Nomvuselelo ‘Mvusy’ Songelwa

Biography

As a strategic and ethical leader, Mvusy Songelwa has executive experience in education, environment, technology, and travel, and has spent over two decades working in the conservation and tourism sector.

She was in the coalface of the transformation of conservation approach and practices in South African National Parks. She brings years of experience of management of Protected Areas, policy development and implementation, and stakeholder engagement at local, regional, and executive scales. She advocates for and advances rural development and women's conservation leadership and strategic planning.

Dr. Songelwa is the only woman to date to hold the position of Managing Executive: Operations of South African National Parks, the Chief Operating Officer of the Eastern Cape Parks and Tourism Agency, and founding Chief Executive Officer of Jurni in South Africa. She is member and former chair of the Council of the Nelson Mandela Museum. She sits on the board of World Wildlife Fund-South Africa, and is chair of WWF's Social, Ethics and Transformation Committee for Nature. Dr. Songelwa is a Hubert-Humphrey fellow and a Ford Foundation fellow. She is a South African Women in Science (SAWS) award recipient, and a Global Leadership and Executive Program-Tourism and Private Sector (GIBBS) award recipient. 

She currently mentors women in conservation and tourism in South Africa, focusing on empowering, nurturing and guiding executives. As a change agent who is passionate about nurturing, inspiring, and evoking excellence in others, she founded her business on the premise of strength coming from within.