With years of experience in leadership positions within the corporate space under her belt, Hlengiwe Mvubu is ready to add another role to her portfolio as president of the Zululand Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ZCCI).
Hlengiwe takes the reins from Thami Sithole, former Port of Richards Bay manager whose term as ZCCI president has come to an end.
Hlengiwe's leadership will be supported by the two deputy presidents - Mike Patterson, who is the longest-serving Exco member, and eShowe Chamber Division chairperson Gareth Reeves.
Hlengiwe's professional experience extends into the pulp and paper industry, as well as the chemical and mining sectors where she has contributed to key stakeholder engagement, communication, local economic development and transformation in support of business goals.
She has also served in various structures, namely as council member of the University of Zululand, and board member of 1KZN TV, Businesswomen's Association (BWA) and Ethembeni Care Centre.
While she faces the mammoth task as a critical voice for business within the region, Hlengiwe says she is focused on building sustainable partnerships and mutuallybeneficial relationships with various stakeholders.
Included in her plans at the helm is ensuring collaboration with local industries and implementing solutions that will help address some of the challenges faced by businesses, including the demand for jobs and opportunities.
Hlengiwe has already hit the ground running with a 'coffee with the chamber' initiative where she hosts one-on-one engagements with captains of industry.
Although she is ready to steer the NPO to greater heights, Hlengiwe concedes that much work still needs to be done to address the challenges, which will require collaborative efforts and sustainable partnerships between government, the private sector and communities.
She has, however, commended the ZCCI leadership and team for having carried the chamber during the past two years, the most difficult to have impacted business.
