QUALIFICATIONS: MBA; MSC Agri; B. Tech Agric. Bus. Mgt, Nat. Dip: Agri. Bus. Mgt; MAP; FNFM; PM).  

Mr. Zama Xalisa is currently a Chairman and Managing Director in his Company, ZAMGRO Business Enterprise based in Johannesburg which was established in 2020. Before opening his company, he worked for the State as a Chief Executive Officer of the National Agricultural Marketing Council (NAMC) a State Owned Entity and prior this position, he served as a Senior Manager responsible for Agricultural Industry Trusts within the Marketing Council. Mr Xalisa held various senior positions in different companies with over 20 years’ experience which includes Absa Bank, Credit Management Solutions, Norton Lambrianos Attorneys, Edcon Group and the department of Education. While at the NAMC, Mr. Xalisa represented the Minister of Agriculture in different Industry Trusts and was very instrumental in driving transformation in the Agricultural Sector. These Industry Trusts includes among others Maize Trust, Potato Industry Trusts, Winter cereal Trust, Sorghum Trust, Wool Trust, Mohair Trust, Citrus Industry Trusts etc. He is one of the founding Trustees of Mohair Development Trust and a founding member of Grain Farmers Development Association (GFADA).

He served and still serving in different Boards of Directors from different organizations. He served as an Interim Chairperson of Amatola Water Board and the Chairperson of the Strategic Business Committee of the Board. He is also serving as a Board Member at the Johannesburg Fresh Produce Market and also serving as a Chairperson of Remuneration, Social Ethics and Transformation Committee (REMSET). He also served as Non-Executive Director at Abenzi Investments Holdings responsible for Marketing and Strategy. Mr Xalisa holds two Master’s Degrees, Master in Business Administration (MBA) from Milpark Business School, Master’s in Sustainable Agriculture (MSA) from University of Free State University, National Diploma in Agricultural Business Management from Fort Cox College, Bachelor of Technology (B Tech) Agricultural Management from University of South Africa. Management Advancement Programme from Wits Business School, Finance for non-Financial Managers Wits Business School, Executing BEE Strategy Certificate from Gordon Institute of Business School. Mr. Xalisa has achieved the following among others:  Successful development of financial strategy for BEE projects while working at the Absa Bank; successful structuring of commercial and development projects within Absa Corporate and Business Banking for financing. He has been a chairperson of Absa and T.I.G.F forum. He also served as a member of credit committee at Technoserve.