting. He's also the CEO of Travelinsure, an insurance company in SA. Dave came on board the SA Business Club committee a year ago and has found his involvement very valuable: "The club has been growing in stature with many key South Africans being increasingly attracted to the informal networking platform that the club provides. It is exciting to contribute to and be a part of this growth and to be able to network with South Africans and Zimbabweans in London." Whenever he can, Dave likes to get back to his African roots via wildlife and landscape photography, and he enjoys a game of cricket or squash and a good read. Dave's dream guest speaker would be Roy Bennett: "a Zimbabwean farmer who became an MP in opposition to Zanu PF, was locked in a Zimbabwe prison for over a year and is now to be Deputy Agriculture Minister in Zimbabwe. He has the massive respect of his constituents and former employees and has suffered great hardship for the sake of Zimbabwe."

Alastair Constance Events Manager

Alastair Constance grew up in Johannesburg but has found himself in the UK for the past 10 years and 115 days (not including leap years). He's the head of Foreign Exchange Trading at Mercury Foreign Exchange on Bishopsgate. Alastair has been making himself useful at the SA Business Club for five years, and wants to keep things that way because of the opportunities the SA Business Club provides for business connectivity - "it's a fantastic forum offering the chance to stay abreast of changes and goings-on in SA". Alastair makes sure he maintains a healthy social life, but also devotes spare time to his position as Treasurer of the UK-based Friends of the Treatment Action Campaign. Alastair's dream guest speaker would be "currently - Edwin Cameron or Trevor Manuel; historically - Oliver Tambo or Mahatma Gandhi".

James Durrant Communications Committee

James Durrant is from Cape Town, but moved to the UK ten years ago. James runs Blue Sky Publications, publishers of The South African, SA Property Monthly, New Zealand Times, Australian Times and InLondon Magazine, and is also involved with Bluegrass Technologies, Reve Tourism and Mustard Catering. He's been a part of the SA Business Club for the past 4 years and wants to maintain involvement because he believes he can make a contribution through in particular advising on the IT processes of the Club and bridging the relationship between the newly-formed SA Chamber of Commerce and the SA Business Club. He also provides the valuable function of entertaining the committee. In his spare time James is very much a family man. James's dream guest speaker would be Nelson Mandela.

Patrick Atherton Communications Committee

Patrick Atherton is a Boksburg boy who has been calling the UK home for 6 years. Patrick is the Operations Director for Blue Sky Publications, publishers of South African and Antipodean media in the UK. Patrick first got involved with the SA Business Club five years ago, and thinks that in his line of work, "being involved with the most credible and relevant business networking organisation makes sense on a range of levels; whether for business networking, accessing information for our readers, or to simply be involved in a dynamic project for expats abroad. And of course the wine is always good!" When he's not working, Patrick can be found on the golfcourse or playing touch-rugby and football. Patrick's dream guest speaker would be fellow-golfer Gary Player.

Francis Jee Membership Committee

Francis Jee has been in London for a year, moving over after 5 years in Grahamstown at Rhodes University. He works as an Operations Analyst for Morgan Stanley. Francis joined the Business Club a year ago and finds it "an interesting and vibrant forum to learn more about South African and UK business - and the complimentary wine and canapes are fantastic!" Francis relaxes by watching polo, horse-riding, travelling and working out at the gym. Francis's dream guest speaker would be Megan Mackenzie.

Leago Papo Membership Committee

Leago Papo hails from Pretoria but has been resident in the UK for four years. By day he's a Regulatory Risk Analyst for Merrill Lynch, but has found time to get involved with the SA Business Club for just under a year. He's firmly committed to "building relationships within a network of people interested in improving the global image of South Africa". Other interests that float his boat include politics, competitive sport, economics, and the African Renaissance. He'd love to hear Rupert Murdoch address the SA Business Club.

Tarry Boast Events Committee

Tarry Boast is a Cape Town girl who's been in the UK for "too long - over seven years!" Tarry runs a property management company and joined the SA Business Club last year, drawn by "the fantastic networking opportunities and the awesome group of people that make up the committee". In her spare time, Tarry can be found playing with her gorgeous dog Nala, and is generally a fan of any outdoor activities that involve sunshine and a glass of vino. Her dream guest speaker would be Charlize Theron.

Michelle Roux Corporate Membership Manager

Michelle Roux is originally from Rustenburg, Gauteng - best known for Sun City, but recently famous for the Royal Bafokeng Stadium! She's been living in the UK for a full ten years and counting, and is the Director of Immigration Studio Ltd, an immigration consultancy practice specialising in all UK inbound immigration matters. She's been attending events at the SA Business Club for the last four years, but is excited to have joined the committee in 2010. She says: "I believe the Business Club to be a very credible business networking project where one can keep abreast of South African and UK business developments and get the opportunity to meet interesting and inspiring people." Michelle spends her spare time travelling, reading, cycling and "lazing around in the gym". For her, the best possible guest speaker would be Nelson Mandela.

Brent Weldon Networking Manager

Brent Weldon is from Cape Town, but moved to the UK a decade ago. He is the MD of Inova Furniture Contracts, an office and restaurant furniture company. Brent's relationship with the SA Business Club stretches back over 9 years. Brent stepped down as Chairman in June 2010 but is staying on board in order to run the Club's networking series, Canapes and Contacts. "I'm always looking for new ways to make the SA Business Club an organisation we can all be proud of," says Brent. Any spare time Brent has is currently consumed by raising his son. Brent's dream guest speaker would be Barack Obama - "Yes we can!"

Rebecca Davis Secretariat

Rebecca Davis is from Cape Town but moved to the UK four years ago to study at Oxford. She began working for the SA Business Club in January 2009. Rebecca really values the opportunity to hear so many significant South African decision-makers address the SA Business Club and adds that "it's been a wonderful discovery to find so many successful and interesting South Africans living in the UK". She also works as a freelance journalist and editor. Rebecca's dream guest speaker would be Helen Suzman.