- Queen Nosipho Mthembu
Edited by Blue Economy Magazine
Durban, South Africa – The Africa Blue Economy Roundtable (ABER) Women’s Forum has announced the appointment of Her Royal Highness Queen Nosipho Mthembu of Durban, South Africa, as its Pioneer Deputy Chairperson, effective immediately.
The appointment was made by the Board of Trustees of BRACED Tourism Promotion & Development Initiative, sponsors of ABER, in recognition of Her Royal Highness’s distinguished service as a Royal Diplomat and Pan-African Economic Stateswoman.
ABOUT THE APPOINTMENT
The ABER Women’s Forum is the gender and youth platform of ABER. Its mandate is to advance the participation and leadership of women and youth in Africa’s blue economy. This voluntary appointment acknowledges Queen Mthembu’s commitment to placing people, culture, and tradition at the center of Africa’s development.
WHY HER ROYAL HIGHNESS
Her Royal Highness brings a unique blend of royal diplomacy, policy leadership, and economic networks that directly advance ABER’s continental mandate.
As Deputy Director, Africa Royal Kingdoms for International Cooperation, Member of OceanHub Africa Network and National Coordinator of ARTLC, she will collaborate with the ABER Envoy on African Traditional Institutions to mobilize traditional leadership across Africa to integrate indigenous knowledge and ancestral stewardship into the Africa Blue Economy Strategy (ABES) and Agenda 2063.
Being the Head of Protocol & Diplomacy for the State of Africa Diaspora (SOAD) and Partner to the Pan-African Parliament, she will deepen ABER’s engagement with Africa’s Sixth Region to channel diaspora investment, skills, and markets into coastal communities.
As Minister of Mining & Blue Economy, Alkebulan Hayacratic Government, Head of Land & Mining at IWDC/Oleifera International Africa, and National Chairperson of Women in Logistics SA, she will unlock public-private partnerships for sustainable ports, responsible marine mineral governance, and women-led value chains.
She would advance women’s leadership and heritage conservation. As President of Africa Renaissance for Development and Member of the Mozambique Mining Forum & International Commission for Heritage, she will elevate women royal leaders and youth in ocean governance while safeguarding marine and coastal heritage.
Through her engagement with the Skolkovo Women’s Forum, Russia, and other international commissions, she will position ABER to access technical cooperation, innovation, and funding for climate-resilient blue economies.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
As Deputy Chairperson, Her Royal Highness will: Support the Chairperson and act on her behalf in her absence.
Coordinate the Forum’s activities across the 5 AU Regions: North, West, East, Central, and Southern Africa, and the African Diaspora.
Ensure strategic alignment between ABER Country Chapters and ABER Headquarters on programmes, advocacy, and policy.
Lead member engagement and coordinate crisis response for women in the blue economy.
A VISION FOR IMPACT
Guided by her motto, “From Heritage to Economy, From Throne to Global Impact”, Queen Mthembu’s leadership is expected to advance UNITY, TRADITION AND ROYAL LEGACY within ABER.
“ABER warmly welcomes Her Royal Highness Queen Nosipho Mthembu to our continental platform,” said Dr. Piriye Kiyaramo, Chairman, Board of Trustees, BRACED Tourism Promotion & Development Initiative and Convener/CEO of ABER. “Her royal diplomacy, economic acumen, and Pan-African network make her a strategic asset. We look forward to her leadership in making the ABER Women’s Forum the foremost voice for African women in ocean governance.”
ABOUT ABER WOMEN’S FORUM
The Africa Blue Economy Roundtable (ABER) Women’s Forum champions inclusive and sustainable ocean governance. Through advocacy, capacity building, enterprise development, and partnerships, the Forum works to ensure women and youth equitably benefit from Africa’s ocean and water resources.
