Shulami Qalinge took over as the first woman chief executive of Transnet National Ports Authority

August 07, 2017: Shulami Qalinge took over as the chief executive of the Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) recently. She is the first women chief executive and succeeds Richard Vallihu. In her current role Qalinge oversees the operation of eight commercial ports with a total staff capacity of over 4 300.

She brings in a decade of senior management experience to the table. She most recently served as Transnet’s Group Executive: Strategy, leading Transnet’s drive for additional revenue outside South Africa. In her capacity she was driving implementation of Transnet’s company-wide Strategy, ensuring attainment of the Shareholder’s Compact and looking after the company’s reputation through Corporate Communication. She was previously responsible for the overall management of the office of the Group Chief Executive through a provision of strategic support.

She holds an MBA from De Montfort University, Diploma in Industrial Engineering from Nelson Mandela University of Technology, Strategic Leadership Programme at the Gordon Institute of Business Science, Programme for Senior Executives from the International Institute for Management Development (IMD) and the Senior Executive Programme Africa (SEPA) from Harvard Business School.

She is known for her skills in operations, strategic planning, performance monitoring and diagnostic and project management. She has a strong focus on Rail and Port Operations, Supply Chain Management, Performance Monitoring and Reporting and Stakeholder Management.

TNPA is responsible for the safe, effective and efficient economic functioning of the national port system in South Africa. It further provides port infrastructure and marine services at the eight commercial seaports in South Africa. These ports are Richards Bay, Durban, East London, Ngqura, Port Elizabeth, Mossel Bay, Cape Town and Saldanha.