Dr Vuyi Marambana

Dr. Vuyi’s professional journey spans over two decades, marked by a strong commitment to inclusive development, community empowerment, and institutional transformation. With a background deeply rooted in local government and public sector development, her rise from a Municipal Senior Manager to her current role as CEO of the Joe Gqabi Economic Development Agency (JoGEDA) exemplifies her enduring mission to improve the lives of South Africans, especially those in rural and underdeveloped areas.

Her academic credentials, including a PhD in Intergovernmental Relations from WITS University and a Doctorate in Business Management in Design Thinking, have provided her with a robust intellectual foundation to integrate theory with practice. These qualifications helped shape her systems-thinking mindset, enabling her to champion innovation in governance and institutional reform. One of the most transformative phases in her career came when she transitioned from traditional administrative roles to strategic leadership. Leading JoGEDA required not only a shift in operational focus but also the challenge of reestablishing institutional credibility and fostering investment in economically depressed regions.

Under her leadership, JoGEDA has achieved significant milestones. The agency has focused on catalytic projects such as maize meat feedlot, recognising women-led farming ventures, and digital skills development initiatives for rural youth, amongst others. Notably, the Women in Farming Programme and the forthcoming Agriculture Satellite College in Walter Sisulu exemplify her ability to build collaborative public-private-academic partnerships that pave the way for a future-ready district.

Central to Dr. Vuyi’s professional philosophy is the co-creation of knowledge and solutions with communities. She believes that sustainable development must be participatory and designed in collaboration with those it seeks to serve. This belief inspired her to author three books on Design Thinking in Governance and Service Delivery, tools she hopes will help current and future leaders adopt more human-centred approaches within public service institutions.

To young professionals, particularly women navigating leadership roles in the public sector, Dr. Vuyi offers valuable guidance: your voice matters. While excellence and integrity may not bring immediate recognition, they lay the foundation for lasting respect and impact. She emphasizes the importance of emotional intelligence, continuous learning, and collaboration as vital tools for any leader seeking to drive meaningful change.

For Dr. Vuyi, leadership is not about control but about enabling environments where others can thrive, innovate, and feel valued. Her journey is ongoing, marked by a deep sense of purpose and a drive to transform institutions, promote economic participation, and mentor future change-makers. Her vision is of a South Africa where development is not only measurable through data but reflected in the lives that have been positively transformed.