Ms. Chichi Maponya is the Co-Founder and Executive Chairperson of Africa Travel Retail, a dynamic company with specialist expertise in travel retail, i.e., distribution and retail, airports customer experience advisory, airports sense of place advisory & implementation and non-aero-commercial advisory services headquarted in Johannesburg, South Africa. Her vast experience and achievements as a business leader has earned her the coveted South African Businesswoman of the year award in 2008.

She currently serves as the Board Chairperson of the Maponya Group, a diversified family-owned enterprise founded in 1952 by her late parents, Dr. Richard and Marina Maponya. In addition to this role, she is a Trustee of the Kgalema Motlanthe Foundation, established by the former President of South Africa. She also serves as a Board Member of the Consumer Goods Council of South Africa (CGCSA) and as a Trustee of the Dr. Richard Maponya Institute for Skills and Entrepreneurship. Furthermore, she is a board member of Boxer, one of South Africa’s largest discount grocery retailers, as well as Africa Realty Trust (ART), a citrus export company.

Her leadership extends internationally as a member of the Advocacy Board Committee of the Middle East and Africa Duty Free Association (MEADFA). She’s a member of ACI Africa Economics Committee and ACI Africa World Business Partners. She also serves on the Airports Council International (ACI) World Economics Standing Committee’s subcommittee on Non-Aeronautical Revenues and Activities (ANARA).

Chichi is a former Deputy Chairperson of South African Council on International Relations (SACOIR) – tasked with advising the Minister on international relations; a former Chairperson of Brand South Africa – an agency tasked with Marketing and promoting South Africa as an investment destination Internationally; a former Board Member of South African Tourism, and a former Board Member of 4 Africa Exchange (4AX) – Alternative Stock Exchange.