Phindile Dyani

I have Information, Communications and Technologies (ICTS) experience that spans more than 20 years both in the public and private sector. I worked for the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC), Centre for Southern African Studies of the University of the Western Cape, 1st Democratic Parliament of the Republic of South Africa, Telkom, Department of Communications and Digital Technologies, and Vodacom. I have an understanding of policy and regulations emanating from international, regional, sub-regional and local or national levels.

These dialectical relations of policies at these levels find expression in national laws. Telecommunications and ICTs is a highly regulated industry. I was actively involved in the formulation of these policies at the International Telecommunications Union, ITU, are regional level with the African Telecommunications Union, ATU and sub-regional with the Southern African Telecommunications Association, SATA.

My work at Vodacom Group exposed me to the socio-economic impact of telecommunications and related policies emerging from regional economic communities: Southern Africa, West Africa, Central Africa and East Africa, amongst others. I worked in the National Assembly of the Parliament of the Republic of South Africa, RSA as a researcher for the Portfolio Committee on Foreign Policy. I worked for major telecommunications companies in South Africa for Telkom Group and Vodacom Group.

I interacted at high level with policy makers from the Presidency, Ministers, Premiers and national regulatory agencies, NRAs. Climate change and environmental injustices are matters close to my heart. My world outlook and inequality inspired me at young age when I was an activist during the struggle against apartheid by taking part in student, youth, and community organisations.

Executive, Government Relations - Telkom Group - South Africa

(2017)

• Developed for Telkom GCEO a Public Sector Strategy for Telkom Group that mapped out BCX and Telkom engagements after the 2016 Local Government Elections when most Metros were under the control of the Democratic Alliance
• Assisted Telkom GCEO in conceptualizing the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) project and hosted a Summit led by Telkom and universities of Wits, Johannesburg, Fort Hare and this was opened by President Cyril Ramaphosa, I was the project manager
• In the past three years I am assisting Telkom GCEO in managing a think tank of professors or academics to formulate South Africa's macroeconomic challenges, this policy paper is ongoing to re-imagine South Africa's economy during and post COVID-19
• Lobbied for BBBEE facilitation status and Telkom moved from level 4 to 2 for the Group and Level 3 to 1 for BCX
• Secretariat of the Regional or Southern African CEOs Forum, Secretariat of the CEOs of major infrastructure operators: Cell C, Liquid telecoms, MTN, Rain, Telkom, and Vodacom
• Formulated Government Relations strategy that covers National, Provincial, and Local Government, and
• Linked and facilitated high level government engagement on policy and regulatory matters such as High Demand Spectrum

Senior Specialist, Government Relations - Telkom Group - South Africa

(2016 - 2017)

Principal Specialist, Stakeholder engagement and reputation management - Vodacom Group Limited - South Africa

(2011)

• Formulated stakeholder relations and reputation management strategy for the Vodacom Group Limited
• Facilitated annual stakeholder reputation survey for our local markets at the DRC, Lesotho, Mozambique, and Tanzania
• Chaired monthly meetings for stakeholder engagement action plans our local markets
• Conceptualised, managed and reported Vodacom Group stakeholder reputation survey
• Organised thought leadership programmes with ICT stakeholders on the benefits of mobile technology
• Managed stakeholder relations and engagement plans of the Group Executive Committee (Exco)
• Developed concrete projects with government departments under the theme of Mobile Technology and Innovation in the areas of education, health, and social security
• Chairperson of the GSM Africa Association SADC Regulatory Sub-Group
• Coordinated Vodacom Group Limited input into Vision 2020 and job creation of the Department of Communications and National Treasury
• Prepared presentations and speeches for Exco members and senior leadership team

Principal Specialist and Business Manager, Office of the Chief Officer Corporate Affairs - Vodacom Group Limited - South Africa

(2009 - 2011)

• Reviewed Board reports
• Compiled stakeholder relations strategy and plans
• Managed budgets for business units: legal, risk and governance, internal and external communications, sustainability, and government relations
• Organised strategy sessions and team building sessions of the above business units
• Secretariat of Vodacom Group transformation committee
• Advised on contracts with communications experts and thought leaders
• Advised on the State President's bi-national commissions and state visits
• Managed shareholder issues dealing with Vodafone and local markets
• Managed daily reputation from news coverage
• Advised on direct reports and weekly meetings of these business units: legal, risk and governance, internal and external communications, sustainability, and government relations
• Organised visits by Vodafone Senior Leadership Team (SLT) to South Africa and their meetings with high level policy makers, Ambassadors, Members of Parliament, shareholders and big business

Advisor and Manager, International Government Relations - Vodacom Group Limited - South Africa

(2003 - 2016)

• Influenced adverse policy and regulatory framework to Vodacom and its operating companies at international, regional, sub-regional, and national levels
• Engaged policy makers and business partners at the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), African Telecommunications Union (ATU), GSM Africa Association Regional Interest Group (RIG), and the Southern African Telecommunication Association (SATA)
• Made submissions and inputs to policies and regulations of the Communications Regulatory Authority of Southern Africa (CRASA)
• Conducted research on international regulatory and policy issues
• Developed government and stakeholder relations strategies
• Formulated engagement plans and mapping
• Lobbied and influence Vodacom's positions on South Africa's policies such as ECA 2005, ICASA Act, etc
• Built stakeholder relations with Members of Parliament, Ministers, Directors General

Director, International Relations - Department of Communications - South Africa

(2000 - 2003)

• Helped established in consultation with the Director General, South Africa's e-Strategy Task Team. The purpose is to formulate a national ICT STRATEGY for South Africa, I complied the Terms of Reference, and liaise with national and international experts on content, among other things
• Assisted in the conceptualization of the Presidential National Commission on Information Society and Development (PNC on ISAD), I also motivated for its budget and prepared staff contracts and literally starting up an office from scratch
• Understanding of the PFMA
• Served in the DOC HR committee
• Attended ITU Council meetings, ITU Plenipotentiary conferences, and Council Working Group on ITU Reform
• Formed part of the South African Team which studied the Finnish Innovation System
• Represented the Republic of South Africa or the Department of Communications in the G8 Global Digital Opportunity Task Force
• Represented the DOC in the Commonwealth Expert Group on Information Technology
• Delivered papers on the above initiatives on behalf of the Director General or in my capacity as the Senior Manager for International Relations
• Participated in the conceptualization of the Millennium for Africa's Recovery Programme, MAP now known as the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) and its ICT projects
• Participated in the Bi-national Commissions led by the President of the Republic of South Africa

Manager, International government relations - Telkom SA (Pty) Ltd - South Africa

(1998 - 2000)

• Liaised with the former Universal Service Agency (USA) now USAASA on Telkom's obligations and roll out
• Liaised with the regulator SATRA now ICASA on consumer complaints
• Formed part of the Telkom task team that looked at investment opportunities in Africa
• Formulated Telkom (Pty) Ltd government relations strategy
• Help formulate a strategy to roll out USA's telecentres
• Visited provincial parliaments to brief MPs on Telkom's obligations and universal access plan
• Attended African Telecommunications Union (ATU) plenipotentiary conferences
• Liaised with the DOC on policy initiatives and debates

Researcher, Portfolio Committee on Foreign Affairs - National Parliament - South Africa

(1997 - 1998)

• Identified issues for discussion with the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Foreign Affairs
• Conducted research on international relations and foreign policy issues
• Worked directly with Parliamentary Committees, Committee Chairs and Members of Parliament
• Liaising with government departments and other stakeholders on foreign policy issues
• Formulated weekly briefings, respond to government departments' bills and policy papers on South Africa's international relations and foreign policy issues
• Participated to the University of Cape Town's (UCT) Parliamentary Internship Programme and in particular I was assigned to mentor a Masters Student of Political Studies/Democratic Governance

Research Intern and Researcher - Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) and Centre for Southern African Studies (CSAS) - South Africa

(1995 - 1997)

• Took up a three months Research Internship Programme at the United States of America (USA) based University of Illinois Urbana Champaign (UIUC)
• Organised workshops on foreign policy and international relations
• Wrote articles on foreign policy and international relations
• Wrote a research paper on the "Role of Foreign Policy and Civil"
• Completed research methodology theory at the HSRC
• Completed research theory at the CSAS of the University of the Western Cape

BA Honours - International Relations - Rhodes University (1993 - 1994)

BA - Political Studies - Rhodes University (1992 - 1993)

Post-graduate Diploma - Telecommunications Policy, Regulation and Management - Wits University (1998 - 1998)

Post-graduate Diploma - Applied Parliamentary Research Methodology - Stellenbosch University (1996 - 1996)

Research Fellow - University of Illinois Urbana Champaign (UIUC) (1996 - 1996)

Course - Telecommunications In Society (TINS 99) - Telia Academy (1999 - 1999)

Course - King 3 Report - Institute of Directors (IOD) (2011 - 2011)

Course - Project Management (2013 - 2013)