Doctor Renee Horne

Courses and Disciplines taught at WBS: 

Business in Africa;  International Business and Economics; Economics for Business.

Other Teaching Experience: 

University of London; Howard University School of Business; University of Johannesburg; University of Kwazulu-Natal.

Research Interests: 

The business environment in Africa; BRICS economies; African micro- and macroeconomic issues and broad-based black economic empowerment; business development.

Industry and Professional Experience: 

With more than fifteen years’ experience as an award-winning political journalist, war correspondent, editor and political economist, Renee Horne has been acknowledged by government, business and academics as an expert political economist and journalist on sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East.  Internationally, Renee has advised governments, media and business on the political and economic policy of South Africa, Iraq, Kenya, the Democratic of Republic of Congo, Nigeria and Uganda. She has worked extensively in various regions in Africa, the Middle East, Europe, North and South America and Europe.

Renee has worked with institutions such as Transparency International, Delta Economics, Royal Africa Society, Exclusive Analysis, Royal United Services Institute, BBC, SKY, ITV, SABC and the World Entrepreneur Society. During this period, she interviewed politicians and high-profile personalities such as South African Presidents, Nelson Mandela, Thabo Mbeki, Jacob Zuma, former Finance Minister, Trevor Manuel, former Palestinian National Authority (PNA) President, Yasser Arafat and former Israeli Prime Minister, Shimon Peres. Since 1994, Renee has been a lecturer and guest speaker on political economy and international relations in Africa and the Middle East at numerous institutions such as the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London, KwaZulu-Natal, Rhodes, and Johannesburg Universities, South Africa; John Hopkins University, Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), Washington DC. She was the Principal to Nex Rubica Capital (Africa Division), an international company based in London.  Passionate about enterprise and skills development, she was also the Head of the Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (BBBEE) Unit.  Renee is currently the chairperson of the South African Supplier Council which creates linkages between multinational corporations and South African SMEs. She is also the founder of iLED which caters for global business citizenship. 

Recent Publications and Scholarly Contributions: 

Ghazzawi, I., Horne R., & Urban, A. (2019). Standard Bank:  Making Côte D’Ivoire Home (WBS Case study). University of the Witwatersrand, Graduate School of Business Administration, Wits, South Africa. 

Schaling, E., Horne, R., & Hobbs, J. (2018). National development plan: The outlook in 2016 (WBS Case study). University of the Witwatersrand, Graduate School of Business Administration, Wits, South Africa.

Munkuli, B., & Horne, R. (2018). Financial markets value reputation for corporate social responsibility (CSR) - A study of the South African mining sector. AfricaGrowth Agenda, 15(Apr/Jun), 17-22.

Raliphada, L., & Horne, R. (2017). South African banking sector as a positive social impact creator: An emerging economy impact investment perspective. AfricaGrowth Agenda, (Apr/Jun), 24-28.

Horne, R. (2017). Patterns of empowerment and disempowerment in the South African mining sector. African Review of Economics and Finance, 9(1), 3-32.

Raliphada, L., & Horne, R. (2016). Social value equation of impact investment: The financial intermediary perspective in an emerging economy. AfricaGrowth Agenda, 4, 4-9.

Other Scholarly Contributions: 

Keynote Speaker – International Virtual Trade Mission, South Africa (2021).

Panellist – The Future of China’s Trade with Africa, India, USA (2020).

South Africa Supplier Diversity Synergy Conference (2019).

Judge – South African Business Awards (2014).

Panellist – AYGS Conference on International Relations and Political Economy, hosted by the Africa Institute of South Africa, Johannesburg (2014).

Keynote Speaker – Synergy Conference on Procurement and ethics in the South African mining sector, Johannesburg, (2013).

Chair – Brand SA:  Foreign Direct and Internal Investment in South Africa, Johannesburg (2013).

Chair – Triple A Frontier/SAPIA BBBEE Oil & Gas Funding Workshop, London (2012).

Panellist – Nigeria Economic & Financial Markets Conference, London (2011).       

Panellist –East Africa Global Trade and Investment Conference, London 2011

Chair – Book launch, Southern Africa: Old Treacheries and New Deceits, by Stephen Chan, Washington DC (2011).

Keynote Speaker – Zuma Mid-Term, John Hopkins University, London (2010).                                            

Keynote Speaker – The Succession Race, Centre for Strategic and International Studies, Durban (2010).

Presenter – Royal Africa Society, South Africa: Legacy of the World Cup, Durban (2010).

Keynote Speaker – Is Black Economic Empowerment Working?  Johannesburg (2006).

Keynote Speaker – In the Zone: War Reporting, University of Johannesburg, South Africa (2006).

Paper presented at Promax Africa Conference on War Reporting in the Middle East, Johannesburg (2006).

Keynote Speaker – The Iraq War 2003, American University, Amman, Jordan (2004).

Keynote Speaker – Women in a War Zone, Rhodes University, Grahamstown (2003).

Professional Affiliations: Institute of Directors of South Africa; Royal Africa Society.

Editorial Board Member: African Review of Economics and Finance.

Awards:

WBS Excellence in Teaching (2015); National Research Fund (2011); Ford Foundation Fellow (2008); Chevening Scholar, British Council (2007); Elizabeth Neuffer Journalism Fellowship Finalist (2005); US International Visitor Leadership Programme (2005); Kagiso Trust Scholarship/NRF (1996-1997); Chamber of Mines Award (1993).

International Experience: 

Vice Principal: Sub-Saharan Africa, at NR Capital, London, UK/Johannesburg, South Africa; key achievements include managing complex analysis of business expansion into Africa within the oil, gas and mining industry and effectively establishing relationships with key South African, DRC, Ugandan, and Nigerian stakeholders (2011-2014).

Africa Chief Political Economist & Trade Flows Analyst, Delta Economics, London, UK; key achievements include providing robust political and economic analysis and consultative advice to a range of international clients relative to trade and investment projects in Africa (2009-2011).

Senior Editor, World Entrepreneur Society, London, UK; key achievements include conceptualising, developing and implementing a strategic SWOT analysis with accompanying business plans that increased rankings by 30% within two years, in addition to increased foreign donor contributions of £200K (2009-2011).

Africa Analyst, Royal Africa Society, London, UK (2008-2009).

Recent Media: 

Reflections on 20 years of democracy: Cape Talk, 2014.