Vincent Maphai

Vincent Maphai "first joined the South African Breweries Limited (SAB Ltd) in 1998 when he was appointed corporate affairs director. He held this position until 2004, when assumed responsibility as executive chairman of BHPBilliton Southern Africa.

"The son of marginally educated shebeen owners, Vincent grew up to become a highly regarded academic who held fellowships at Harvard (1988), Princeton (1989) and Stanford (1995). From 1991 to 1994 he was associate professor and head of the political science department at the University of the Western Cape.

"In 1996 he joined the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) as executive director of social dynamics. The HSRC seconded him to head up the Presidential Review Commission, a body set up by then president Nelson Mandela to investigate government restructuring and service delivery.

"From 1996 to 1998 he was professor extraordinaire in the Department of Political Science at the University of South Africa (UNISA).

"Vincent served a term as chairman of the SABC from 1999 - 2003.

"He is currently chairman of the National Responsible Gambling Programme (NRGP) which is acknowledged globally as one of the most effective programmes of its kind.

"In March 2009 he was re-appointed to SAB to take up the position of executive director of corporate affairs and transformation.

"Vincent graduated from UNISA with BA degree in 1975. He then studied at the Catholic University of Leuven in Belgium where he completed a Bachelor of Philosophy cum laude in 1976. This was followed by a Master’s Degree in Philosophy magna cum laude in 1978 from the same university. He holds a PhD from the University of Natal, an honours degree in international politics from UNISA and completed an advanced management programme at Harvard University."


 * Advisory Board, Center on International Cooperation