According to SAB VP of corporate affairs Zoleka Lisa, the overall aim of these awards is to advance sustainability within the private and public sectors of South Africa.

"We needed a panel of judges who could truly discern what impact means in this field," says Lisa. "The Beyond Awards features an esteemed list of judges — each with specialised expertise in their respective categories. We are ready to celebrate and be inspired by every nominee and winner."

Categories for the Beyond Awards include:
  • United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Champion
  • Best Sustainability Report
  • Best Sustainability Project, and
  • African Trailblazer.

Judges for each category are as follows:

UN SDG Champion category

Dalit Anstey, ESG knowledge lawyer and expert at Webber Wentzel
Bringing her background in natural resources law, including mining and environmental law to the panel, Anstey's experience in regulatory advisory work, corporate and transactional matters and litigation positions her as an ideal judge, say the awards.

Shameela Soobramoney, chief executive officer of the National Business Initiative
Soobramoney is a corporate strategy and sustainability expert with a focus on financial services and African sustainability efforts. Her experience and contributions to sustainability initiatives make her the perfect judge across all the categories, the awards add.

Sifiso Nkosi, programme coordinator at the UN Global Compact South Africa
Nkosi is largely responsible for the local implementation of the UN Global Compact programmes. These include the SDG Ambition, Climate Ambition Accelerators as well and the Young SDG Innovators Programme.

Nkosi is passionate about compliance, sustainability and ESG matters. His dedication to managing sustainability and ESG projects — including work in innovation, human rights, anti-corruption, environmental and sustainable development-centred projects, say the awards.

UN SDG Champion category technical judges

Estrella Merlos, global head of the Road Safety Training Initiative and associate director of the CIFAL Global Network
Merlos boasts 15 years of experience in international affairs, public policy and sustainable development with the United Nations. Her specialities include resource mobilisation and fundraising, partnership development, international affairs and public policy, say the awards.

Best Sustainability Report category technical judges

Dr Colin Reddy, senior lecturer in CSR, corporate sustainability and research design at the University of Johannesburg
With an extensive academic background, Dr Reddy's research interest is at the intersection of business and society. This is especially apparent as he serves as a reviewer at the Journal of Business Ethics, Business & Society, among others.

Sustainable development is a passion point of his, which makes him the perfect candidate to judge Best Sustainability Report submissions, according to the awards.

Loshni Naidoo, chief sustainability officer at the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE)
Possessing extensive experience in climate change and sustainability services, Naidoo's role as the chief sustainability officer focuses on the JSE's own sustainability efforts as well as that of their clientele, positioning her as a well-qualified judge for the Best Sustainability Report, say the awards.

Cuma Dube, senior ESG specialist at Six Capitals
With over seven years of experience in sustainability management, climate change policy, renewable energy, ESG integration and non-financial corporate disclosures, Dube's expertise in these areas makes him an ideal judge for assessing the power and impact of any sustainability report, the awards add.

Carolynn Chalmers, CEO of Chapter Zero SA
Chalmers offers over 20 years of experience in governance principles and strategy implementation, attributed to her successes in designing and leading large, complex strategy implementations, the awards say.

Best Sustainability Project category technical judges

Lwazi Ngubuvena, director of the African Energy Leadership Centre at the University of Witwatersrand
Having extensive global experience in renewable energy, investments, advisory, environment and water desalination industries, Ngubuvena's expertise in policy and legislation, project finance and business case development gives him a keen eye for identifying where the impact lies in a sustainability project, according to the awards.

Happy Khambule, head of environment and energy at Business Unity South Africa
As an official party delegate to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and a member of the Paris Agreement Compliance Committee, Khambule offers a wealth of knowledge in environmental and energy matters, positioning him as a qualified judge for the Best Sustainability Project category, the awards say.

African Trailblazer category technical judges

Professor Mervyn King SC, senior counsel and former judge of the Supreme Court of South Africa
King is a global authority on corporate governance and a champion of good governance practices. His leadership in governance-related organisations and initiatives makes him an ideal judge to determine who is the most impactful individual in the African sustainability landscape, add the awards.

Sifiso Skenjana, founder and managing director of ESG Analytics
Skenjana is a development economist, policy advisor, radio broadcaster and strategist. With experience in management consulting, asset and investment management and research and economic advisory across various sectors, he brings his extensive expertise to evaluate exactly what it means to be an African trailblazer, the awards say.

Vincent Obisie-Orlu, natural resources governance and ESG researcher at Good Governance Africa
Obisie-Orlu focuses his research on ESG risks, natural resource governance and advancing Africa's sustainable development. His valuable insights will be put to good use in the African Trailblazer category.

Lisa concludes, "We are excited by the entries we have received for the inaugural Beyond Awards, and the winners will be announced at the official ceremony on Tuesday, 3 October. 

For more information, visit www.sab.co.za. You can also follow SAB on Facebook, X or on Instagram.