Governance Board

The highest decision-making body in the organisation is the Governance Board. The Governance Board will comprise of eleven (11) non-executive members of which four (4) will be elected as executive directors (“the Leadership Team”).

The term of the Board is three (3) years and members are eligible to serve a maximum of two (2) terms. The Board should have fair gender representation.

To ensure continuity, there will at all times be a minimum of five (5) Board members, and Board membership is on a voluntary basis. The members of the board must exhibit the following attributes:

• A passion for promoting economic inclusivity.
• Business Leadership and Experience.
• Science, Technology, and Innovation background or knowledge.
• Extensive business networks – Local and International.
• Entrepreneurship – proven experience.

Governance Board’s Role

The board is responsible for the overall functioning of the organisation and its public standing. The role of the board includes:

• Implementing the strategic direction of the organisation.
• Providing organisational and business leadership.
• Ensuring diversity and inclusion.
• Ensuring proper funding of the organization.
• Promoting the organisational policy mandate, i.e. formulation and advocacy work of the organisation.
• Providing access to local and global networks.

Leadership

The organisation is managed by the Leadership Team (Executive Directors), who form part of the Governance Board, such members being the:

• Chairperson
• Deputy Chairperson
• Head of Policy
• Treasurer General

Executive Management

The operations of the organisation are executed by a full-time management team, which includes:

• Chief Executive Director (CEO)
• Corporate Affairs Director
• Manager: Special Projects and Partnership
• Manager:  Policy and Advocacy
• Manager: Events and Membership
• Manager: Stakeholder Engagement

Ad-hoc Advisory Committee

The organisation’s Governance Board is supported by an Ad-hoc Advisory Committee which serves as a sounding board for the organisation and provides a strategic role and guidance. The Ad-hoc Advisory Committee is convened and chaired by the Governance Board’s chairperson.

The members of the Ad-hoc Advisory Committee will be nominated and appointed by the Governance Board for a tenure of three (3) years. It is a permanent structure of the STI Business Forum drawn from members who are in good standing but not necessarily occupying a position in the governance structures of the organisation. The Ad-hoc Advisory committee is made-up of 10 members, who have extensive experience and knowledge in the following areas:

• South African business organisation advocacy work
• Local government sphere of government
• International STI bodies and organisations
• Corporate governance
• Political influence

Organisation Working Groups

The work of the organisation is done through the Working Groups. There are ten (10) Working Groups approved by the Governance Board. Each working group has a chairperson. The purpose of the Working Groups is to deliver the key programmes of the organisations, as defined by the Governance Board. The Working Groups are reviewed and amended at the annual conference.

The initial Working Groups are:

• WKG 1- Business STI-Funding and R&D Investment.
• WKG 2 – High-Tech Industries and Smart Manufacturing.
• WKG 3 – Hydrogen Energy.
• WKG 4 – Integrated Work-Academic learning.
• WKG 5 – Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Emerging Technologies.
• WKG 6 – Aerospace and Aviation.
• WKG 7 – Logistics and Transport.
• WKG 8 – Start-ups Development.
• WKG 9 – Digital Health.
• WKG 10 – New University Planning.

Organisation Design and Governance

To ensure that the organisation operates smoothly, adheres to governance principles and meets its policy advocacy role, the organisation’s governance framework is anchored in the following foundational artefacts:

• Organisational Founding Document.
• MOI (Memorandum of Incorporation).
• Membership Value Proposition.