SAVCA announces new Board Members
SAVCA has announced the appointment of two new Board Members: Janice Johnston and Paula Mokwena.
By SAVCA
SAVCA has announced the appointment of two new Board Members: Janice Johnston and Paula Mokwena.
Janice brings over 25 years of investment and leadership experience across debt, venture capital, and private equity, having worked with top-tier institutions in both South Africa and London. A CFA Charterholder with degrees from UCT and UJ, she spent a decade at Prudential Capital plc in London, where she was a senior member of its Principal Finance team.
Her career reflects a consistent commitment to driving impact and transformation: she was instrumental at Edge Growth, a leading SME impact investor; contributed to Identity Partners Group, a majority black women-led investment group; and played a pivotal role on the Presidential Climate Finance Task Team, negotiating South Africa’s Just Energy Transition Investment Plan.
Now back at the helm of Edge Growth Ventures, Janice brings with her a wealth of strategic insight and proven leadership that will significantly enrich SAVCA’s work in advancing private capital’s role in economic development.
Paula’s career spans investment banking, development finance, private equity, and venture capital. Early in her career, she made a lasting impact at the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC), where she helped establish the pioneering Technology Venture Capital Fund that enabled the commercialisation of homegrown South African innovations.
After more than six years in private equity, Paula transitioned to venture capital, becoming a founding member of Fireball Capital, which successfully raised close to R1 billion (about $57.5 million) from institutional investors. Now serving as CEO, she continues to back bold innovations that deliver both strong commercial returns and sustainable impact.
A CFA Charterholder with advanced qualifications in finance, economics, engineering, and applied mathematics, Paula represents the kind of visionary leadership and multidimensional expertise that will strengthen SAVCA’s voice in shaping the future of private capital in the region.