Ms Ada Blignaut is a Regional Knowledge Manager for the Africa region in Fragomen, a global immigration firm of more than 6,000 immigration-focused professionals and staff spanning more than 60 offices worldwide. She is responsible for Africa-specific country content as it applies to Fragomen’s Knowledge systems and applications; research and drafts client alerts and contributes content for the firm’s Worldwide Immigration Trends Report.

Ada Blignaut has two Honours qualifications, BIS Information Science and BA Public Administration and Governance (cum laude) and is currently pursuing a MPhil Information Management at the University of Johannesburg.

She has worked in the field of Knowledge Management for over 7 years in various South African government entities such as the Small Enterprise Development Agency (Seda) and the Manufacturing, Engineering and Related Services Sector Education and Training Authority (merSETA). Furthermore, she has successfully advanced her career inside esteemed international government organizations, including the United States Agency for International Development/Southern Africa (USAID/SA) and other private companies. Ada Blignaut also served as an industry advisory board member for the University of Johannesburg, School of Consumer Intelligence and Information Systems (SCiiS) between 2018- 2021.

Having been with Investec for over 17 years, Nicola is currently the Global Head of Investec Careers and Employee Experience which includes Wellbeing. Nicola has been part of the Careers specialisation for the past 8 years, prior to which she headed up the HR Consulting team for the Private Bank. Nicola joined Investec after having spent 6 years working for a global advertising agency, where she was responsible for HR. She holds a Bachelor of Commerce Honours degree and a coaching diploma through The Coaching Institute of South Africa. She has also completed Professional Leadership Development (PLD) at Harvard University. A speaker on current HR affairs and future world of work concepts and changes that leaders and organisations need to consider in order to compete for talent and ensure future success.

Nerine holds a BA LLB and postgraduate diploma in labour law (as well as a raft of mediation
and similar qualifications), has written and delivered various papers and collaborated on
books on a vast area of subjects on governance and employment law.
She has worked both in private legal practice and then in South African government where
she was Chief Director for Labour Relations(6 years) and CCMA National Director (10 years).
As Director of the CCMA she was involved in many high profile Collective Bargaining
Disputes(this allowed her to hone her facilitating and mediation skills), as well as giving input
and /or drafting sections for the entire raft of labour legislation in South Africa. As Chief
Director she was responsible for policy and implementation of three pieces of legislation the
Labour Relations Act, Basic Conditions of Employment Act and Employment Equity Act.
Since leaving the CCMA, seven years ago she has established a small boutique governance
and employment relations consultancy. She draws on her experience in management to
advise on issue of governance, employment relations and is sought after as a mediator and
facilitator. In this business in addition to wage facilitations, she has also engaged in community
mediations, especially in the mining sector for clients.
She is the Chair of HOT 102.7(radio station) board.
She sits on Kingsmead(chair) and St Stithians College councils , as well as the board of
Democracy Works Foundation and the Institute for Social Dialogue (Set up to assist in
facilitating community regeneration and support in mining areas) .
She is a sessional lecturer in Negotiation skills at the Wits Business School.
During her tenure as CCMA Director the CCMA won numerous awards for public service
excellence and in her personal capacity she won the award for most influential woman in
Government 2013/2104.