Nelisiwe Ndlela

Nelisiwe Pearl Ndlela is an accomplished Business Continuity, Risk, Compliance, and Safety Management professional with over 15 years' experience across higher education, energy, transport, media, and public-sector environments. She specialises in implementing Business Continuity Management Systems (BCMS), facilitating Business Impact Analyses, developing continuity strategies and plans, and leading enterprise-wide risk and compliance initiatives. She currently serves as a Business Continuity Management Independent Contractor at the University of South Africa (UNISA), where she is responsible for institution-wide BCM implementation.

As Managing

Director of Pearly Ways Consulting, she leads consulting engagements in Business Continuity, Quality, Safety, and Compliance Management, while also overseeing project management and training delivery. Her career includes senior consulting roles at Marsh Risk Consulting and operational governance roles at Sasol, giving her deep expertise in regulatory compliance, SH&E management, contract governance, forensic investigations, and enterprise risk maturity.

Business Continuity Management Independent Contractor - University of South Africa (UNISA)

(2023-01)

• Leading the implementation of the institution-wide Business Continuity Management System.
• Facilitating BIAs, developing continuity strategies, and supporting plan development across multiple departments.
• Providing BCM advisory support, reporting, and project progress updates to senior leadership.

Managing Director - Pearly Ways Consulting and Project (Pty) Ltd

(2016-01)

• Overseeing a consulting practice specialising in Business Continuity, Quality, Safety, and Compliance Management.
• Managing client projects, training programmes, and organisational operations.
• Delivering BCM, ISO standards, and compliance training to public and private sector clients.
• City of Johannesburg
• National Housing Finance Corporation (NHFC)
• SITA
• Gauteng Department of Health
• Mhlathuze Water
• SABC
• ABB (BCM walkthrough exercise, 2017)

Senior BCM Consultant – Strategic Risk Consulting - Marsh Risk Consulting (MRC)

(2016-01 - 2017-08)

• Led and supported ERM and BCM consulting engagements across multiple industries.
• Built long-term client relationships and ensured delivery of high-quality risk advisory outputs.
• Contributed to the development of technical methodologies and intellectual property for the practice.
• Strategic Risk Consulting
• Risk Maturity & Risk Culture
• Product & Supply Chain Risk
• Business Interruption Impact Assessment
• Regulatory, Risk & Compliance Services

Consultant – BCM_DR Step-Up Project - Transnet

(2019-01 - 2020-03)

• Facilitated BIAs across multiple operating divisions nationwide.
• Compiled BIA reports and developed BCM strategies and plans.
• Provided weekly project status updates and BCM reporting to the Project Manager.

Safety, Compliance & Governance Roles - Sasol

(2008-01 - 2015-12)

• Served as SH&E Compliance Officer and later Contract Compliance Officer.
• Monitored compliance with SH&E legislation across multinational operations.
• Oversaw compliance with NERSA licences and cross-border contract obligations.
• Contributed to the establishment of a contract compliance function aligned with integrated risk management.
• Facilitated SH&E and NERSA audits.
• Gained experience in gas sales and transportation agreements, dispute resolution, and arbitration.
• Served as secretary to Executive, Operations, and Governance Committees.

Early Career – Administrative & Secretarial Roles - Telkom SA, Umnotho weSizwe Investments, Africa Hall of Fame, Railway Safety Regulator

(2007-12)

• Provided executive administrative and secretarial support across various organisations.

LLB - University of South Africa (UNISA) (2025-12)

National Diploma - Safety Management - University of South Africa (UNISA) (2011-12)

Certificate Programme - Law - University of South Africa (UNISA) (2011-12)