Absa’s G20 Task Force and Working Group Members

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Headshot of Johnson Idesoh, Group Chief Information and Technology Officer.


Johnson Idesoh

Group Chief Information and Technology Officer
Johnson was appointed Group Chief Information and Technology Officer at Absa in January 2023. With 25 years of experience in digital transformation across regulated industries, he previously served as Group CIO at Old Mutual. His earlier roles include senior IT leadership at Aviva (UK), where he was COO Shared Services Director, and Executive Vice President at AstraZeneca. Johnson holds a BEng, an MBA, and completed the Advanced Management Programme. He brings a strong track record of driving innovation and operational excellence in global financial and healthcare sectors.

G20 Artificial Intelligence, Data Governance, and Innovation for Sustainable Development Task Force Member

Headshot of Punki Modise, Group Chief Strategy and Sustainability Officer.


Punki Modise

Group Chief and Sustainability Officer
Punki was appointed Group Chief and Sustainability Officer in July 2022. Since joining Absa in 2008, she has held several senior roles, including Interim CEO: RBB, Interim Financial Director, and CFO: Retail and Business Banking. Her earlier roles include Head of Transactional Banking and CFO: Distribution Channels. Prior to Absa, she held positions at Standard Bank and Fedsure, and completed her articles at PwC. She serves as a non-executive director on the boards of Absa Life, Woolworths Financial Services, and Ford Financial Services. Punki holds a BCom, CA(SA), and a Master’s in Financial Management..

G20 Inclusive Economic Growth, Industrialisation, Employment, and Reduced Equality Task Force Member


Sanah Gumede

Managing Executive: Strategy & Customer Value Management
Sanah Gumede has extensive banking experience and has made significant contributions in adding value to the client experience in various leadership roles. As a member of Absa’s Relationship Banking leadership team, she is accountable for the end-to-end value chain of the cluster, ensuring its consistent capability and integration across business lines and corporate functions. Sanah holds a BCom in Accounting from the University of KwaZulu-Natal, a Global Executive MBA from INSEAD Business School and has completed the Finance Executive Development Programme from GIBS and the London Business School.

G20 Food Security Task Force Member


Dr Steven Zwane

Managing Executive: Corporate Citizenship
Dr Steven Zwane is a leading executive and youth empowerment advocate, currently leading Corporate Citizenship at Absa. He is the founder of YLED (Youth Leadership, Entrepreneurship and Development), a platform nurturing young leaders and entrepreneurs. With deep experience in financial services, he drives impactful, transformative initiatives. Dr Zwane holds a Bachelor of Computer Science from the University of Zululand, an MBA, and a Doctorate in Business Administration from the University of Durham.

G20 Inclusive Economic Growth, Industrialisation, Employment, and Reduced Equality Task Force Member


Msizi Khoza

Managing Executive: ESG, Absa CIB
Msizi Khoza leads ESG at Absa Corporate and Investment Banking, overseeing sustainable finance and ESG strategy. With over 12 years in financial services and consulting, he has held several senior roles within Absa. He holds an MScEng (Electrical), BScEng (Computer Engineering), and a NDip in Leadership.

G20 Climate & Environmental Sustainability and Energy Transitions Working Group Member


Abrie Rautenbach

Executive: AgriBusiness, Absa
Abrie holds an Honours in Agricultural Economics and a Master’s in Business Management. He has held various roles in agriculture and banking, including Agricultural Specialist, Provincial Manager, and Head of Agricultural Banking for Africa. His experience spans South Africa, Ghana, and Tanzania.

G20 Agriculture Working Group Member


Nonhlanhla Magagula 

Head: Corporate Citizenship, Absa
Nonhlanhla leads Absa’s Corporate Citizenship Programmes, including entrepreneurship education, the Absa CSI Trust, and employee volunteering. With over 15 years in development and financial services, she is passionate about youth empowerment. She holds a BCom in Finance and Economics and a Postgraduate Diploma in Management.

G20 Employment and Education Working Group Member


Dr Reaan Immelman

Head: Education Delivery, Absa
Dr Reaan Immelman, with over 28 years in financial services, leads Financial Literacy, Education & Enablement at Absa. He holds a PhD in Marketing Management and is passionate about advancing education in Africa. He also chairs the School Governing Body of Hoërskool Noordheuwel.

G20 Employment and Education Working Group Member


Izaak Coetzee 

Head: Strategic Insights and Analytics, Absa
Izaak Coetzee leads Strategic Insights & Analytics at Absa, guiding data-driven decisions. With over 27 years in strategy and transformation, he previously held senior roles at Telkom SA and helped establish ICASA. He holds a BCom (Hons) and an MBA.

G20 Climate & Environmental Sustainability Working Group Member


Thato Matolong

Managing Executive: Technology and Operations, Absa
Thato is a seasoned technology executive with extensive experience in financial services, he has a proven track record of pioneering innovation, modernising IT infrastructure, and delivering customer-centric digital solutions. As a Harvard Business School and GIBS alumnus, Thato blends a deep operational understanding with a keen sense of engineering design. Thato holds an MBA degree as well as degrees in Industrial Engineering (University of Pretoria) and Mechanical Engineering (University of Cape Town), equipping him to lead at the intersection of technology, business strategy, and operational excellence.

Digital Economy Working Group


Sidwell Mokhemisa

Head: Group Payments Technology, Absa
Sidwell is a technology leader with over 24 years of experience across Defence, Public Sector, and Financial Services. As Head of Group Payments Technology at Absa, he has led innovations in real-time payments, direct debits, and cross-border solutions. His expertise spans CIB and RBB environments. He holds a Master of Engineering from WITS University and has held roles in systems engineering, architecture, and technology leadership. Sidwell is passionate about advancing STEM education and continues to drive innovation in financial technology.

G20 Digital Economy Working Group Member


Mpho Nhlabathi

Head: Corporate Citizenship

Mpho is a seasoned Corporate Affairs and Social Impact professional with over 20 years of experience across telecoms, sports, consulting, and financial services. She is passionate about Africa, women, and youth empowerment. At Absa, she led the development of the Corporate Citizenship strategy and champions initiatives like Visa She’s Next and SME Immersion for London Investment Week. Previously, she contributed to Old Mutual’s Managed Separation and WEF engagement. Mpho is a socio-economic activist focused on inclusive growth and strategic partnerships. She holds an MBA with a focus on Strategy and Economics.

G20 Women Empowerment Working Group Member