CISO Dinner

Ms. Sithembile Songo holds a Master of Science in Information Security from the University of London and cyber security professional certifications. She is a Chief Information Security Officer, CISO, heading the information security pillar at the state-owned energy entity, which produce 95% of South Africa’s electricity. Her strategic role primarily focuses on protecting the national critical infrastructure from potential cyber-attacks and ensure that cyber security issues do not contribute to the organizational challenges. She has been specializing in information security for more than 20 years now and her experience is augmented by several leadership roles in both public and private sectors, including Financial, Telecom, Public Sector, Consulting firm, Energy sector and other State-owned entities. She Sithembile is also a mentor, international speaker and serving as an advisory board member. She is passionate about cybersecurity and enabling organisations to achieve their business objectives in a secure manner to fulfil their mandates. Besides her extensive experience in other information/cyber security domains, she has also played a pivotal role in defining and implementing robust information security strategies to protect organisations against the increased attack surface, in support of the swift digital migration initiatives and hybrid mode of working, including artificial intelligence and machine learning.

A Technology Executive with over 10 years of experience in delivering enterprise-wide projects within scope, on time, and on budget while cutting costs, spearheading ROI-focused projects, and bridging the gap between business and technology to realize essential integration. Francis has done all these and much more under a variety of professional hats- working as Head of IT, System Support Engineer, and IT Administrator. He has led the development, deployment, and integration of IT systems and solutions, owning the full system and project management cycle- from requirements gathering to concept development, implementation, and deployment to propel changes, system, and operational efficiency. Additionally, he has been instrumental in network security, IT procurement, WIFI implementation and administration, P&L oversight and resource planning, as well as technical end-user support to elevate and enhance user experience. With strengths in big picture thinking, analysis, and interpersonal communication, his expertise includes: IT Project Management; Process Improvements; Business-Centric IT Leadership; IT Security & Compliance; Infrastructure Management; Business Continuity; Network Re-engineering!

Manthi is a seasoned IT professional with over 18 years experience in successfully leading and implementing global and local IT /Digital Transformation programmes. She is currently an IT Business Partner for Middle East, Turkey and Africa and her primary responsibility in this role is to develop strategic partnerships with business stakeholders, delivery partners, and colleagues in order to deliver IT solutions that support business strategy. Manthi grew up in Soweto and comes from a large family of academics. A natural teacher Manthi's journey into the IT realm was serendipitous. Beginning her career as a network specialist, she swiftly transitioned into roles as a SAP consultant and functional lead in HR. It was during this time that Manthi discovered her innate talent and passion for people development and diversity, particularly through her leadership in IT and support of HR functions. Her passions include travelling, especially within and outside Africa. She is an avid reader and aspiring art collector and she is actively involved in teaching and mentorship activities outside work. In addition to her role in IT, Manthi serves as an Employment Equity Manager, an executive board member, a Trustee in an NGO and a member of the Advisory Board of the Department of Information and Knowledge Management at a University in Johannesburg.