AWS is governed by a board of directors consisting of two (2) directors who have a combined diverse range of experience and expertise to guide and support the strategic objectives of the company. The directors are listed hereunder with brief resumes of their profiles:

Tirhani Mabunda (Director)

Tirhani has had an illustrative career as an administrator, educator and entrepreneur. Tirhani started his career as a clerk in the civil service in 1981; branched into teaching in 1988 and became Registrar of the Giyani College of Education between July 1990 and December 1993. Tirhani started his business career on a part-time basis when he ventured into the taxi business in 1988.

Tirhani launched his formal business career within the retail sector in 1993, after selling his fleet of three (3) minibus taxis and buying a Nandos franchise. He ended up owning two Nandos shops. During 1996 and the early part of 1997, Tirhani did part-time consulting for Statomet; a research division of the University of Pretoria. This development launched Tirhani’s consulting career.

He moved to Johannesburg and joined Africa Now Consulting as Managing Director in 1997. Shortly thereafter, Tirhani co-founder Plus 94 Research in 1998 and served as Executive

Director until 2000. Tirhani founded Tirhani Group Holdings in 2000, a holdings and investment company with interests in diverse industries; including construction, disposal

services, funeral insurance & services, investments, logistics, resources, training/skills development and recycling/waste solutions.

Tirhani holds a Diploma in Public Admin from the University of the North (1984), BA from the University of the North (1987), Higher Education Diploma from Unisa (1989), Honours in Business Administration from the University of Stellenbosch (1993), Certificate in auctioneering from South African Auctioneering College (2003), Accredited Auctioneer Real Estate from the National Auctioneers Association, US (2008), Benefit Auction Specialist from the National Auctioneers Association, US (2008), Certificate in auctioneering from Reppert School of Auctioneering, US (2009), Chartered Institute Auctioneer (CAI) from the University of Indiana, US (2010) and holds a Chartered Practitioner Real Estate (CPRE) designation. Tirhani is currently enrolled for a PhD (MOTI):    Management of Technology and Innovation with Da Vinci Institute Business School of Leadership.

Tirhani is a business leader who holds numerous past and present positions including Chairperson of the Giyani Town Taxi Operators (1989 – 1993), Chairperson of the Giyani Business Forum (1994 – 1996), Director of the Limpopo Development Corporation (1995 – 1999), Chairperson of RealNet Holdings (2009 – 2010) and Chairperson of the South African Institute of Auctioneers (2009 – Date).

Dr Murunwa Makwarela (Director)

Dr Murunwa Makwarela brings more than 20 years of experience in sustainable agriculture and environmental management to AWS. Murunwa was recently a CEO of TAHAL SA (2013-2014), a subsidiary of multinational Civil Engineering Company in water, wastewater systems and integrated rural development. Murunwa has also worked as Head of the Department of Agriculture and Environmental Management at the City of Tshwane (2007-2012), the University of the Witwatersrand as a Lecturer and researcher in Cassava Biotechnology (2000-2005), Agricultural Research Council (ARC) as Head of Genebanks (2005-2007).

His areas of expertise include amongst others, strategic/interactive planning and management, integrated rural development, water and wastewater systems, development of farm and irrigation systems, agro-processing, training and development.

Murunwa obtained his B.Sc in Botany and Zoology from the University of Venda for Science and Technology (1993), B.Sc (Hons)(1994) and M.Sc in Plant Biotechnology (1996) from the University of Kwazulu-Natal (Howard College) and his Ph.D in cassava genetic engineering from the University of the Witwatersrand (2005). He continued to finalise his Ph.D thesis at the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center- International Laboratory of Tropical Agricultural Biotechnology (ILTAB) in Missouri, USA.

Murunwa serves in many company boards as a member and director. He is also a member of a panel of experts at The Innovation Hub’s Climate Innovation Centre (2012-to date).

Murunwa is also a Professional Natural Scientist (Pr.Sci.Nat) with the Council for Geosciences.