Joanne Yawitch has been the Chief Executive Officer of the National Business Initiative ( since 2011 Prior to this, she was the Deputy Director General for Climate Change in the Department of Environmental Affairs, with responsibility for Environmental Quality and Protection as well as for the Department’s Climate Change work.

Joanne worked for the Gauteng Department of Environment from 1997 to 2004 and prior to that, was Special Adviser to the then Minister of Land Affairs from 1994 to 1997. Joanne is the former Chair of the Board of Directors of South African National Parks ( She is also a Board Member of SAFCOL, as well as the Chair of their Social and Ethics Committee.

In 2020 Joanne was appointed as a Member of The Presidential Climate Commission PCC) In 2021 Joanne was appointed as a member of the Third National Planning Commission (NPC). Joanne has expertise in issues related to business and sustainability, business and government collaboration climate change and sustainable development.