GCRO Welcomes Shameela Soobramoney to Its Board
The Gauteng City-Region Observatory (GCRO) is pleased to announce the appointment of Shameela Soobramoney, Chief Executive Officer of the National Business Initiative (NBI), to its Board.
A respected leader in sustainability, climate action and responsible governance, Soobramoney brings extensive experience from both the public and private sectors. Her appointment strengthens the GCRO Board’s capacity to provide strategic oversight and guidance as the organisation continues to generate evidence-based research and insights to support development in the Gauteng City-Region.
As CEO of the NBI, an independent coalition of local and multinational companies, Soobramoney leads efforts to advance social and environmental sustainability, underpinned by sound governance practices. She also serves as a Commissioner on the Presidential Climate Commission (PCC), sits on the Executive Oversight Committee supporting the South African Renewable Energy Masterplan (SAREM), and serves as a non-executive director of WWF South Africa and the Green Building Council South Africa.
Prior to joining the NBI, Soobramoney served as Chief Sustainability Officer at the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE), where she played a leading role in shaping sustainability and climate-related disclosure practices. She led the development and implementation of the JSE’s Sustainability and Climate Change Disclosure Guidance, which received international recognition with the 2022 Environmental Finance Award for Thought Leadership in Sustainable Investing: Africa.
Throughout her career, Soobramoney has been at the forefront of advancing sustainable finance, climate resilience and responsible investment. Her contributions have included driving climate action initiatives, carbon credit trading mechanisms and sustainable finance frameworks within South Africa’s financial sector.
Her leadership experience extends beyond South Africa. She has served as Chair of the World Federation of Exchanges’ global Sustainability Working Group, a member of the Strategy Group of the Global Investors for Sustainable Development Alliance (GISD), and Chair of the National Treasury’s Sustainable Finance Working Group.
Soobramoney’s work has earned widespread recognition. She was named the SERAS Africa CSR/Sustainability Professional of the Year in 2021 and received the IRMSA ESG Sustainability Professional Award in 2020.
Academically, she holds a Master’s degree in Sustainability Leadership from the University of Cambridge and an MBA from the Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) at the University of Pretoria. She is also an alumna of the prestigious Chevening and Mansion House scholarship programmes.
Her appointment reflects GCRO’s commitment to drawing on diverse expertise and leadership to help navigate the complex social, economic and environmental challenges facing Gauteng. With her deep knowledge of sustainability, governance and development, Soobramoney is expected to make a valuable contribution to the organisation’s strategic direction and impact.