Olivia Maponya

Executive Director of Kopano Bus Service

Olivia Maponya is a globally recognized transport industry leader, entrepreneur, and advocate for sustainable and inclusive mobility. Born and bred in Limpopo Province, South Africa. She is the Shareholder and Executive Director of Kopano Bus Service and Madodi Bus Company in Limpopo Province, South Africa, and serves as the Interim Executive Board Chairperson of Capricorn Bus Alliance, a strategic partnership advancing public transport development in the region. She also plays a key leadership role in the sector as the Treasurer-General of the South African National Bus Operators Council (SANSBOC) and Provincial Secretary of SANSBOC Limpopo, where she contributes to shaping policy, transformation, and industry advancement within South Africa’s bus transport ecosystem.
With an academic foundation in Transport Management and Business Leadership, Olivia holds a B-Tech Degree in Transport Management from the University of Johannesburg and multiple professional diplomas in bookkeeping, human resource management, and road transport management. She has completed executive leadership programmes at the Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) and is currently pursuing a Master of Science in International Business at the University of Salford (UK). She is also an accredited member of the Institute of Certified Bookkeepers South Africa (ICBSA) and the Institute of Directors Southern Africa (IoDSA).
Olivia’s influence extends beyond South Africa. She is a respected international speaker and thought leader in sustainable mobility and transport transformation. She delivered a presentation at the World Convention of Business in Italy in 2023, focusing on sustainability in transportation, and later served as a panellist at COP28 in Dubai in 2024, where she contributed to global discussions on climate change and the role of public transport
Her leadership and contributions to economic development and business excellence have been widely recognized across the world. Among her numerous accolades are the PMR. Africa Diamond Arrow Award for Outstanding Contribution to Economic Development in Limpopo, the Standard Bank Top Women Business Leader of the Year Award (2025), and multiple international honours including the European Quality Award (Oxford, UK), the International Diamond Prize for Excellence in Quality (Brussels, Belgium), and the World Leaders Business Person Award (Houston, USA).
Beyond her corporate leadership, Olivia Maponya is deeply committed to empowerment and community transformation. Through Kopano Bus Service, she spearheaded initiatives that have enabled 200 young women to acquire driver training and professional licensing, expanding opportunities for women in the transport sector. She has also championed youth development through community initiatives such as regional soccer tournaments that unite young people and promote social cohesion and opportunity.
Driven by a vision of inclusive economic growth, ethical leadership, and sustainable transport systems, Olivia Maponya continues to influence the future of mobility in Africa while contributing to global conversations on transport, climate resilience, and economic empowerment. She is widely regarded as a transformative leader whose work bridges business excellence, policy engagement, and community development, positioning her among the emerging voices shaping the future of global transport leadership.

Farai is an energy transition, climate and sustainability specialist with over 10 years’ experience working at the intersection of strategy, policy

and implementation. He advises governments, international organisations and private-sector partners on translating sustainability and climate ambitions into practical, measurable and investment-ready outcomes.

His expertise spans sustainability and climate mitigation across the energy, transport, industrial and agri-food value chains. Farai leads and contributes to policy and business case development as well as regional collaboration initiatives that align decarbonisation objectives with economic development, energy security and long-term competitiveness.

With deep experience in African and emerging market contexts, he supports institutions in designing credible sustainability frameworks, aligning with international standards and structuring resilient value chains that deliver both environmental integrity and socio-economic impact. He is actively engaged in advancing sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) value chain development in Africa, particularly through linking low-carbon fuels to regional agricultural and industrial systems.

Farai holds a master’s degree in chemical engineering and is finalising his PhD focused on developing SAF value chains linked to South Africa’s sugarcane industry. His combined technical, policy and market expertise positions him as a recognised knowledge leader in sustainability and climate-aligned industrial development.