South African businessman, Muhammad Seedat is the newly-elected Chair of the Endangered Wildlife Trust Board of Trustees.
Seedat stepped in as the Chair of the EWT Board on 29 January 2024, replacing Dirk Ackerman who served as Chair from 2010. Ackerman will serve as Deputy Chair of the EWT Board for a year to support Seedat.
“Thank You to the Board for allowing me to take on this important role to take this organization into the next 50 years. In doing so, we must reflect on the EWT’s achievements in the last 50 years,” said Seedat.
Ackerman, who had indicated some time ago that he would not be available for reelection as Chair, had been a member of the Board of Trustees since 2005, holding the position of Chair since 2010.
“I wanted to allow for a leadership change in terms of good governance as the EWT prides itself as a benchmark of excellence in corporate governance,” said Ackerman. “Muhammad Seedat brings with him a youthful exuberance and a passion for the conservation agenda. He also brings with him a wealth of experience and qualifications to drive the EWT towards its centenary at time when climate change and habitat loss is increasingly affecting the lives of all people. In the next 50 years, the EWT will play an increasingly important role as a source of data and expertise to address these challenges.”
Ackerman, who has left the EWT in a financially robust position, says: “I have left the EWT in very capable hands.”
He has indicated that once his tenure as Deputy Chairman of the EWT Board expires in a year, he intends to remain as a trustee as the objectives of the EWT are close to his heart. During his tenure the EWT had recorded a number of successes, not least growing the financial reserves, project spend and income of the organisation and growing the staff compliment by 60%, but also overseeing the acquisition of land in areas such as the Soutpansberg to create a protected area and unique biodiversity hotspot in Limpopo.
A father of four, Seedat was previously the Chair of the Institute of Directors (IoDSA), Deputy Chair of SAIPA and Vice President of the Durban Chamber of Commerce & Industry. He has also served on a number of other boards. He has a passion for cricket and has served in the past as Interim CEO for the KZN Dolphins’ Cricket franchise and Lead Independent Director for the KZN Cricket Union.
Seedat is presently the Chair of Hilaal TV, Cricket South Africa’s Independent Director Nominations Panel, the Northerns Cricket Union (Titans) Nominations Committee, and the RPC Astrapac Employee Trust. He is also an advisory board member for FNB Islamic Banking.
Seedat, who has served as a member of the EWT Audit/Finance and Remuneration committees says he looks forward to further working with the team at the EWT.
“This is a passionate team that puts everything into what they do. We often know what we do and how we do it, but seldom question why we do it. I know that the EWT team values the Why and the Why is correctly aligned; The Why is very important to us as we work to protect species and habitats, and work with communities as we move into the next 50 years.
“As leaders we start with the end in mind and it is that goal that we will be working towards during my term as Chair and beyond. In my first 100 days there will be lots of planning to build on the shoulders of those that came before us, to build on the strong foundation that the EWT finds itself on. I am looking forward to the journey in which we will be scaling up our work as we embark on a new journey together,” says Seedat.
“The Board has a great working relationship with the Chief Executive Officer Yolan Friedmann and continues to support her belief in the future strategy of the EWT,” said Ackerman. The Chair and Deputy Chair confirmed the EWT Board’s commitment to Chief Executive officer Yolan Friedmann’s quest to grow the EWT into a globally-recognised and competitive organisation.
