Ilonka Maritz

Served as in-house commercial, legal and compliance lead, advising the CEO and Board on material transactions, regulatory exposure and operational decisions. Drafted, negotiated and reviewed mining, offtake, supply, services, settlement, land/community and strategic agreements.

Retained after stepping down as Managing Executive to provide institutional continuity and specialist advice on regulatory strategy, governance, the industry Code of Conduct and complex member or mobile-network issues. Supported selected strategic projects and stakeholder engagements while transitioning executive responsibilities.

Acted as the organisation's most senior employee, reporting to the Board and leading strategy and day-to-day delivery across regulatory affairs, compliance, legal, operations, finance, people, vendors, communications and member services. Led governance and industry representation for 200+ member companies and managed disputes involving members, consumers and network operators.

Progressed from Operations Manager to General Manager, leading strategy and day-to-day delivery across regulatory affairs, compliance, legal, operations, finance, people, vendors, communications and member services. Shaped policy and regulatory outcomes through submissions, public hearings and sustained engagement with government departments and regulators.

Managed operations and contributed to the organisation's regulatory affairs, compliance, legal, finance, people, vendors, communications and member services. Supported the organisation's strategy and day-to-day delivery.

Led compliance and operational delivery for mobile services, aligning commercial activity with industry codes, consumer-protection requirements and mobile-network rules. Improved complaint-handling, investigation and monitoring processes and represented the business in regulatory and industry engagements.

Provided legal and compliance advisory, supporting the business on contracts, risk and regulatory matters. Completed an international secondment to the group's Spanish client operations in 2012, gaining cross-border experience in a multinational environment.

Progressed from legal and compliance advisory into departmental leadership, managing compliance and customer-support teams and reporting on material legal and regulatory matters. Designed and implemented operational compliance programmes, drafted regulatory submissions, advised on contracts and risk, and worked directly with industry bodies and mobile network operators.

Completed one year of articles and gained practical exposure to legal research, drafting, client matters, litigation and court processes before moving in-house.

Grade: Passed with distinction

Postgraduate Certificate in Compliance Management, passed with distinction.

Grade: Passed with distinction

Certificate in Money Laundering Control (NQF 7; 40 credits), passed with distinction.

Grade: Passed with distinction

Activities and societies: Faculty of Law Prize for best results

Short Course in Law: Board Governance (NQF 7), passed with distinction; awarded Faculty of Law Prize for best results.

Law School Certificate from the School for Legal Practice, Johannesburg.

LLB degree completed in 2009 and conferred in 2010.

BCom Law degree completed in 2008.