ALI Graduates its 2nd Class and Prepares to Launch its 4th Class

July 3, 2007 – ALI South Africa, the African leadership initiative sponsored by Barloworld and the Aspen Institute, announced the graduation of 20 South African leaders in the Kilimanjaro Class in April 2007 and the launch of a new Fourth Class of emerging South African Leaders in October 2007.

Heather Muller, executive director of ALI, says, “With this fourth class, we now have 80 Fellows in varying stages of the program; each one a testimony to the superlative caliber of young people throughout South Africa. All are extraordinarily talented and accomplished, and bring an astonishing degree of heart and soul to every challenge, relationship or cause they pursue. We are both inspired by them and proud to have attracted them.”

The class was chosen from more than 70 nominees throughout the South Africa from the business, government and the non-profit sectors, all with the highest of recommendations. “Once again, this year’s nominees are exceptional as individuals, and it’s clear that as a group they will be a powerful, positive force in South Africa,” said Heather Muller, executive director of ALI. “All 20 will emerge from the program with both common and unique experiences that together create a true understanding of real leadership.”

The Africa Leadership Initiative

Inspired by the Aspen Institute’s Henry Crown Fellowship Program (www.aspeninstitute.org) ALI is a collaborative venture between: The Aspen Institute, TechnoServe, The Letsema Foundation in South Africa, Infotech Investment Group LTD in Tanzania, CETA Construction and Services in Mozambique, LEAP Africa in Nigeria and The Databank Foundation in Ghana. These seven organizations comprise a Steering Committee with clearly defined roles and responsibilities that communicates regularly and holds annual face to face meetings in South Africa.

In 2007 there were seven classes of 20 Fellows for some 140 ALI Fellow in five locations– East Africa ,Ghana, Mozambique, Nigeria, South Africa, and West Africa (a joint Ghanaian and Nigerian programme). The Fellows are men and women between the ages of 25 and 50, who have already achieved a high-level of successful in their fields of endeavor (approximately 75% from the business sector and the balance from government and civil society sectors) who are committed to promoting – and personally exemplifying -- effective, values-based leadership in their countries.

The Fellows are selected through a process managed by local partners in each region or country with the goal of assembling classes that are diverse in viewpoint, political affiliation, industry, ethnicity and gender.16 August, 2007ver a period of 24 months covering a range of leadership issues and challenges and designed to encourage Fellows to move from ideas to action on the biggest challenges their communities and countries face. They also commit to carrying out a hig16 August, 200716 August, 2007;s success comes from its origin; it was created by Africans for Africans.

For further information on ALI, contact Heather Muller, executive director for ALI in Africa: e-mail heatherm@barloworld.com, tel +27 11 445 1052, or mobile +27 83 637 2724.

Jennifer Smith
Head: CSI
Barloworld Limited
Tel +27 11 445 1268
Fax +27 11 445 1581
Cell 082 808 5911

This page was updated on 16 August, 2007

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