On Commonwealth Day yesterday, I was honoured to attend and speak at the Sustainable Markets Initiative Terra Carta Roundtables & Exhibition at Hampton Court Palace, where the world’s foremost SMI leaders, Private Sector CEOs, and Global Captains of Industry are convening to accelerate the global transition towards a sustainable economy. As we mark five years since His Majesty King Charles III, then Prince of Wales, launched the Sustainable Markets Initiative to embed Nature, People, and Planet at the core of global value creation, the momentum for bold, visionary and decisive action has never been more urgent.

I had the privilege of contributing to the Seizing the G20 Opportunity: Africa Leading the Way, a discussion which brought together an esteemed panel moderated by Gareth Penny, Chairman of Ninety One, and included Dr. Hubert Danso, CEO & Chairman of Africa Investor (Ai) Group; Saif Malik, CEO, UK and Head, Client Coverage at Standard Chartered Bank; Sandra Chukwudozie, Founder & CEO of Salpha Energy and myself. With South Africa’s G20 Presidency in 2025, this historic moment presents an unparalleled opportunity to position Africa as a central force in sustainable trade, climate finance, and green industrialisation.

As a Terra Carta Judge, global advocate for sustainability, and Founder President of the Wellbeing Foundation Africa, I remain committed to ensuring that Africa’s growth is driven by equitable investment, climate-conscious policies, and private sector collaboration. Africa is uniquely positioned as a catalyst, however, unlocking this potential requires scaling climate finance, sustainable capital flows, and fortifying resilience across industries, infrastructure, and health systems.

The discussions at SMI reaffirm the need for a paradigm shift in global engagement with Africa, where the continent is no longer viewed merely as a recipient of aid, but as a leading driver of green innovation and sustainable development. The private sector must take the lead in mobilising investment in renewable energy, circular economies, digital infrastructure, and climate-resilient healthcare, ensuring that Africa’s trajectory aligns with the global sustainability roadmap.

 

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