NZIIA Wellington Branch is delighted to welcome members to an upcoming event on Africa titled "Egypt and South Africa: New Zealand Gateways to Africa" in conversation with the Ambassador of Egypt, HE George Tadros and the High Commissioner of South Africa, HE (Colonel) Johnny Sexwale.

Following keynotes from the Ambassador and High Commissioner, there will be a fireside chat moderated by Dr Olayinka Moses from Te Herenga Waka- Victoria University of Wellington. Concluding remarks and the vote of thanks will be provided by Dr James Kember, NZIIA Board Chair and former NZ Ambassador to the African Union and Ethiopia.

At the conclusion of the presentations and Q&A there will be a networking reception with Egyptian and South African cuisine and a selection of South African wines for tasting.

Biographies of our speakers

Ambassador of Egypt to New Zealand, Tuvalu, and Samoa
His Excellency George Tadros

Ambassador George Tadros has dedicated nearly three decades to diplomacy, following an early career in medicine. He holds a Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery from Tanta University, Egypt, and pursued postgraduate studies in cardiology and intensive care before transitioning into Egypt’s diplomatic service.

Since joining the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1998, Ambassador Tadros has held key diplomatic roles across Africa, Europe, and multilateral institutions. His accumulative experience includes postings in Mozambique, Eswatini, Greece, Turkey, and Ethiopia, where he served as Egypt’s Deputy Permanent Representative to the African Union and the UN Economic Commission for Africa. He also contributed to Egypt’s foreign policy as Deputy Assistant Minister for Multilateral Affairs and for International Candidatures and Electoral Campaigns.

Appointed as Egypt’s Ambassador to New Zealand, Tuvalu, and Samoa in 2023, Ambassador Tadros works to strengthen bilateral relations, expand trade and business opportunities, and promoting Egypt’s role as a gateway between Africa and New Zealand. Additionally, he works to reinforce Egypt’s position as a pioneering nation in regional peace, economic development, and cultural heritage.

High Commissioner of South Africa
His Excellency (Colonel) Johnny Sexwale

His Excellency (Col.) Johnny SEXWALE is the South African High Commissioner to New Zealand, and a non-residence High Commissioner to Cook Islands, Fiji, Samoa and Vanuatu.

Prior to his deployment to New Zealand, High Commissioner SEXWALE served as a South African Ambassador to the Republic of Congo (Brazzaville). A Veteran freedom fighter of the South African struggle against the racist apartheid regime, High Commissioner SEXWALE was exiled for fifteen years and sacrificed his youth for the freedom of his motherland, South Africa. He was one of the leading Commanders of Umkhonto We Sizwe (MK), the military wing of the African National Congress (ANC).

On his return to South Africa, following the unbanning of the ANC and the release of political prisoners, including Nelson MANDELA, he became an entrepreneur in the Automotive, Petroleum and Information Technology sectors. He was promoted to the rank of Colonel in the South African National Defence Force.

High Commissioner SEXWALE was a special advisor to the Ministers of Defence and a board member of
State owned, private and public companies. He served as a board member of Gauteng Gambling Board, Automotive Industry Development Corporation. Blue IQ Infrastructure and Phumelela Gaming, amongst
others.

High Commissioner SEXWALE received the following awards:
- Loyal service for unselfish dedication of life and time to liberate South Africans.
-Twenty years’ service for the liberation of South Africa.
-Cuban recognition for service in the struggle:
Honour presented to High Commissioner SEXWALE by the Cuban Ambassador to South Africa, during the commemoration of the defeat of the South African racist military forces, during the battle of Cuito Cuanavale in Angola.

Moderator: Dr Olayinka Moses
Wellington School of Business and Government & NZIIA Wellington 

Dr Yinka Moses teaches Sustainable Decisions and Control, and Accounting Technologies and Strategy at the Wellington School of Business and Government, Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand. His research explores the intersection of accountability, management accounting, and sustainability reporting, with publications in top-tier journals.

Yinka holds influential editorial positions, contributing to the dissemination of knowledge and the advancement of the accounting profession. He serves as Vice President of the African Accounting and Finance Association; and VP at Large of the International Association for Accounting Education & Research; and holds a Professor Extraordinarius appointment at the University of South Africa, South Africa. Yinka actively contributes to professional accounting practices. He is a Fellow of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand, and CPA Australia. As Chair of the ESG Committee for CPA Australia’s New Zealand division and Chair of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria Corporate Reporting Award Committee, he leads initiatives to equip professional accountants with sustainability reporting and technological skills critical to the
evolving state of the profession. Yinka is currently Treasurer of the NZIIA Wellington Branch.