Our Leadership
Londiwe Mkhize
Chief Executive Officer
Londiwe Mkhize
Chief Executive Officer
Londiwe Mkhize is an accomplished executive and a pioneering ESG thought leader, currently serving as the Chief Executive Officer of Echelon ESG Partners (Pty) Ltd, a premier ESG and impact advisory firm headquartered in Sandton, with offices in Umhlanga and Cape Town.
Echelon advises leading financial institutions, corporates, development agencies, and governments across Africa and the Middle East, delivering expert solutions across the ESG spectrum—including climate risk, sustainability reporting, social impact, governance frameworks, and ESG assurance.
With over 17 years of executive experience across financial services, sustainability strategy, stakeholder engagement, and governance, Londiwe is widely regarded as a catalyst for sustainable transformation in Africa’s evolving corporate landscape. Her robust academic foundation includes a degree in Economics, an MBA, and a Postgraduate Diploma in Business Administration (PDBA) from the Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS), equipping her with both analytical and strategic depth in solving complex ESG challenges.
Londiwe’s ESG credentials were firmly established during her tenure at Hollard Insurance, where she served as Group Head of Corporate Affairs and Environmental Sustainability from 2019 to 2022. In this role, she not only spearheaded Hollard’s ESG and sustainability strategy across the group but also chaired the Hollard Environmental Sustainability Committee, overseeing implementation of ESG frameworks aligned to global standards. Her leadership catalyzed cross-functional ESG alignment and contributed to long-term value creation for stakeholders.
Prior to that, she held the role of Head: Stakeholder Relations & Sustainability within Old Mutual’s Retail Mass Business—the company’s largest profit centre—where she was instrumental in embedding sustainable development principles into operations and stakeholder engagement. Her earlier career at Brimstone Investment Corporation, Liberty Group, and Zurich Financial Services further refined her expertise in transformation, impact-led investments, and inclusive growth.
Her commitment to ESG excellence has been recognised at a national level: in 2020, she was appointed a Judge in the Energy & Environment Category for the prestigious Accenture Rising Star Awards, reflecting her authority in environmental innovation and sustainability leadership. Londiwe also serves as Co-Chairperson of the National Business Initiative (NBI) GBV Working Group, leading corporate South Africa’s response to gender-based violence and driving systemic social change—a testament to her commitment to the “S” in ESG.
Londiwe is a seasoned non-executive leader, having previously served as a Board Member of Sea Harvest Holdings and Sea Harvest Corporation, and currently as Deputy Chairperson of the National Children and Violence Trust (NCVT), a non-profit championing the protection and empowerment of vulnerable women and children.
At Echelon ESG Partners, Londiwe leads a team of ESG professionals—comprising environmental scientists, corporate lawyers, engineers, accountants, and sustainability analysts—who deliver cutting-edge ESG advisory services tailored for African and global markets.
Under her leadership, Echelon ESG Partners is fast becoming the go-to resource for corporates and institutions seeking to align profitability with purpose, and compliance with conscience.
With over 17 years of executive experience across financial services, sustainability strategy, stakeholder engagement, and governance, Londiwe is widely regarded as a catalyst for sustainable transformation in Africa’s evolving corporate landscape. Her robust academic foundation includes a degree in Economics, an MBA, and a Postgraduate Diploma in Business Administration (PDBA) from the Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS), equipping her with both analytical and strategic depth in solving complex ESG challenges.
Londiwe’s ESG credentials were firmly established during her tenure at Hollard Insurance, where she served as Group Head of Corporate Affairs and Environmental Sustainability from 2019 to 2022. In this role, she not only spearheaded Hollard’s ESG and sustainability strategy across the group but also chaired the Hollard Environmental Sustainability Committee, overseeing implementation of ESG frameworks aligned to global standards. Her leadership catalyzed cross-functional ESG alignment and contributed to long-term value creation for stakeholders.
Prior to that, she held the role of Head: Stakeholder Relations & Sustainability within Old Mutual’s Retail Mass Business—the company’s largest profit centre—where she was instrumental in embedding sustainable development principles into operations and stakeholder engagement. Her earlier career at Brimstone Investment Corporation, Liberty Group, and Zurich Financial Services further refined her expertise in transformation, impact-led investments, and inclusive growth.
Her commitment to ESG excellence has been recognised at a national level: in 2020, she was appointed a Judge in the Energy & Environment Category for the prestigious Accenture Rising Star Awards, reflecting her authority in environmental innovation and sustainability leadership. Londiwe also serves as Co-Chairperson of the National Business Initiative (NBI) GBV Working Group, leading corporate South Africa’s response to gender-based violence and driving systemic social change—a testament to her commitment to the “S” in ESG.
Londiwe is a seasoned non-executive leader, having previously served as a Board Member of Sea Harvest Holdings and Sea Harvest Corporation, and currently as Deputy Chairperson of the National Children and Violence Trust (NCVT), a non-profit championing the protection and empowerment of vulnerable women and children.
At Echelon ESG Partners, Londiwe leads a team of ESG professionals—comprising environmental scientists, corporate lawyers, engineers, accountants, and sustainability analysts—who deliver cutting-edge ESG advisory services tailored for African and global markets.
Under her leadership, Echelon ESG Partners is fast becoming the go-to resource for corporates and institutions seeking to align profitability with purpose, and compliance with conscience.
- Email:londiwe@echelon-esg.com
Aileen Blignaut
Legal, Compliance & Governance Advisor
Aileen Blignaut
Legal, Compliance & Governance Advisor
Aileen is an admitted attorney of the High Court of South Africa and a senior governance advisor with over two decades of legal and regulatory experience, specialising in corporate governance, ESG compliance, and the application of the King IV Report on Corporate Governance. She provides strategic, business-aligned legal counsel to boards, executives, and ESG-focused organisations, ensuring governance frameworks, stakeholder policies, and transformation strategies meet both statutory obligations and best practice standards.
Her expertise spans regulatory compliance, governance structure design, risk oversight, and corporate secretariat functions, complemented by strong experience in intellectual property and commercial law. As a trusted advisor to Echelon ESG Partners’ clients, Aileen combines legal precision with practical implementation, enabling organisations to navigate ESG obligations confidently while enhancing stakeholder trust and long-term sustainability.
Her expertise spans regulatory compliance, governance structure design, risk oversight, and corporate secretariat functions, complemented by strong experience in intellectual property and commercial law. As a trusted advisor to Echelon ESG Partners’ clients, Aileen combines legal precision with practical implementation, enabling organisations to navigate ESG obligations confidently while enhancing stakeholder trust and long-term sustainability.
- Email:aileen@echelon-esg.com
Tsepiso Mofokeng
Chief Operating Officer
Tsepiso Mofokeng
Chief Operating Officer
Tsepiso Mofokeng is a distinguished legal and accounting professional, serving as the Chief Operating Officer of Echelon ESG Partners (Pty) Ltd, one of Africa’s leading ESG and impact advisory firms. With an accomplished career spanning over two decades across law, corporate finance, forensic investigation, governance, and sustainability advisory, Tsepiso brings rigorous operational and legal oversight to the execution of ESG mandates across Africa and the Middle East.
Tsepiso holds a suite of academic and professional qualifications that make him uniquely equipped to operate at the intersection of environmental, social, and governance compliance. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce (BCom), BCom Honours, and a Master of Business Leadership (MBL) from UNISA. He also holds a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) and several specialised qualifications, including a Higher Diploma in Corporate Law (UJ), Higher Diploma in Criminal Justice and Forensic Investigation (UJ), and a Certificate in Fleet Management (RAU). This rare combination of legal, financial, and operational acumen positions him as a trusted leader in ESG systems implementation and corporate accountability.
As a former Executive Director of ZICO from 2002 to 2014, Tsepiso led diverse portfolios within financial services, security, compliance, and infrastructure. He was instrumental in establishing and scaling companies such as Crazyslots (Pty) Ltd and Qhubeka Forensic Services (Pty) Ltd, both subsidiaries of ZICO. His forensic expertise was evident in his leadership of Eskom’s multi-site forensic investigations, involving eight detailed probes between 2016 and 2017, and advisory assignments for Total South Africa, assisting vendors in implementing robust governance frameworks.
Tsepiso has previously advised the City of Johannesburg on strategic land and governance initiatives and served as a board member and executive leader in numerous companies across sectors including defence systems, civils and infrastructure, media, and technology. His directorships span entities such as Laager Valour Defense Systems, Mandiza Civils & Electricals, Vodamec Technologies, and Power FM, underscoring his cross-sectoral insight into risk management, compliance, and enterprise leadership. A seasoned corporate governance expert, Tsepiso is a member of the Institute of Directors in South Africa (IoDSA) and is registered with the Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority (PSIRA). His early career foundation in finance and marketing—through roles at Business Partners, Coca-Cola, Unilever, ABSA, and NBS Bank—sharpened his analytical and stakeholder engagement capabilities, further refined through international management training in the Netherlands.
At Echelon ESG Partners, Tsepiso leads the operational delivery of high-impact ESG advisory services, managing multidisciplinary teams that implement ESG integration, forensic audits, governance frameworks, and sustainability assurance for corporations, state-owned entities, and international partners. His deep knowledge of ESG risks, regulatory compliance, and ethical governance ensures Echelon’s clients receive world-class solutions tailored to the complexities of emerging and frontier markets.
Tsepiso Mofokeng’s leadership helps cement Echelon ESG Partners’ position as the trusted execution partner in ESG transformation, governance integrity, and sustainable development across the continent.
Tsepiso holds a suite of academic and professional qualifications that make him uniquely equipped to operate at the intersection of environmental, social, and governance compliance. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce (BCom), BCom Honours, and a Master of Business Leadership (MBL) from UNISA. He also holds a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) and several specialised qualifications, including a Higher Diploma in Corporate Law (UJ), Higher Diploma in Criminal Justice and Forensic Investigation (UJ), and a Certificate in Fleet Management (RAU). This rare combination of legal, financial, and operational acumen positions him as a trusted leader in ESG systems implementation and corporate accountability.
As a former Executive Director of ZICO from 2002 to 2014, Tsepiso led diverse portfolios within financial services, security, compliance, and infrastructure. He was instrumental in establishing and scaling companies such as Crazyslots (Pty) Ltd and Qhubeka Forensic Services (Pty) Ltd, both subsidiaries of ZICO. His forensic expertise was evident in his leadership of Eskom’s multi-site forensic investigations, involving eight detailed probes between 2016 and 2017, and advisory assignments for Total South Africa, assisting vendors in implementing robust governance frameworks.
Tsepiso has previously advised the City of Johannesburg on strategic land and governance initiatives and served as a board member and executive leader in numerous companies across sectors including defence systems, civils and infrastructure, media, and technology. His directorships span entities such as Laager Valour Defense Systems, Mandiza Civils & Electricals, Vodamec Technologies, and Power FM, underscoring his cross-sectoral insight into risk management, compliance, and enterprise leadership. A seasoned corporate governance expert, Tsepiso is a member of the Institute of Directors in South Africa (IoDSA) and is registered with the Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority (PSIRA). His early career foundation in finance and marketing—through roles at Business Partners, Coca-Cola, Unilever, ABSA, and NBS Bank—sharpened his analytical and stakeholder engagement capabilities, further refined through international management training in the Netherlands.
At Echelon ESG Partners, Tsepiso leads the operational delivery of high-impact ESG advisory services, managing multidisciplinary teams that implement ESG integration, forensic audits, governance frameworks, and sustainability assurance for corporations, state-owned entities, and international partners. His deep knowledge of ESG risks, regulatory compliance, and ethical governance ensures Echelon’s clients receive world-class solutions tailored to the complexities of emerging and frontier markets.
Tsepiso Mofokeng’s leadership helps cement Echelon ESG Partners’ position as the trusted execution partner in ESG transformation, governance integrity, and sustainable development across the continent.
- Email:tsepiso@echelon-esg.com
Phillip Paterson
Executive: Sustainable Finance & ESG Accounting
Phillip Paterson
Executive: Sustainable Finance & ESG Accounting
Phillip Paterson is the Executive of Sustainable Finance & ESG Accounting at Echelon ESG Partners (Pty) Ltd, where he spearheads the integration of ESG-aligned financial strategies across diverse sectors. With more than 15 years of experience in auditing, corporate finance management, and strategic advisory, Phillip is a results-driven finance professional who brings deep industry knowledge and sustainability insight to the ESG consulting environment.
He holds a B-Tech Degree in Internal Auditing from Tshwane University of Technology and a Postgraduate Diploma in Advanced Accounting Science from the University of South Africa (UNISA). He is a qualified Professional Accountant (SA), a member of the South African Institute of Professional Accountants (SAIPA), and a registered SARS Tax Practitioner.
Phillip has worked extensively within the wholesale, retail, and pharmaceutical sectors, where he has helped clients streamline financial systems, optimise compliance frameworks, and align commercial operations with broader sustainability imperatives. His expertise lies in developing ESG-integrated accounting models, climate-aligned tax planning, and sustainable supply chain costing—all of which are crucial for ESG-conscious businesses seeking to improve transparency and financial resilience.
His experience across these high-volume, regulated sectors equips him with a strong appreciation for the material risks and opportunities that ESG presents in complex commercial environments. He collaborates closely with boards, CFOs, and sustainability officers to design custom ESG accounting frameworks, carbon and cost reporting systems, and sustainability-linked KPIs that are tailored, actionable, and audit-ready.
At Echelon ESG Partners, Phillip leads efforts to embed sustainability at the core of financial decision-making—championing impact-focused strategies that enhance enterprise value, meet stakeholder expectations, and contribute meaningfully to the global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
He holds a B-Tech Degree in Internal Auditing from Tshwane University of Technology and a Postgraduate Diploma in Advanced Accounting Science from the University of South Africa (UNISA). He is a qualified Professional Accountant (SA), a member of the South African Institute of Professional Accountants (SAIPA), and a registered SARS Tax Practitioner.
Phillip has worked extensively within the wholesale, retail, and pharmaceutical sectors, where he has helped clients streamline financial systems, optimise compliance frameworks, and align commercial operations with broader sustainability imperatives. His expertise lies in developing ESG-integrated accounting models, climate-aligned tax planning, and sustainable supply chain costing—all of which are crucial for ESG-conscious businesses seeking to improve transparency and financial resilience.
His experience across these high-volume, regulated sectors equips him with a strong appreciation for the material risks and opportunities that ESG presents in complex commercial environments. He collaborates closely with boards, CFOs, and sustainability officers to design custom ESG accounting frameworks, carbon and cost reporting systems, and sustainability-linked KPIs that are tailored, actionable, and audit-ready.
At Echelon ESG Partners, Phillip leads efforts to embed sustainability at the core of financial decision-making—championing impact-focused strategies that enhance enterprise value, meet stakeholder expectations, and contribute meaningfully to the global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
- Email:phillip@echelon-esg.com
