Our People.
Our Strength.
The Team
A dynamic and inclusive women-lead team, with advanced technical experience in oil and gas, work alongside partners and industry experts, which gives us strength to deliver economically empowered programs with considerable impact.
We have a highly experienced team of experts in the oil and gas industry with local and international deal making expertise with the capacity to unlock significant value. iMbokodo’s deep understanding of local imperatives, its world class industry and technical capability makes for a team with well-defined insights that are supported by knowledge of advanced innovative technology that is used to improve market strategies for oil and gas investment, from a solid, informed point of view.
The team of experts is widely networked within industry, the regulatory and legislative environments and all three spheres of government, enabling the right channelling of requests and information to enable seamless business growth and development in a sustainable, developmental and long term fashion.
Leadership Team
Sonja De Bruyn
CHAIRMAN
Sonja brings over 22 years of experience in investment banking, principal investments, and corporate leadership across South Africa and internationally. She is the founder of Identity Partners, a women-led investment holding and advisory firm based in Johannesburg, with active interests in Corporate Finance Advisory, Fund Management, and Mining Resources. Sonja also chairs the Mid-Market Fund at Ethos Private Equity, where she plays a central role in strategic investment decisions and transformation initiatives. Under her leadership, the cooperation agreement between Ethos and Identity Partners has helped expand access and visibility for women and Black professionals in South Africa’s private equity and financial services sectors. She has served as a director on the boards of numerous high-profile, listed and unlisted companies, contributing over 15 years of governance experience in sectors including financial services, telecommunications, mining, and infrastructure. Known for her values-driven leadership and long-standing commitment to economic inclusion, Sonja continues to shape capital markets and corporate structures to be more representative, resilient, and future-oriented.
Zibusiso Kganyago
NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Seasoned executive with over 30 years’ experience in property development, investment and strategic planning. Previously served as Group Development Director at Tsogo Sun, leading major projects including Montecasino and the R1.5 billion Suncoast redevelopment, and sat on several boards across the property and infrastructure sectors. Her career spans senior roles at Intersite, Southern Sun, Hospitality Property Fund, and Pareto, and she currently leads a women’s investment consortium developing the R2.1 billion Club Med Tinley project. She is also active in the oil and gas space through a new petroleum storage venture. Holds a BCom and postgraduate qualifications in property development, with executive training from Wharton and the University of Nevada.
Zakithi Zama
OPERATIONS HEAD
Formally with Total, PetroSA, Exxon and The Minerals Council (Chamber of Mines). Over 25 years of experience in public and government affairs, with more than 15 years involvement in various leadership roles in extractive industries including managing complex stakeholder issues.
Non-Executive Directors & Team Members
Gavin Wilson
NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Gavin Wilson is an experienced investment professional with a distinguished background in the energy and financial sectors, specialising in oil and gas portfolio management, capital markets, and strategic investments. For more than a decade, he has served as Investment Director at Meridian, a Hong Kong-based international investment firm, where he manages an oil and gas portfolio focused on world-class assets in emerging and frontier markets. Over the course of his career, Gavin has played an active role in identifying and backing significant energy opportunities globally, with particular emphasis on Africa and Southern Africa. He has been actively involved in a number of high-profile frontier energy companies and basin-opening plays, including Eco Atlantic and Impact Oil & Gas, and is recognised as a strategic cornerstone investor in the Southern Africa and West Africa energy sector. Earlier in his career, Gavin founded and managed two successful energy-focused investment funds, RAB Energy and RAB Octane. He also served as Head of Oil & Gas at Canaccord in London, where he led sales, corporate broking, and finance activities within the sector.
Gavin currently serves as an Independent Non-Executive Director of PetroTal Corp. (Peru), Afentra Plc (Angola-focused), and an Independent Director of TAG Oil Ltd (Egypt)., and has also served on the board of several listed energy companies focused on international exploration and production opportunities.
Nick de Blocq
GEOLOGY & OPERATIONS
Nick has over 37 years of experience as an Engineer and Manager in the global Upstream Oil and Gas industry in various senior roles, including Multi-Country Operations & Functions Management and Regional Business Development with Schlumberger, Africa VP with an American corporate and COO with a Regional Solutions supplier in West Africa. He was also an East Africa regional manager with a French environmental services / waste management supplier. His most recent full-time role was CEO of Kinetiko Energy (2021-2025) an ASX listed company with onshore gas assets in South Africa.
Nick has consulted to the SA Government on the localisation of industry and sat on the National Ports Authority advisory panel to bring an oil and gas aspect to their marketing strategies.
Russ Berkoben
NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
41 years proven track record of successful management of comprehensive oil and gas exploration programs with ExxonMobil. He is highly proficient in latest technological exploration techniques, including the use of 2D and 3D seismic. Line manager seasoned in diverse overseas operations ranging from country entry level to successful drilling exploration wells in various operational environments. Established in managing people with a special talent for building a team of people in challenging multicultural environments.
Ivan Collair
ENERGY CONSULTANT
Worked for Shell for over 30 years in various roles – exploration geology, oil and gas pricing, strategy and planning, portfolio analysis and broad stakeholder relationship management. Retired from Shell in 2013 as Government Relations Manager Shell Upstream South Africa. Has a deep knowledge and understanding of Southern African government systems and the impact of socio-economic policies on the growth and development of people and the economy.Also worked as a geologist early in his career, in various Southern African countries.
Leading with expertise.
Delivering with purpose.
Together we are building a sustainable energy future that empowers people, protects the planet and creates shared prosperity.
Partner with a team
that delivers.
Let’s build the future of energy together.