former unionist, businesswoman, social entrepreneur irene charnley receives the 2023 awca woman of substance award

  • Didi Masoetda
  • 08 Aug 2023
  • 276

Former Unionist, Businesswoman, Social Entrepreneur Irene Charnley receives the 2023 AWCA Woman of Substance Award

Johannesburg, Monday, 07 August 2023 ' Businesswoman and social entrepreneur Irene Charnley was bestowed with the prestigious Woman of Substance award at this years African Women Chartered Accountants (AWCA) fundraising banquet, an event that celebrates and recognises the partners and stakeholders who have been instrumental in supporting the organisation and the profession over the years ' while also raising funds for the AWCA Bursary Fund.

Irene Charnleys achievements are numerous. She is the President of International Womens Forum South Africa (part of the IWF), a global organisation of over 7 800 pre-eminent women of significant and diverse achievements across 36 nations and 6 continents.

Under her leadership at the International Womens Forum South Africa (IWFSA), the FASSET Women Legacy Programme was launched. The programme aims to develop a thousand female professionals in executive and middle management in the finance sector, through structured leadership training with Duke Universitys Duke Corporate Education.

To date 65 women have successfully completed the IWFSA FASSET Women Legacy Programme, while 420 women are currently participating, shares Irene. She adds: In partnership with WDB Investment Holdings, we have also secured funding to roll out the catalytic strategy that advocates for gender equality, pay parity and women economic empowerment. The partnership is in the process of developing gender specific legislative changes to BBBEE and EEA and looking at gender-specific legislation.

Irene also helped establish a private sector-led Gender-Based Violence Response Fund, raising commitments of R120 million in cash and in kind, from private sector companies and philanthropic organisations. An independent board of directors was established and pro-bono services from a number of professional organisations secured.

Charnley is the Chairman of Gibela Rail Transport Consortium and, also, recently served on the board of the Public Investment Corporation.

Charnley is the Founder and former CEO, and former deputy Chairman, of Smile Telecoms, a Pan-African telecommunications group established in 2007 with broadband operations in Nigeria, Tanzania, Uganda, and a presence in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

Prior to establishing Smile, Charnley was instrumental in transforming MTN Group into one of the most pre-eminent Telecoms operators in the Middle East and Africa regions.

As an Executive Director at Johnnic Industrial Corporation, she led the transformation of the organisation from an industrial conglomerate into a focused media and telecoms Group. Charnley also spearheaded the Ikageng Scheme, one of the early Broad Based Black Empowerment schemes in SA in which 32 000 ordinary South Africans participated and received 400% return on their initial deposit. Her career as a trade unionist and key negotiator for the National Union of Mineworkers, where she spent 13 years, precedes her tenure as a successful businesswoman. Charnley says: It is a great honour for me to receive the 2023 AWCA Woman of Substance Award. From my role as a trade unionist to my role in business, I have sought to transform organisations and businesses by empowering marginalised individuals. Mentoring the next generation of women leaders is also close to my heart. I am deeply honoured to be recognised for my work and my social causes.

AWCA President Buhle Hanise says: Businesswoman, social entrepreneur and IWFSA President Irene Charnley is an immense inspiration. With a business CV that has made her a force to be reckoned with, and a palpable purpose to lift others as she rises, Irene is more than deserving of being bestowed with the title: AWCA 2023 Woman of Substance.

Editors note:
Other winners from the AWCA Recognition Awards evening included:
  • - Public Sector CEO of the Year - Ayanda Mafuleka CA(SA), CEO: Fasset
  • - Private Sector CEO of the Year - Sharmla Chetty, CEO: Duke Corporate Education
  • - Public Sector CFO of the Year - Pretty Makukule CA(SA), CFO: Department of Higher Education and Training
  • - Private Sector CFO of the Year - Thobeka Ntshiza CA(SA), CFO: Avis South Africa
  • - Audit Partner of the Year - Rachel Nkgodi CA(SA), Partner: Financial Services Audit, Deloitte
  • - Tax Partner of the Year - Kabelo Malapela CA(SA), Business Tax Leader: Deloitte
  • - Leading Entrepreneur - Ndiambani Magadagela CA(SA), CEO: Everlectric
  • - Trailblazer in Academia - Nokuthula Mokgele CA(SA), Senior Lecturer in Taxation: Unisa
About AWCA Woman of Substance Award

Celebrating 21 years is an important milestone for AWCA, as such the Woman of Substance award is a key facet of the celebration. The award acknowledges and celebrates female leaders who have made a significant contribution by lifting others as they, too, rise to the business, social and economic landscape in South Africa.

Previous recipients of this esteemed award include Chancellor of the University of the Witwatersrand Dr Judy Dlamini, Former Vice Chancellor of the University of Cape Town Professor Mamokgethi Phakeng, Her Excellency Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, Former Public Protector Advocate Thuli Madonsela, and the late Social Entrepreneur and Gender Activist Dr Vuyokazi Mahlati.

Ends

ABOUT AWCA: The African Women Chartered Accountants (AWCA) is a non-profit organisation which was founded in 2002 on the premise of mutual support and personal development of African Women Chartered Accountants. Our vision is to Accelerate the development of Black Women Chartered Accountants. We believe that it is our responsibility, as individuals and leaders in corporate SA, to develop and nurture the future leaders of the country in order to achieve sustainable economic development and transformation.

For more information about the AWCA, please visit https://awca.co.za/. Follow us on social media, @AWCA_SA on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

Organisation : The African Women Chartered Accountants (awca)
Website : http://www.awca.co.za