Simphiwe Ntsele

I am a young, vibrant, dedicated, passionate, loyal Chief Risk Officer (CRO) who has worked with several big organizations in risk management, compliance, health and safety, business continuity, security, insurance, auditing and forensic investigation. My experience has offered me great opportunities to learn about organizational performance and that risk management is an important component of every organization in order to achieve their objectives. I believe in risk based approach that embraces risk element in every decision making process.

I have worked in fast moving business environments and have learned new risk management techniques and technologies, learned about complex organizational structures and how they affect decision making. I also believe that risk based approach does not only detect and identify risks but also leverage efforts to yield broader organizational benefits. I have experienced in engaging well with demanding internal and external stakeholders and proliferating regulations. As a CRO I believe that risk management requires contributions and dedication from every level of the organization and it is my responsibility to clarify the roles and the objectives of risk management and to make people understand the difference between risk management, compliance, security and auditing in order to achieve the objectives of the organisation.

During my career I have had the privilege of leading highly impactful teams and initiatives in different industries over the past 16 years, occupying high profile senior leadership roles for most of this time, which required me to engage with the stakeholders and regularly participate in public speaking engagements at events and conferences, which has given me the respectable professional public profile I have built. I hope to bring that experience and insight to the execution of the organisation’s strategy should I be appointed.

I was nominated Risk Manager of the year for 2019 by the Institute of Risk Management South Africa. This has demonstrated the contribution I have made in the Risk Management sphere in the past 16 years. I was also appointed as the Compliance Officer at the NHBRC, responsible for monitoring the full adherence to the Covid-19 rules, regulations and guidelines protocols. I am currently appointed as the Head of Risk, Legal and Compliance at South African Tourism, responsible for providing the risk strategic direction in the organisation. 

Risk Strategy 

• Developing an integrated Risk Management Framework, for mitigating risks, as well as obtaining a full understanding of positive and negative potential of risks involved • Encouraging & creating a risk awareness culture within the organisation and communicating the Risk Management policy, strategy, and methodology to the organisation community • Ensuring that all Divisions and Portfolios in the organisation have appropriate risk management processes to enable management to discharge their accountability for Risk management and make disclosures • Ensuring consistency in evaluation and reporting of risks to facilitate comparability at an organisational level; and assisting in setting risk mandate levels 

Governance, Compliance & financial management: 

• Collaborate with the Internal Audit and Legal Functions to provide combined assurance and to ensure that risk is properly assessed and highlighted in the organisation • Monitoring, reporting and analysis of risk management processes, exposures and trends • Collaborate with training & development committees and others to ensure appropriate training of relevant staff with respect to risk awareness • Develop and manage ERM budget ensuring cost effective service delivery and in compliance with legislative requirements. 

Enterprise Risk Management: 

• Provide expert advice and leadership on Risk issues to EXCO; Divisions and all ERM processes • Ensure that Divisions & Portfolios accurately identify & understand potential threats, opportunities, actions, or events that may adversely affect the organisation’s ability to achieve its objectives and develop mitigation strategies in collaboration with management, whilst ensuring follow-through • Fully responsible for risk management practices focusing on Enterprise-wide ERM programmes.

 Business Continuity Management:

• Develop and maintain an organisation-wide Business Continuity Management program that addresses business recovery and emergency response management • Design and outline Business Continuity Management goals, objectives and scope of business continuity plans and Crisis Management • Support and assist in the development of Business Continuity Management planning and goals. 

Compliance & Ethics Management:

• Support and assist in the development of Business Continuity Management planning and goals • Develop, promote, lead, and manage the organisation's compliance, ethics, and integrity architecture • Lead and provide oversight of the organisation’s Compliance, Ethics, and Integrity program to ensure compliance with legal, statutory, policy and ethical requirements impacting the organization • Review as necessary and monitor implementation of the organisation’s Compliance, Ethics, and Integrity Program, consistent with emerging best practices • Provide oversight of the compliance, ethics, and integrity risk assessment process

MCom Business Management University of Johannesburg - 2016 

Honours in Public Management and Governance University of Johannesburg – 2011

 Diploma in Advanced Business Management University of Johannesburg – 2010 

B.A Administration Rand Afrikaans University – 2004

 Matric Certificate Wentworth Secondary School – 2001