Mbali Phewa is a transformation and socio-economic development leader whose career has been defined by a deep commitment to advancing gender equity and empowering women across Africa. With over 16 years of experience in corporate transformation, sustainability and international development, she has consistently championed initiatives that create access, visibility, and opportunity for women in both business and community spaces.
As Head of Transformation at Santam Group, South Africa’s largest general insurer, Mbali has redefined transformation as a driver of inclusive growth and innovation. Under her leadership, Santam has invested more than R400 million into developing black- and women-owned suppliers, brokers, and service providers. She is driving a groundbreaking procurement strategy designed to shift billions of rands in spend toward black- and women-owned enterprises, fundamentally reshaping Santam’s supply chain.
Her influence extends beyond Santam. She serves as Chair of the South African Insurance Association (SAIA) Transformation Steering Committee and is a member of its Board Sub-Committee, shaping industry-wide transformation priorities. She also contributes to national policy as part of the Financial Sector Transformation Council (FSTC) Reporting Working Committee, ensuring that transformation is anchored in accountability and impact.
Mbali’s earlier career in international development centred on gender mainstreaming as a cornerstone of impact. She helped design water infrastructure projects to address women’s needs in Southern Africa, supported the development of rural women as smallholder farmers, worked with the World Health Organization (WHO) and African Development Bank (AfDB) to improve women’s access to healthcare, and collaborated with the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) to strengthen Thuthuzela Care Centres for survivors of gender-based violence.
Today, Mbali combines corporate leadership with grassroots engagement, chairing the Women of Santam Network to advance women’s leadership and representation, while also supporting youth work readiness in Jabulani, Soweto, and backing women entrepreneurs.
She is driven by the conviction that when women rise, communities thrive, and that business has a pivotal role to play in building a more inclusive and equitable economy for South Africa.