Colleen Larsen, CE of Business Engage, is one of the leading voices for the sustainable advancement of women in the corporate space in South Africa today.

She founded Business Engage (www.businessengage.co.za) in 2005, an exciting and inventive organisation at the forefront of strategic thinking on gender mainstreaming in the private sector.

In 2013, she started the Gender Mainstreaming Awards (www.genderawards.co.za) to encourage the private sector to buy-in to achieving more meaningful representation of women in the mainstream of business. In October 2022, the event hosted 500 people in Gauteng, 300 people in Nairobi, 100 people in Accra and streamed with 6800 people online.

Colleen is President of the 30% Club Southern and East Africa and drives the vision of 30% Club Southern and East Africa. The 30% Club is a global organisation of chairpersons and other senior business leaders publicly committed to achieving a more representation of women on boards, because it makes business sense.

Colleen is

• a Fellow of the Institute of Directors.
• a member of the IWFSA.
• Author of the Board Masterclass Series book, Guidelines for Mastering Effective Corporate Decision-Making, Compliance and Strategy at Board level
• Author of the forthcoming book, Gender Matters – a practical guide to the slippery ladder

Above all, Colleen is a prolific networker, organiser and creative visionary in the world of business.