This session unpacks what international businesses need to consider when operating in South Africa, highlighting transformation and inclusion as key drivers of long-term success. Drawing on global parallels such as supplier diversity in the U.S. and social value legislation in the U.K., it reframes B-BBEE not as compliance, but as a strategic enabler aligned with ESG and SDG commitments. Practical insights from the shipbuilding and maritime sector will show how transformation delivers both business value and sustainable community impact.
Eva Moloi serves as the Human Capital and Transformation Manager at Damen Shipyards Cape Town (DSCT), where she plays a pivotal role in driving the integration of skills development, MSME development and enablement, and inclusive transformation within South Africa’s maritime and shipbuilding sector. Her leadership has been instrumental in embedding local economic empowerment into flagship initiatives such as the Multi-Mission Inshore Patrol Vessel (MMIPV) programme, where she noted, “One can truly state that the MMIPVs have been built in South Africa, by South Africans for South Africa”. She has also lead Damen’s Enterprise and Supplier Development programme which focuses on empowering entrepreneurs with marine based businesses.
Eva’s strategic oversight ensures that industrial projects not only meet technical benchmarks but also deliver meaningful impact through human capacity building and socio-economic upliftment.
Beyond project delivery, Eva champions community engagement and social responsibility – she led DSCT’s Mandela Day outreach in 2022, where staff distributed essential care packages to over 600 community members, reinforcing the company’s commitment to societal transformation.
Her approach marries operational excellence with an unwavering commitment to the principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion, ensuring that both transformation and talent development remain central to DSCT’s industrial narrative.
Eva’s expertise extends beyond national borders: as a recent speaker at Maritime Week Africa 2024, she brought critical insights into bridging skills development within the maritime industry
She is uniquely positioned to address an international audience on how transformation frameworks like B-BBEE can align with global ESG expectations and social value strategies
