In an auspicious event held on 12 May, Lesley Donna Williams, CEO of Tshimologong Digital Innovation Precinct, was made a knight in the National Order of Merit by HE Aurélien Lechevallier, Ambassador of France to South Africa.
This prestigious award was in recognition of the close links fostered between Tshimologong, Embassy of France and the French Institute of South Africa (IFAS). Lechevallier applauded Williams for her role in establishing major partnerships with key players in the South African and French innovation industries. Williams is also a member of the Friends of the French Institute of South Africa (IFAS).
“With over 20 years of international business experience, we recognise and admire your clear and strong commitment to transformation, innovation and social justice. In addition, your ability to expertly manage dialogue facilitation, change management, address technology issues and develop successful stakeholder engagements is astounding,” said Lechevallier.
He added that Williams is an advocate for the future of business and society, and someone who believes that transformation requires the integration of personal mastery, organisational change, social and digital innovation, entrepreneurship and collaboration: “You also see living your full potential as a basic human right and you strive to create this opportunity in all the work you do.”
Upon receiving this award, Lesley Williams, CEO, Tshimologong Digital Innovation Precinct, said that the award is an incredible honour and Tshimologong Precinct’s partnership with the French Embassy, which launched in 2018, was innovative in nature, responding to both current market conditions and developing future markets for African creativity.
“Against international standards, African entrepreneurs are expected to have a higher rate of success before receiving investment – a symbol of low trust in our capabilities. It is this ceiling bias that I wish to smash, and the success we have had through the Digital Content Hub is testament to the excellence we have on the continent. The platform we have created is the first of its kind in the African creative and cultural industries and breaks down barriers for content creators to be fluid between local and international markets.”
Williams lauded Tshimologong’s partnership with the French Institute in South Africa (IFAS) and the French Development Agency (AFD), saying that the partnerships and the process of activating them has created far-reaching benefits: “May our continued partnership cast hope for deserving actors in the cultural and creative industries and enrich a mutually beneficial relationship between France and South Africa.”
The Tshimologong Precinct, its team and founder, Prof Barry Dwolatzky, were also acknowledged for their passion, ideas and energy, when delivering their high-quality work in their respective roles while supporting Williams in her role as CEO.
“Thank you for bestowing this award on me, it far surpasses anything that I could have wished for my professional journey,” concluded Williams.
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About Tshimologong Precinct:
Founded in September of 2016, as a Wits University investment in the tech and digital future of South Africa and the continent, Tshimologong Digital Innovation Precinct works with academia, corporates, international agencies and government across all spheres to unearth, upskill and promote digital talent. Tshimologong Precinct focusses its efforts in three areas: incubation of enterprises, digital skills training and creating a marketplace for start-ups.
Driven by common goals, including the desire to combine technology, innovation and creative content, Tshimologong and the French Embassy in South Africa have joined forces to create a Digital Content Hub (DCH) – and integrate and sustain the existing Digital Lab Africa Programme – the first support programming for the production of digital content across sub-Saharan Africa initiated in 2016 by the French Embassy in South Africa. The DCH is the first project from cultural industries in Africa to have obtained funding from the Agence française de développement (AFD) since the extension of their mandate to these sectors.