Chairman's Awards

Dr Sizwe Nxasana is a visionary whose influence has transformed South Africa’s accounting profession, corporate landscape, and education system. His journey began with a bold step—founding the country’s first Black-owned audit firm, a milestone that opened doors for countless aspiring professionals and set the stage for greater inclusivity in the profession. Later, he co-founded a firm that grew into one of South Africa’s largest, cementing his reputation as a trailblazer and change-maker.

Beyond auditing, Dr Nxasana’s leadership extended into major corporations, where he spearheaded innovation and transformation in telecommunications and financial services. His tenure as CEO of leading organisations was marked by strategic foresight, operational excellence, and a commitment to ethical leadership.

Today, his passion for education is rewriting the future. Through initiatives such as the Future Nation Schools, the National Education Collaboration Trust (NECT), and the Sifiso Learning Group, Dr Nxasana has championed technology-enabled learning, teacher development, and curriculum reform to empower Africa’s youth. His work through trusts and foundations has provided financial aid and access to education for thousands of students, ensuring that talent is nurtured regardless of background.

A visionary leader who has transformed Africa’s digital landscape. Yolanda’s career spans leadership roles in major corporations, driving strategies that redefined connectivity and inclusion. From pioneering fintech and mobile money solutions across more than 10 countries to evolving a traditional telecom provider into a leading digital platform, her impact is undeniable. She champions access for underserved communities, promotes digital literacy, and creates opportunities for women, youth, and small businesses—shaping a future where every African can thrive in a connected world.

Yvette is a global advocate for sustainability and responsible leadership. Her career has focused on advancing sustainability reporting, integrated thinking, and governance that drives long-term value. She has contributed to international standards, chaired technical committees, and led programmes that equip executives with tools for sustainable leadership. Her mission: to ensure companies embrace purpose alongside profit for resilience and growth.

Usha has turned personal experience into a mission to transform mental wellbeing in the accounting profession. Through neuroscience-based coaching and leadership development, she champions wellbeing as a business imperative. Her initiatives—masterclasses, online challenges, and social platforms—have inspired thousands to redefine success through balance and mental clarity.

Buhle is a trailblazer for gender equity and economic empowerment. Her leadership spans mentoring, sponsorship, and advocacy for deliberate inclusion policies. Through volunteer work and leadership roles, she has launched transformational programmes that open doors for women—from classrooms to C-suites—proving that true success lies in lifting others as you rise.

Imre is a custodian of integrity in the auditing profession. As CEO, Imre has led initiatives to restore confidence, strengthen governance, and champion transformation. His influence extends globally through international board appointments, shaping audit regulation and promoting accountability and transparency as the foundation of public trust.

Professor Sadler has transformed accounting education through visionary leadership. As the first Executive Dean of a major college, she secured top accreditation for programmes and elevated institutions to global recognition. Her lifelong dedication to mentoring and policy development has opened doors for thousands of students and shaped the future of the profession.

Dr Kana’s influence spans four decades of advancing governance, sustainability, and ethical leadership globally. He aligned South Africa’s auditing framework with international standards, contributed to the King Codes, and chaired a UN oversight committee impacting humanitarian operations worldwide. His legacy combines technical excellence with social purpose.

Shirley is a pioneer who broke barriers as the first woman to lead a major professional services firm in Southern Africa. Her career reflects resilience and a commitment to empowering others, especially women and youth. She champions collaboration and leadership development, proving that success knows no boundaries.

Sindi’s career is defined by resilience and innovation. She has driven transformation in both public and private sectors, founded a pioneering investment company, and championed financial inclusion. Her legacy lies in mentoring and creating pathways for young women to thrive in the profession.

Gloria is a trailblazer in women’s economic empowerment and ethical leadership. As co-founder of WIPHOLD, she has shaped participative economic models and partnered with SAICA to advance inclusivity and integrity within the profession.

Prof Mohale is a champion of ethics and transformation. Through partnerships with SAICA and initiatives like Courageous Conversations, he has inspired professionals to embrace integrity and courageous leadership, reinforcing the profession’s role in building a just society.

Huburt has been a strategic partner in shaping the future of the accounting profession through education. His collaboration with SAICA and Thuthuka has inspired thousands of learners, driven teacher development, and digitised curricula—building strong foundations for the profession.

Tsakani shattered a century-old glass ceiling as the first woman to hold a critical public accountability role. Her fearless leadership has advanced transformation, recovered billions for taxpayers, and earned global recognition—setting new benchmarks for ethical governance.

As the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA), we take great pride in recognising and celebrating excellence within our profession. Our members are at the forefront of driving ethical leadership, transformation and sustainable impact across business, academia and society.

In this spirit, the SAICA Chairman’s Awards were established to honour seasoned members who embody the highest ideals of our profession; individuals whose work and leadership have created a lasting difference, not only within their organisations but in the communities and industries they serve. These Awards represent one of the highest forms of recognition conferred by SAICA, celebrating distinction, purpose, and integrity in action.

To be eligible for an award, individuals can enter themselves, be nominated or be identified by SAICA based on a set of strict criteria.

For any queries, please email ***@saica.co.za

• Business Trailblazer Award: Drives significant business growth and success while adhering to ethical standards.
• Social Impact Leader Award: Leads initiatives with a measurable positive impact on society.
• Wellness Advocate Award: Actively promotes and supports mental health awareness and related areas within their business and/or community.
• Global Citizen Award: Contributes to the advancement of the accounting profession on a global scale.
• Education Champion Award: Makes or has made a significant contribution to accounting education and development.
• Tech-Savvy Leader Award: Champions the adoption of technology to improve accounting practices and service delivery.
• Entrepreneur Award: Built a successful and impactful entrepreneurial venture while upholding ethical standards.
• SDG Champion Award: Demonstrates exceptional leadership and commitment to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through their work.
• SAICA Brand Ambassador Award: Actively promotes SAICA and its designations through branding, marketing and communication efforts, thought leadership or public engagement and/or has contributed to SAICA's development and advocacy efforts.
• Visionary Finance Leadership Award: Honours a finance professional who demonstrates forward-thinking and innovative leadership by transforming their organisation's finance function, adopting pioneering strategies, or effectively navigating complex economic challenges to drive sustainable long-term value creation and business relevance.
• Friends of the profession Award: Recognises an individual (not necessarily a CA(SA)) that has made an exceptional contribution to the advancement, development, or public perception of the accounting profession, its related disciplines, or SAICA itself. This could include significant support in areas like regulation, policy-making, strategic partnerships, or ethical governance.
• Legacy Lifetime Award: Recognizing exceptional career and lifelong contribution to the accounting profession and SAICA.