Responsible Investing and its Impact on Africa

Based in Johannesburg, Dr Rufaro Nyakatawa’s primary focus is developing the strategy for Jersey Finance’s engagement in the South African market. She also plays a vital role in supporting the organisation’s wider activity across the continent.

Mike began his investment career at Melville Douglas in 1998. Having held many positions within Melville Douglas, including portfolio management and being the co-manager of the Melville Douglas High Alpha Fund, our flagship local equity fund, Mike is now the Managing Director of Melville Douglas, overseeing operations in South Africa and Jersey. He holds a B.Com degree, is a CFA® Charterholder, a Certified Financial Planner™ professional and has completed an Advanced Management Programme with Harvard Business School.

Diane joined Melville Douglas in 2022 as the co-manager of the Melville Douglas Global Impact Fund. Diane has over 18 years of investment experience, having previously worked at Ninety One and Sustainable Capital, where she focused on integrating sustainability factors into investments. Diane holds an MBA (cum laude), a BEng (Hons), the Oxford Certificate in Leading Sustainable Corporations, and the Harvard Certificate in Sustainable Business Strategy. Diane is based in South Africa. 

Brett Wallington is a distinguished leader in the field of sustainability and impact management, currently serving as the Co-Founder and Chief Impact Officer at Paragon +Impact. With a robust educational background, including a Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Ecology, Environment, and Education from the University of Witwatersrand, and further studies at the University of Cambridge and GIBS Business School, Brett has cultivated a deep understanding of environmental and social governance (ESG). His expertise is further reinforced by certifications such as the Certified Sustainability Assurance Practitioner and completion of the Strategic Leadership Programme at Henley Business School and GIBS. His comprehensive experience and strategic acumen make him a pivotal figure in driving sustainable impact and innovation within the industry.

Andrew is a highly regarded South African tax practitioner. He has significant tax experience in a number of fields including finance transactions, corporate transactions and/or restructures, international tax and tax compliance work, including voluntary disclosure and disputes. He also has significant experience from an exchange control perspective in relation to cross border transactions and ownership of crypto assets. Andrew is widely recognised as being commercial and innovative when attempting to solve client problems. He also has good relationships with various regulators where interactions are necessary. Andrew has many years of experience and has done a range of corporate and international structures for parties. He is knowledgeable about the regulatory context in which South African deals are implemented as well as the considerations applicable to optimising the position of international investors.

Melville Douglas has been helping an extremely diverse and global range of clients to protect and grow their wealth. Our commitment to uncovering opportunities stretches back to 1987 when we set about building the bespoke investment approach we offer our clients.

Individuals, families, trustees, charities and institutions come to Melville Douglas for a combination of our investment skills, and our thoughtful, personal service. Through this approach, we establish long-lasting relationships built on confidence, trust and a commitment to meeting individual needs.

We have a strong investment culture that brings together our experienced team of investment professionals. They are guided by well-defined philosophies and processes for managing investments within a continuously changing environment.

Today, we continue to deliver the Melville Douglas way throughout our investment process. This approach is driven by fundamental research, with balanced decisions guided by a long-term outlook. As a result, we have delivered consistent investment performance. Although we are strategically positioned to operate globally, our boutique approach ensures you will never be just a number to us.