Shameela is the CEO of the National Business Initiative (NBI), an independent coalition of the local and multinational businesses focusing on taking action to achieve social and environmental sustainability underpinned by good governance. She joined the NBI in 2023. Passionate about the systemic importance of sustainability thinking in corporate strategy, as the executive director, her responsibility spans the full spectrum of oversight of the executive, strategic and governance functions.
She was previously the Chief Sustainability Officer of the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (the JSE) – the largest stock exchange on the continent where she advised the board and executive team on the integration of sustainability/ESG factors into the group strategy across both the internal and external aspects of the business, as well ran the operationalisation of the sustainability strategy. As a sustainability specialist she has, inter alia, been a key contributor to the JSE’s work into climate change, the potential for a local market to trade in carbon credits and environment-related products, the development of a Green, Social and Sustainability bonds framework, impact investing, the JSE’s sustainability, innovation and CSI strategies as well as the annual sustainability investor briefing/showcase sessions. She project-led the JSE’s Sustainability and Climate Change Disclosure Guidance which won the 2022 award for Thought Leadership in Sustainable Investing: Africa from Environmental Finance.
She has served as chair of the World Federation of Exchange’s (global) Sustainability Working Group, a member of the Strategy Group of the Global Investors for Sustainable Development Alliance (GISD), and chair of the Sustainable Finance Working Group of the National Treasury of South Africa.
She has served on industry advisory panels related to sustainability, responsible investing and climate change internationally.