Tackling climate change is like climbing a mountain

Khanyisile Chaba

Khanyi Chaba comes into this talk as head of responsible business in one of Africa’s largest insurance companies. In her own words, she feels great responsibility to help repair the future, and leave behind a world that is sound and sustainable for future generations. She is also a long distance runner who has completed some of the world's most challenging ultramarathons multiple times, and a mountaineer who has summited some of the planet’s highest peaks. Khanyi makes the point that transitioning into the green economy starts with changing our minds and our hearts. She knows this because she understands what it takes to persevere when all you want to do is give up — because the finish line is too far, or the mountain too high.

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Khanyi Chaba is currently the Head of Responsible Business at Old Mutual Limited. She is responsible for leading the design and rollout of the company's sustainable development strategy. She was voted the SABC Lebone Woman Achiever of the Year Award in 1998. She is passionate about adventure sports and has achieved 10 medals in the Comrades Marathon and 10 medals in the Two Oceans Marathon. She also holds the 6 Finisher Star for World Major Marathons, having completed the Tokyo, Berlin, New York, Paris, London, Boston, and Chicago Marathons. She also holds medals for the Paris and Great Wall of China marathons. Khanyi summited Mount Kilimanjaro (highest peak in Africa) in 2008 and Mt Elbrus in Russia 2018 (highest mountain in Europe).