As a dynamic and celebrated business leader in South Africa, Ryan has built a career on connecting people, purpose and progress. Currently the CEO of Accelerate Cape Town, Ryan has become a trusted voice for inclusive growth and innovation, helping to shape a more connected and competitive regional economy.
His professional career spans both private and public sectors, serving in strategic advisory and executive leadership capacities, including working as Group Executive: Strategic Partnerships at the Gauteng Growth and Development Agency where he assited in the development and implementation of Invest SA Gauteng, a ‘one-stop shop’ designed to facilitate foreign investment. This valuable experience coupled with an impressive education including a MBA from UCT GSB – make his appointment as an Invest Cape Town ambassador all the more fitting.
As a Lead Project Manager within FIFA, he played a key role in coordinating global partnerships and stakeholder relations during the 2010 FIFA World Cup; a milestone moment for South Africa that deepened his belief in the country’s ability to deliver world-class projects on a global stage.
This experience propelled his passion for showcasing South Africa, particularly Cape Town, as a place where excellence, creativity and opportunity converge. “Cape Town has a magic that goes beyond its beauty. It’s a city that attracts dreamers and doers. We have deep talent, robust infrastructure and an entrepreneurial culture that thrives on solving complex challenges,” he says. “Investors are increasingly looking for places that align with their values; cities that are resilient, forward-thinking and globally connected. Cape Town represents all of that.” With thriving sectors in technology, renewable energy, financial services and the creative economy, the city has become a magnet for both capital and talent.
Looking to the next three years as an Invest Cape Town ambassador, Ryan aims to strengthen global partnerships, attract purpose-aligned investors and amplify Cape Town’s reputation as Africa’s innovation capital. “My goal is to share the city’s story with authenticity and to show that investing here is good business and an opportunity to be part of something meaningful,” he says.
When it comes to personal growth, Ryan believes that stepping outside one’s comfort zone is essential. He recalls recently attending Dinner in the Dark, an immersive sensory experience designed to help participants better understand the lived realities of blind people. The initiative offered a rare opportunity to engage with a different way of experiencing the world, one that challenged his assumptions and encouraged deeper awareness, “It really sensitised me to the lived experience of blind people and whether or not companies are actually doing enough to support access for the disabled,” he explains.
Ryan’s empathy and commitment to stepping beyond the familiar reflects the same spirit he brings to his role as an Invest Cape Town ambassador, a drive to keep learning, connecting and building.
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