Our people

Irene Charnley is a successful seasoned businesswoman and social entrepreneur with hands on experience in business and the telecommunications sector.

She is Independent Chairman of Gibela Rail Transport Consortium, the largest passenger rail manufacturer in SA and Africa. Board member of International Women’s Forum (“IWF”), a global organisation of 8000 pre-eminent women leaders across 33 countries. She is immediate past President of International Women’s Forum South Africa, (“IWFSA”), the SA chapter of IWF global.

Irene is the co-Founder and former shareholder/CEO/deputy Chairman of Smile Telecoms (“Smile”), a Pan-African telecommunications group established in 2007, with broadband operations in Nigeria, Tanzania, Uganda and a presence in the Democratic Republic of Congo (“DRC”). Smile was the first operator in Africa to successfully roll out and operationalise a broadband network infrastructure using 800MHz spectrum.

Prior to establishing Smile, Irene was instrumental, as Executive Director, in transforming MTN Group into one of the most pre-eminent Telecom’s operators in the Middle East and Africa region, through several license and company acquisitions. She also led the management and staff buy-in of 18.7% in MTN, which was an entrepreneurial initiative independent of MTN and saw thousands of MTN employees benefit from the structure at the time.

As an Executive Director at Johnnic Industrial Corporation, (the majority shareholder of MCell/MTN at the time) and the lead negotiator of several successful transactions, Irene led the transformation of the Corporation, from an industrial conglomerate into a focused media and telecoms Group. These transactions led to the reverse listing of MTN (formerly known as MCell). Irene further spear-headed one of the early broad based black empowerment schemes in SA, called the Ikageng Scheme in which 32 000 ordinary South Africans participated and received 400% return on their initial deposit.

During her business career, Irene served on numerous Listed and Unlisted Company Board.

Irene’s successful business career was preceded as a trade unionist and key negotiator for the National Union of Mineworkers.

Martin Vaujour has been appointed President of Alstom’s Africa, Middle East, and Central Asia (AMECA) region, effective June 1, 2025. A dynamic and seasoned leader, Martin brings over two decades of international experience and a deep understanding of complex, multicultural environments — particularly across Central Asia and Africa.

He began his career in 1999 at Arthur Andersen (now EY), working as an external auditor and consultant for major industrial and civil engineering companies. In 2009, he joined Alstom and relocated to Moscow, where he held a series of key roles in finance and general management. His ability to adapt quickly and lead with impact led him to oversee the Russia-CIS region as a member of Alstom’s Executive Committee.

From 2016 to 2020, Martin expanded his global perspective further as CEO of TMH-International. In this role, he led business development initiatives across Latin America, the Middle East, Africa, and Central Asia — gaining valuable insights into markets that now fall under his leadership at Alstom. He rejoined Alstom’s headquarters in 2020 to manage the remedies process during the Bombardier Transportation acquisition, before taking on responsibility for M&A and Investor Relations.

A graduate of ESCP Business School in Paris, Martin is based in Paris with his wife and their four children. Known for his energy, adaptability, and strategic mindset, he brings both professionalism and approachability to every challenge.

Max is a qualified Chartered Accountant (South Africa) and has over 20 years’ experience in international and local finance, corporate finance and investment banking. Max is an investment principal and finance executive at Identity Partners, an investor in established and growing business spanning across critical sectors such as infrastructure, energy, and finance. Max also serves as the Chief Financial Officer of uBumbano Operating Company, a manufacturer of electrical harnesses and components within the rail, automotive and related sectors.

Max has had prior roles within financial services at Standard Bank, Barclays, Swiss Re and Deutsche Bank, and completed his articles at PwC South Africa. Max serves on the board of York Timbers Limited and is a non-executive director and shareholder representative on various Identity Partners’ investment companies’ boards and executive committees.

Mokganyetsi is the founding director of specialist monitoring and evaluation consultancy firm, Uweso Consulting, and Genorah Resources, an emerging black mining company that was previously the majority shareholder in Australian Stock Exchange-listed Nkwe Platinum.

She has more than 30 years of experience in education management, e-learning, strategic planning, as well as stakeholder and human resource management. She is also a member of the Institute of Directors in Southern Africa. Mokganyetsi has served on the boards of the Matthew Goniwe School of Leadership and Governance and the Gauteng Institute of Education Development and Management.

Tristan joined Alstom as assistant to the senior auditor in 2004. He served as vice president: internal audit and internal control for three years before becoming vice president: finance, Middle East and Africa in 2019. During the audit and control tenure, Alstom’s Dow Jones Sustainability Index score soared to 86/100 on risk and crisis management (versus a peer average of 56/100).

Vice President, Finance, Africa, Middle East & Central Asia (AMECA) Region at Alstom.

During her first five years in Alstom, Mrs Carlot worked 4 years as VP Treasury and Financing and 1 year as VP Finance for the Digital and Integrated Systems business, always with global responsibilities. Before joining Alstom in 2019, Mrs Carlot held various executive positions in Financing, Finance Risk management and Controlling in the Total (oil & gas) and Accor (hosting) groups. Between 2014 and 2019, when working for Total, she was board member of several oil storage joint ventures in France.

Prior to her corporate experience, she worked 5 years in mergers & acquisitions for Macquarie Capital in London, UK.

Mrs Carlot brings 20 years of experience in Finance and a strong expertise in financing, treasury and controlling. Throughout her career, Mrs Carlot has demonstrated agility and leadership in international organizations.

Previously group chief financial officer of the City of Johannesburg, Reggie joined Gibela as chief financial officer in June 2018 with experience in finance that spans over 20 years. Reggie has held various positions, including group financial director at a financial services company. He has served in executive roles and at board level in both the public and private sectors.

Dr Buyiswa Mncono-Liwani is a seasoned Executive with more than 20 years management experience in all aspects of economic development and stakeholder management which includes localisation, government relations and advocacy, enterprise development and social investment in different industries. She has occupied senior positions in multinational companies such a Sasol Mining, Sasol Oil and Shell SA.

In December 2013 she joined Gibela as the Economic Development Executive who is responsible for directing all aspects of Economic Development Programme such as local content, rail-related skills development and Broad-Based Economic Development. In Jan 2021 she was appointed as the Corporate Services and Traction Motors Operations Executive. Her scope was increased to include Communications and Traction Motors Operations, she oversees the day-to-day operation of the tractions motors manufacturing business.

Dr. Buyiswa Mncono-Liwani holds a Doctor of Philosophy in the Management of Technology and Innovation from Da Vinci Institute, Modderfontein, SA

Junior Lechaba currently serves as the Rolling Stock Operation Executive (Acting) at Gibela Rail, having previously held the position of Head of Manufacturing for two years. Junior is a seasoned professional with extensive experience in manufacturing and quality management within the automotive and rail sectors. He has a proven track record of enhancing operational efficiency and driving quality improvements in production processes.

Junior completed his National Diploma in Mechanical Engineering at Nelson Mandela University in 2003 and went on to earn a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the same institution in 2015. In March 2021, he furthered his education by completing a Senior Management Development Programme at the University of Stellenbosch. Additionally, he has acquired several certifications, including an Advanced Quality Management Program in Germany, where he was certified by TüV as a Quality Representative.

With over ten years of management experience in manufacturing, Junior has worked both locally and internationally, including significant roles at Volkswagen Group Africa, where he held various positions, such as Production Unit Head and QA Manager. In these roles, he was responsible for overseeing assembly processes, ensuring compliance with quality standards, and implementing Lean Manufacturing strategies to improve efficiency and reduce costs.

In his current role at Gibela, Junior leads operational strategies to optimize rolling stock processes. He collaborates with cross-functional teams to ensure safety and quality standards are met while driving continuous improvement initiatives. His leadership style emphasizes coaching and developing employees, which fosters a culture of learning and adaptability within the team.

Outside of his professional responsibilities, Junior is married and actively participates in community initiatives aimed at education and skills development. His commitment to excellence and continuous improvement makes him a valuable asset to the rail transportation industry.

Vuyiswa comes with more than 20 years’ experience in civil engineering. She started her career as a traffic engineer at BKS (Pty) Ltd currently trading as AECOM. She was responsible for transport modelling and simulation, road and bridge design and traffic impact assessments for private commercial developments. She later moved to transport infrastructure projects, leading commuter rail transport planning, road-based mass transit systems planning and implementation.

Tlomatsane has a track record in project and construction management of high-profile projects, including the Department of Transport, City of Johannesburg and the Johannesburg Development Agency. She joined Gibela as a construction director in April 2016 and managed the construction of Gibela’s new train manufacturing plant. She won the Women in Transport Award at 11th Transport Africa Awards, 2018 in recognition for the Gibela train manufacturing plant. In July 2018, she joined Gibela’s executive committee, becoming the organisation’s service operations director responsible for management of all contractual obligations pertaining to Technical Support, Spares Supply Agreement (TSSSA). She is responsible for all activities relating to industrial engineering, maintenance engineering, supply chain, depots operations, quality, EHS, components repairs and overhauls, finance and project management.

 She has successfully mobilised commercial service operations in Western Cape & KwaZulu-Natal by deploying rolling stock, supporting the Customer with depot mobilisation, resource allocation and start of commercial service. She also initiated the establishment of rolling stock components service centre which is currently based in Midrand. In this facility Gibela will repair and overhaul train components linked to the defined maintenance regime.

Convey is an admitted attorney of the Republic of South Africa, a member of the Corporate Counsel Association of South Africa and registered with the Southern African Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators.

He started his career in corporate and property law, then moved into advisory positions, drafting legislation for the government, and also enjoyed a corporate career with an American manufacturing firm as a senior legal and contracts counsel and company secretary. He serviced developing and emerging markets before joining Gibela’s executive committee in September 2017.

Mr. Piet Mahlangu is a distinguished professional in the field of procurement and supply chain management, bringing over 30 years of extensive experience from a variety of sectors, including petrochemicals, banking, mining, and manufacturing. His academic credentials include a Bachelor of Administration from the University of Fort Hare, a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from North-West University, and a Management Advancement Programme (MAP) from the University of the Witwatersrand, equipping him with a strong foundation in both business principles and strategic management.

Throughout his career, Mr. Mahlangu has cultivated a wealth of expertise in procurement processes, supply chain optimization, and supplier development. His journey at Gibela, which spans over decade, has seen him assume several pivotal roles, including Sourcing Manager, Head of Supplier Development, and Head of Sourcing. In each of these positions, he has demonstrated exceptional leadership and a commitment to excellence, driving initiatives that have significantly improved operational efficiency and supplier engagement.

One of Mr. Mahlangu's notable achievements at Gibela has been the successful creation of a local supplier base, which has played a critical role in the company's goal of localization. Under his stewardship, more than 90% of the Sheet Metal Work (SMW) scope has been localized, reinforcing Gibela's dedication to fostering economic growth and sustainability within the communities it serves. This initiative not only supports local businesses but also contributes to job creation and skills development in the region.

In his current role, Mr. Mahlangu oversees the procurement and localization of supplies for Gibela, ensuring that the company maintains its competitive edge while adhering to the highest standards of quality and ethical sourcing. His strategic vision and passion for supplier development have positioned Gibela as a leader in the industry, demonstrating the value of local partnerships and the importance of community involvement in business practices.

Mr. Mahlangu is not only a respected leader within Gibela but also a mentor and advocate for the next generation of procurement professionals. Through his dedication and expertise, he continues to inspire others in the field, emphasizing the significance of innovation, collaboration, and sustainability in procurement and supply chain management.

Soraya is a qualified and registered Professional Quantity Surveyor with more than 30 years’ experience on Mining and Engineering Projects, within South Africa as well as abroad. Her experience allowed her the capability to provide and support the project team and the customer / client with sound commercial and contractual management, advice and negotiation strategies, dispute and claims mitigation & resolution, and compilation of procurement policies & procedures. Based on her training and experience imparted over the years, she has successfully managed and grown business units based on sound business and corporate governance, including HR management and financial accountability.

Esther Matlala has over twenty-three (23) years of generalist Human Capital experience. Thirteen (13) years in senior management roles and more than twelve years (12) in Human Capital executive roles, leading functional teams and driving the people agenda. She is very knowledgeable in Business re-organization, Project management, Governance and Compliance, Talent Management, Learning and Development, Compensation & Benefits, and Employee Relations.

She holds a Master in Business Leadership (MBL) degree from the UNISA School of Business Leadership, a Postgraduate Diploma in Management from the University of Cape Town, and a Bachelor of Social Sciences and Humanities obtained from the University of Cape Town.

Esther’s leadership role involves the following:

• Lead, direct, develop, plan, and control the overall human resources strategies and policies for the division.

• Strategic Management: design the Human Resources strategy aligned to the business strategic imperatives

• Business Re-organisation: Lead the business re-engineering project and manage the organizational design project to achieve optimal workforce levels aligned with turn-around strategies.

• Talent Management: ensure that talent management interventions are integrated and interlinked with total rewards.

• Learning and Development: re-direct learning interventions to ensure alignment with strategic pillars and talent.

• Change Management: drive the change platform (s) in ensuring that interventions and processes are interlinked to achieve synergies across the various operations.

• Governance and Compliance: design of policies to ensure compliance with legislation.

• Employee Relations: Ensure uniformity in the application of procedures across operations.

• Lead Human Capital operations teams across the entire functional value chain.