Meet The Judges of the Sanlam Financial Journalism Awards

The Sanlam Financial Journalism Awards, established in 1974, honour outstanding business journalism across Africa. Open to journalists in print, online, radio, and TV, the awards recognize excellence in reporting on economic and financial matters. An independent panel of judges, comprising retired business editors, media trainers, journalism academics, and economists, evaluates entries based on criteria such as news value, impact, analytical depth, originality, and integrity.

Judging Panel:

Musa Zondi (South Africa): An award-winning journalist named Environmental Journalist of the Year in 1994, Musa holds an Honours degree in Journalism and Media Studies from Wits University and an MBA from Henley Business School. He has worked in various roles in journalism and communications, including as a deputy publisher and communications specialist.

Ulrich Joubert (South Africa): An independent economist, Ulrich’s career has spanned the civil service, state corporations, and the banking sector. He was the group economist at Transnet and has been involved with the Bureau for Economic Research at the University of Stellenbosch. He is a past chairman of the Johannesburg Afrikaanse Sakekamer.

Professor Ylva Rodny-Gumede (South Africa): Head of the Division for Internationalisation and a professor in the School of Communication at the University of Johannesburg. She holds a PhD from the School of Oriental and African Studies, London University, and has worked in journalism, marketing, and PR. Ylva is a former president of the Southern African Communications and Media Association.

Tom Indimuli (Kenya): A communications professional with 23 years of experience in public relations, Tom has worked in media, academia, and corporate communications. He has served as Head of Corporate Communications at Standard Chartered Bank in Kenya and holds postgraduate diplomas in Business Management and Marketing.

Charles Naudé (South Africa): A retired editor, Charles was the first national editor of Sake24. He has extensive experience in journalism, having worked with Die Burger, Beeld, and City Press. He retired in 2009 after a distinguished career.

Freddie Rayborn Bulley (Ghana): A retired broadcast and financial journalist, Freddie worked at the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation and pioneered the use of the internet in news gathering there. He is the president of the Institute of Financial and Economic Journalists, offering training for journalists specializing in financial and economic reporting.

Emily May Brown (Namibia): A journalism and media studies academic at the Namibia University of Science and Technology. Her interests include media law and project-based learning. Emily is a Fulbright scholar and holds a Master of Science degree in Journalism/Mass Communication from Iowa State University.

Professor Nixon Kariithi (Kenya): CEO of Tangaza Africa Media and one of Africa’s leading scholars in journalism and media studies. He has taught at various universities and consulted with over 50 leading organizations in Africa. Nixon holds a PhD and has been a visiting professor at several institutions.

Angela Agoawike (Nigeria): A seasoned media practitioner with experience in diplomacy, journalism, and public relations. She has served as head of public relations at OPEC and edited several national weekly papers in Nigeria. Angela holds a BA from Abia State University and an MA from the University of Lagos.

Aggie Asiimwe Konde (Uganda): Vice President of Program Innovation and Delivery at the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), Aggie is a Chartered Marketer and ESG advisor with over 20 years of experience across multiple industries. She holds an MBA from the University of Liverpool and has trained at the University of Navarra.

This esteemed panel ensures the integrity and excellence of the Sanlam Financial Journalism Awards.