Passionate about Real Estate and project execution, Melinda Isaacs is a seasoned Development Manager and a Member of the Royal Institute for Chartered Surveyors. With extensive experience in retail and hospitality projects and as a Development Executive at Liberty Two Degrees, part of the Standard Bank Group, Melinda has a proven track record spanning 19 years in South Africa's leading shopping centers, including Sandton City.
She leads Liberty Two Degree’s development initiatives, focusing on delivering excellence and driving projects effectively. Melinda believes in real estate's role in creating future environments for thriving communities, providing strategic direction within the business to achieve this goal. She spearheads precinct and master planning strategies across the Liberty retail portfolio. With environmental risk remaining at the forefront of global risks, she also actively drives the implementation of various development initiatives in the company’s journey to Net Zero commitments.
Her deep commitment to the property sector is reflected in both her professional work and her dedication to celebrating excellence across the industry.
Andile Mnguni is the Head of Property Commercial at the Dube TradePort Special Economic Zone, where he oversees a diverse portfolio encompassing commercial property investments, asset optimisation, and investor aftercare services. His role is central to driving sustainable value creation and strengthening investor relationships within the SEZ environment.
With more than 23 years of experience in the property and built environment sector, Andile has built a strong track record in strategic leadership and operational excellence. He has served as a chairperson and board member across various property management and development organisations, contributing to governance, industry advancement, and best-practice frameworks. Prior to his current role, he held an executive position within a JSE-listed company for over six years, and also successfully served as Chief Operating Officer at Dube TradePort for two years, where he strengthened operational efficiencies and stakeholder engagement.
He holds a degree in Quantity Surveying and an MBA from the University of KwaZulu-Natal. He remains an active participant in industry bodies including SAPOA and SAIBPP, reflecting his passion for advancing the property sector.
Anthony Orelowitz is a founding director of the Paragon Group, one of the largest and fastest-growing architecture firms in Africa. He holds a degree in Architecture and an MBA from the University of the Witwatersrand, and began his career specialising in property finance at Standard Bank's Property Division before returning to architecture in 1997 to establish what has grown into an internationally active, multi-disciplinary design group.
Under his leadership, Paragon has delivered landmark commercial, mixed-use, and institutional projects across Johannesburg, Pretoria, Cape Town, Durban, and Port Elizabeth, contributing meaningfully to the enhancement of the built environment at a national scale. The group operates from studios in Johannesburg, Cape Town, and Dubai, encompassing Paragon Architects, Paragon Interface, Paragon Architects South Africa (PASA), and Paragon Middle East, delivering architecture, interior design, workplace strategy, and master planning across Africa and the UAE.
Anthony's career bridges finance and design, enabling a commercially grounded yet architecturally progressive approach to development at an international scale.
Itumeleng is the Managing Director: South Africa at Vukile Property Fund, overseeing 59 properties worth about R16bn and generating over R1bn in net property income yearly.
His experience includes real estate research, investment, retail development, and asset management. He serves as a Director at SAPOA, contributes to SACSC, and has an MCom in Finance from UCT and an MPhil in International Business from GIBS. Recognized by Mail and Guardian's Top 200 Young South Africans, Itumeleng is dedicated to sustainable business, connecting informal and formal economies, and responsible investing.
Since 2007, Justin has been a vital part of the Sutherland Structures division. As a Partner and Director based in our Cape Town office, he leads a substantial team of structural engineers. His expertise spans a wide range of A-grade projects including commercial offices, retail shopping centres, high-end residential developments (homes, apartment developments, single to high-rise structures), mixed-use (commercial/retail/residential) properties, and industrial warehouses.
Justin’s leadership and design input has been instrumental in the successful completion of numerous award-winning, prestigious, and complex projects, positioning him at the forefront of South Africa’s construction industry.
Lianie is a distinguished thought leader in Interior Architecture, holding a master’s degree in the discipline. She is a creative professional driven by a people-centred philosophy and a deep passion for workplace design. She is an accredited Business Coach Practitioner and Change Management Consultant. With over 15 years of experience, she has specialised in developing, aligning, and supporting global corporations through workplace strategy and design to achieve organisational goals and elevate employee experience. Her expertise in commercial interior design spans projects of all scales, with a proven track record of successful delivery. She also brings extensive knowledge in corporate real estate, including transactions and advisory, strategy and consulting, and design and build services. Lianie is recognised for her ability to bridge strategy, design, and human experience, delivering innovative workplace environments that inspire collaboration, enhance performance, and create lasting value for organisations navigating change and growth with measurable impact globally consistently.
Martin is a Design Director at Zutari and a recognised global leader in building services and sustainable design. A mechanical engineering graduate from the University of Pretoria and an International Professional Engineer, he brings nearly three decades of deep technical expertise and strategic insight to complex, large-scale developments.
He founded Zutari’s Environmentally Sustainable Design (ESD) team, building it into a high-impact capability that has successfully delivered and certified more than 150 sustainability-focused projects. His work has helped shape how sustainability is embedded into engineering practice, ensuring that environmental performance, efficiency, and innovation are integrated from concept through to delivery.
Martin plays a pivotal role in advancing smart, cognitive engineering solutions across Africa and the Middle East, with a strong focus on resilient, future-ready infrastructure. His leadership bridges mechanical engineering excellence with forward-thinking sustainable design, enabling clients to achieve both operational performance and long-term environmental value across diverse and demanding project environments.
Natasha is a highly experienced property executive with extensive expertise across the retail, commercial, and industrial property sectors. With a strong background in both operational and strategic property management, she has overseen complex portfolios and large-scale projects for private clients and listed property funds.
As Chief Operating Officer of Spire Property Solutions, Natasha is responsible for driving operational excellence across diverse property portfolios. She is recognized for her transformational leadership, client-centric approach, and ability to translate strategy into sustainable operational outcomes. Her professional focus includes innovation, technology integration, sustainability, and the delivery of high-touch service experiences that enhance both landlord and tenant engagement.
Known for her forward-thinking mindset and commitment to advancing the property industry, Natasha consistently champions transformation, operational efficiency, and best-practice standards across the sector.
Nonku Ntshona is an executive who possess strong commercial experience with more than 25 years of professional expertise gained in the industry who has worked and led projects across Africa, the Middle East and the UK.
A technical specialist, thought leader and strategist at heart, often spotting opportunities and developing the necessary processes to capture new growth opportunities effectively and building effective alliances and strong networks to deliver on objectives. With proven commercial acumen, a passion for innovation and recognition as a Leader in the Sector, having received numerous awards. She is the founder of Nonku Ntshona and Associates Quantity Surveyors (Pty) Ltd (NNAQS), a Quantity Surveying firm based in Johannesburg.
She holds notable commerce & technical qualifications where she honed and chiselled her skills into senior roles in Global Blue Chip firms, namely Turner & Townsend and WSP.
Pieter Engelbrecht is the head of development at Growthpoint Properties. He started off his career as a qualified quantity surveyor and, after practising for several years, moved into the development space.
He has more than 25 years of experience in the property industry, which ranges from facility management to managing large-scale developments.
Sandi Mbutuma is a dynamic business leader, quantity surveyor, and a powerful advocate for transformation in South Africa’s built environment. As Managing Director of Azzaro Quantity Surveyors, a 100% black female-owned firm based in Johannesburg, she has positioned the company as one of the country’s leading cost consulting and project management practices.
With over 20 years of experience across the property development and construction value chain, Sandi has contributed to landmark commercial, residential, hospitality, and infrastructure projects across South Africa and the continent. Her career spans senior leadership roles at BTKM, TFMC (now Bidvest Facilities Management), Brian Heineberg & Associates, and RLB Pentad, where she served as Executive Director. She also previously led Stauch Vorster Architects within the GIBB Group.
A passionate champion of inclusive growth, she actively empowers women and youth in the industry and serves as Ex-Officio Chairperson of the Women’s Property Network, alongside roles in SACQSP, ASAQS, and SAIBPP. Her awards reflect her impact and enduring leadership in shaping a more sustainable, inclusive, and innovative construction sector across Africa.
