African Bank’s Unathi Mtya has been appointed chairperson of the Unisa Graduate School of Business Leadership (SBL) advisory board, a significant milestone coinciding with SBL’s 60th anniversary in 2025. Her term as chairperson will run until 31 August 2026.
Unathi brings a wealth of business and technology experience to her new role. Her previous positions include chief technology officer at Grindrod and chief information officer for both the South African Parliament and the State Information Technology Agency (SITA).
In 2022, her portfolio at African Bank evolved, with Unathi taking on responsibilities as group information and digital officer. This followed several senior roles where she demonstrated expertise in aligning technology with business objectives and driving digital transformation initiatives.
Outside of work, Unathi is a sought-after public speaker and an advocate for creating value through technology. She excels at translating strategic visions into operational delivery to meet business needs. She is also an avid runner who has competed in international marathons, including New York, Paris (twice), London, Prague, Barcelona, the Great Wall of China, Athens and Berlin, showcasing her dedication and endurance.
Unathi holds a bachelor of science in computer science and geographic information systems from Fort Hare University and master of science in technology management from Columbia University. She also has a professional certificate in CIO practice: CIO development from Wits and has participated in the executive development programme at the Gordon Institute of Business Science, where she obtained her certificate in business administration and management.
