About Us
The heart of "changing business for good"...
The Branson Centre of Entrepreneurship South Africa is a social enterprise supplier-development hub that aims to be the "heart of entrepreneurship in Southern Africa". We represent namesake Sir Richard Branson's core values to support like-minded, passionate entrepreneurs who aim to fulfil a larger purpose with their business.
Through strategic partnerships, consistent development services and a "can-do" attitude, the Branson Centre is entrepreneurial in everything we do, helping to embed purpose-led business skills, and importantly, changing business for good.
We aim to find creative solutions for solving challenges to supply chains; help develop strategies and partnerships; and maintain consistent mentorship, monitoring and reporting to ensure the success of high-potential entrepreneurs who can later pass on their skills and knowledge.
In our relentless pursuit of entrepreneurialism, we challenge the rules of “business as usual” to change things for good – for people, planet and profit.
Board of Trustee's
Phila Zulu
Legal Director
As the legal director and company secretary for the Virgin Active group in Southern Africa, Phila Zulu has a vested interest in changing business for good. Zulu holds a BCom degree from Rhodes University in Grahamstown, South Africa, and previously worked as a banking and financial lawyer in South Africa and the United Kingdom.
Wesley Noble
Executive Director
Wesley enjoys solving business problems that enable companies to transition to build a more stable and sustainable world for people, planet and economies.
Uses big ideas, challenges the norm & never accepts status quo.
Nwabisa Mayema
Entrepreneur
An innovative serial entrepreneur and proficient public speaker, Nwabisa Mayema’s passion is to connect women in business to each other and opportunities. Mayema drives her goal through consulting and training services for women in business.
Bess Nkabinde
Legal Adviser
Baaitse Elizabeth "Bess" Nkabinde worked as a legal adviser to the Bophutatswana Government for four years before becoming an advocate in 1988. In 2017, she retired from the legal world after serving as judge in the Constitutional High Court for 12 years.
Board of Directors
Tsholo Kubheka
Chairman
Experienced Commercial Director with a demonstrated history of working in the Health club industry and sports industry. Strong sales professional and leader skilled in Strategic planning, Marketing Management, Negotiation, Market Planning,
Business Planning, and Coaching.
Wesley Noble
Executive Director
Wesley enjoys solving business problems that enable companies to transition to build a more stable and sustainable world for people, planet and economies.
Uses big ideas, challenges the norm & never accepts status quo.
Rowan Le Roux
Operations Director
Rowan has been involved in sustainable activities for over 15 years from ecological economic research, to environmental finance to being sustainability manager within a large plastic manufacturer.
Rowan believes purpose driven businesses can play in restoring environmental and community systems in South Africa.
Greg Sara
Executive Director
Greg is an experienced Head Of Finance with a demonstrated history of success working in highly pressurised environments. A strong finance professional with a leadership style aimed at empowering others to fulfil their true potential.
Ross Faragher-Thomas
Independant Director
With a strong background in Marketing and a keen sense of leadership, Ross Faragher-Thomas has been at the helm of Virgin Active South Africa for 16 years.
Fiona Ross
Independant Director
Fiona Ross is a Virgin Group Brand Director, she works across multiple sections ensuring that whether its a plane, train, bank or health club, the Virgin Brand is delivering on it promises.
