Tom is a seasoned analyst who delivers high impact global research and insight. He identifies the economic and geopolitical themes that will shape the global business landscape and leads the development of powerful, data-driven forecasts that make a difference for clients. A sought after presenter of the EIU’s global outlook at keynote events, Tom enjoys sharing his views in boardroom settings and appears regularly in media.

Tom draws on more than a decade of experience as an analyst at EIU, much of it spent working in China. He is a published expert on China’s political economy and has conducted in-depth research on issues such as supply chains and geopolitical risk across Asia. Prior to EIU, Tom held research and policy roles in organisations including the UK Parliament and Oxford Analytica. He holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Oxford.

Dr Ralph Mathekga (PhD) started his studies in Political Science, Law and Economic History
at the University of the Witwatersrand, where he completed BA degree. He subsequently
completed honours degree in Political Science as well as a MA (Masters) in Political Science,
at the same university. Ralph has completed PhD in Political Studies at University of
Johannesburg (2018). His thesis focuses on the court challenges on affirmative action in
South Africa and the implications on equality and justice. He subsequently completed a 3
year post-doc fellowship at university of Johannesburg.
Ralph worked as a Political Researcher with Institute for Democracy in South Africa (Idasa)
where he focused on political, social and economic research. Ralph also worked as a Political
Science Lecturer at the University of Western Cape. He has worked at the National Treasury
(Ministry of Finance) in the Budget Office as a Senior Policy Analyst. Ralph regularly
contributes content to local and international publications including The New York Times,
Washington Post, and Financial Times, among others. He has written over 500 opinion
articles over the years in various newspapers and magazines, both locally and internationally.
Ralph is the author of the books When Zuma Goes (Tafelberg, 2016) and Ramaphosa’s Turn
(Tafelberg, 2018). Hi next book on Constitutionalism and Democratic Consolidation is
forthcoming (in 2024). Ralph ‘s latest book, The ANC ‘s last decade (Tafelberg), was
published in 2021. He is currently a News24 columnist. Ralph contributes monthly reports to
the Lichtenstein based Geopolitical Intelligence Services (GIS), focusing on the SADC
region. He teaches at the South African Deference College, on security and democratic
consolidation.

Bonga joined BDO as CEO in May 2022 taking over from Mark Stewart at the end of his term. He is a member of the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA), Advancement of Black Accountants of Southern Africa (ABASA), Institute of Directors of South Africa (IODSA) and the Black Management Forum (BMF).

Prior to joining BDO, he held various senior executive and leadership roles at AlexForbes for almost 13 years, which includes; Head of Institutional Cluster Businesses, Managing Director/Executive of Actuarial Consulting Solutions & AF Group Public Sector Divisions, CEO of Alex Forbes Emerging Markets (Pty)Ltd and recently, AF Group Executive of Market Development Division.

As a qualified CA(SA), Mokoena spent much of his career as an internal auditor at Nedcor Bank Limited, Metrorail and Transnet before moving on to Old Mutual as an Industry leader in 2005 within Old Mutual Corporate Division. He then joined and worked at Eskom Pension and Provident Fund (EPPF) as its Chief Executive and Principal Officer for almost 2 years during 2008 and the better part of 2009.

He has extensive experience in both the public and private sector, his sector experience also includes; transport, financial services, investment and the energy sector.

Annabel Bishop joined Investec in 2001 and is the Chief Economist. She has worked in the macroeconomic, econometric, risk, financial markets, political risk, public finance and regulatory, among other, fields for around 25 years. Annabel is the holder of the Sake/Beeld Economist of the Year award for 2010 and has won numerous monthly Reuters Econometer awards, and various Focus Economics (Economic Forecasts from the World’s Leading Economists) categories for correctly forecasting a range of economic variables. She has authored a wide range of in-house and external articles, published both abroad and in South Africa. She has also guest lectured at Gibbs, the University of Pretoria, Wits, UJ and other academic institutions, and has presented at various national and international conferences. Author of the “Financial Services sector and its support to the economy“ section in the Better Choices Ensuring SA’s Future.

Sam is a trained economist specialising in understanding the complexities of the South African economy. Prior to joining the EICN, Sam spent time in both the public and private sector, first as an economist within the Economic Policy division of the National Treasury, and then as a consulting economist at Econometrix, and Deloitte. During his time in private sector, Sam specialised in analysing events and government policies to dilute these into constructing business strategies. Sam also spent time in Switzerland as an economist for airline industry body IATA. Sam holds a masters degree in economics from Stellenbosch University, and has studied further at the Insitute for Social Studies in The Hague, the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam and the Levy Economics Insitute of Bard College in New York State.