Speakers Profiles India – South Africa Connect
Randall Carolissen (PhD)
Consul General of India in JohannesburgRandall Carolissen (PhD)
Upon completion of a B.Sc. degree at the University of the Western Cape (UWC) in 1981, Dr. Randall Carolissen started his career at the age of 20, as an industrial engineer at Firestone in Port Elizabeth, and rapidly rose through the ranks of the business. Pursuing his ambition to further his academic studies in Physics, he returned to UWC in 1984 as a laboratory assistant and completed a BSc (Hons). In 1987, he was appointed as a researcher at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), and in this period, he completed an MSc (cum laude) in 1989. He was then appointed as a lecturer at UWC and started a PhD in 1995 in Nano-physics.
Mr. Prabhat Kumar
High Commissioner of India to the Republic of South AfricaMr. Prabhat Kumar
Shri Prabhat Kumar assumed charge as High Commissioner of India to the Republic of South Africa on 2nd August 2023 He joined the Indian Foreign Service in September 1991. In his first posting abroad in Madrid in 1993, he underwent compulsory language training in Spanish in the first year and was absorbed in the mission as the Head of Chancery and in charge of political and commercial work.
From 1996-99, he served as First Secretary/Charge d’ Affaires in the Embassy of India in Zagreb, Croatia.He was Counsellor/First Secretary in charge of the Political Wing in Embassy of India, Kathmandu from July 2003 to February 2007.
Mr. Thampy Koshy
MD & CEO, Open Network Digital CommerceMr. Thampy Koshy
Is the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of ONDC, a company established with an objective to strengthen and transform the e-commerce sector in India with broad-based participation from both buyers and sellers across the country.
Mr. Hrushikesh Mehta
SVP and Lead, Financial Services of Open Network Digital CommerceMr. Hrushikesh Mehta
With over two decades of dedicated service in the financial services sector, I am currently serving as the Senior Vice President of Financial Services at the Open Network For Digital Commerce (ONDC). In this role, I am committed to democratizing commerce and financial services in India, fostering innovation and collaboration. Prior to my current position, I co-founded CredAll, where I played a pivotal role in democratizing access to credit by driving the adoption of standardized APIs through the Open Credit Enablement Network (OCEN). This Indian digital public good streamlined lending processes, enabling all-digital loans and promoting cash flow-based lending. My journey includes a significant tenure as the Vice President & Head of DTC Interactive at TransUnion CIBIL Limited, where I spearheaded the growth of the Direct to Consumer vertical. My passion for innovation and financial inclusion is further reflected in my volunteer work with ProductNation/iSPIRT, focusing on democratizing access to credit. With a rich blend of experiences across startups, global firms, and leadership roles, I bring in-depth knowledge in various facets of the financial services industry.
Mr. Chandan Nayak
Head of ComvivaMr. Chandan Nayak
Is VP Sales and is responsible for the organization in Africa region.
He is a dynamic and a strategic business leaders with over 19 years of global experience in solutioning, sales and leadership roles. known for his customer centricity backed by his strong domain, enable hi, to drive impactful growth strategies that deliver value to stakeholders.
Mr Eldrid Jordaan
CEO of SupppleMr Eldrid Jordaan
Is a Professor of Practice at the Johannesburg Business School, University of Johannesburg, a former Special Advisor to the Minister of Public Enterprises and an Advisory Board Member at Mxit. He’s also a United States Department of State IVLP Alumni. He is the Founder of GovChat.Org, an award-winning technology platform for social impact that has assisted over 10 million South Africans in partnership with the South African Government and the United Nations.
Prof Shamika Ravi
Member, Economic Advisory Council to Prime Minister of IndiaProf Shamika Ravi
Is currently a member of the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister, and Secretary to Government of India. Previously, Dr. Ravi was Director of Research at Brookings India, Vice President Economic Policy at Observer Research Foundation and Non-Resident Senior Fellow of Governance Studies Program at Brookings Institution. Her research focuses on economics of development including areas of Finance, Healthcare, Urbanization, Gender Equality, and Welfare and Poverty.Over the last 20 years, Dr. Ravi has taught in post-graduate programmes across India including The Indian School of Business and the BITS School of Management where she teaches Managerial Economics, Game Theory and Microfinance.
Mr. Glenn Silverman
Director, RisCura InvestMr. Glenn Silverman
Glenn has been RisCura’s investment strategist since July 2021, and sits on many of the company’s key investment committees. He is also a director of RisCura Invest, the multi-manager arm of the group. Glenn was previously the chief investment officer of Investment Solutions (now Alexander Forbes Investments), South Africa’s largest multi-manager, for 17 years. Prior to that he held senior roles at both RMB Asset Management and LIBAM (now STANLIB). Glenn has over 30 years of experience in the global asset management industry. He co-authored a book on the BRICS in 2014, entitled HalfWay There, to some acclaim. He often presents on the BRICS, as well as on other important investment related topics, including: AI, Responsible Investing (ESG), Megatrends, Financial Repression and Africa.
Mr. Thian Fick
Director, Emerging Markets, SanlamMr. Thian Fick
Presently, Mr. Thian is an Executive for India and Group Initiatives of the Sanlam Group. His role is to oversee Sanlam’s investments in India and to maintain business relationships with Sanlam’s partners in India. He is also involved in other Group strategic initiatives by supporting and giving guidance to the operating entities with strategy development and execution, technical assistance, adhering to sound audit practices, appropriate governance, risk management, and compliance.Mr. Thian holds a Bachelor of Commerce in Actuarial Science from the University of Stellenbosch, South Africa, in 2005 and is a qualified Actuary and Fellow of the Actuarial Society of South Africa.
He has over 18 years of experience in actuarial (both Life and General insurance), capital management and risk management.
Mr. Ashwin Lakhan
Head, Investment Banking, RMBMr. Ashwin Lakhan
Ashwin qualified and worked as an electronic engineer for the Rio Tinto Group prior to banking. He joined FirstRand in 2004 as head of New Product Development in FNB’s personal banking division, was Sizwe Nxasana and Paul Harris’s Executive Assistant from 2008 to 2009, and joined RMB in 2009. At RMB, Ashwin has held several roles in IBD – he spent time as a dealmaker in the Resources Finance team, the Infrastructure Finance team, the Leverage Finance team and the Real Estate Investment Banking team. In 2018, he was appointed as the head of Real Estate Investment Banking and in 2021 as the co-head of RMB’s Investment Banking Division.
Mr. Mahesh Kumar
Consul General of India in JohannesburgMr. Mahesh Kumar
Is an Indian Foreign Service Officer of 2008 Batch. He joined as Consul General of India, Johannesburg on 14 January 2023. He studied in Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi for his M.Phil in European Studies. Mr. Kumar also holds an MA (Politics with Specialization in International Studies) degree from School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. After joining Indian Foreign Service, he served in Indian Missions in Brussels, Tel Aviv, New York in various capacities. He was the Representative of India in the State of Palestine.
