Vuyani Jarana

As Chair of South Africa’s G20 Startup20 Engagement Group, Vuyani Jarana guides policy recommendations that promote inclusive, tech-enabled entrepreneurship across G20 economies.

He is a Founder & CEO of Ilitha Telecommunications, which is deploying affordable fibre networks to underserved townships and rural areas—critical digital infrastructure for local SMEs and future agritech or food-tech services.

Jarana also serves as Chair of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), South Africa’s leading public R&D agency, where he oversees strategies to translate research—including work on sustainable energy, digital manufacturing, and climate resilience—into market solutions for small businesses.

Building on more than two decades in high-growth ICT ventures, he now focuses on how connectivity, data and public-private partnerships can help small firms participate in resilient, low-carbon value chains—an objective closely aligned with this Forum’s emphasis on climate-smart innovation for local economies. Jarana holds an MBA from Stellenbosch University and has completed executive programmes at Harvard and INSEAD.