Ravi Naidoo
CEO Youth Employment Service
YES Chief Executive Officer, Ravi Naidoo, is passionate about social impact. He has an extensive track-record in designing and implementing successful impact programs, and has spent many years navigating the intersections of the private, public, and non-profit sectors. His strategic vision at YES focuses on forging innovative public-private partnerships that unlock the untapped potential of youth to build a better economic future for all South Africans. YES is today South Africa’s largest talent pipeline for youth 12-month internships into the private sector and has over 1700 sponsoring companies. He is now driving a particular focus on opportunities related to future-facing industries such as drones, renewables, and artificial intelligence. In 2022, Ravi was appointed to the National Planning Commission, where he serves as chairperson of the Economy Workstream. Some of his successes prior to joining YES, include leading the Development Bank of South Africa’s team in establishing the SA Green Fund, being the national manager of the multi-stakeholder ‘Health Roadmap’ that culminated in government’s AIDS turnaround strategy (which saw average life expectancy rise from 49 to 62 years), and the restructuring of the Unemployment Insurance Fund to include coverage for the first time for over 600,000 domestic workers. Ravi holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Economics and Law) from the University of KwaZulu-Natal and a Master of Public Administration from Harvard University.
2025 Agenda Sessions
For people and prosperity – making beneficiation work for all
- For beneficiation to work, it requires the correct infrastructure, investment in human capital and investor friendly policies. Why has this proven so difficult to balance?
- Botswana is a prime example of beneficiation done well. What are the key policies that allowed this success and who else is getting it right (or wrong)?
- What is the size of opportunity to invest profits into upskilling the existing workforce, whilst also developing new employment opportunities in the industry for graduates?
- Why is a collaborative approach between unions, LSMs and governments mutually beneficial?
Wednesday 05 February 14:45 - 15:30 CTICC2
Intergovernmental Summit
- For beneficiation to work, it requires the correct infrastructure, investment in human capital and investor friendly policies. Why has this proven so difficult to balance?
- Botswana is a prime example of beneficiation done well. What are the key policies that allowed this success and who else is getting it right (or wrong)?
- What is the size of opportunity to invest profits into upskilling the existing workforce, whilst also developing new employment opportunities in the industry for graduates?
- Why is a collaborative approach between unions, LSMs and governments mutually beneficial?