Riley Carpenter is an Associate Professor in UCT’s College of Accounting and a CA(SA). He holds a Master’s degree in Taxation, and his teaching and research interests encompass Accounting Education and Taxation. He has published in peer-reviewed International Journals, presented his research at International Conferences and contributed to a range of Tax and Accounting Publications. Riley has extensive experience in Academic Leadership, Professional Education and Governance. 

Rob McGaffin is a Town Planner and Land Economist.  He is currently the Executive Director for Spatial Planning and Environment at the City of Cape Town. He is a Founding Member of the Urban Real Estate Research Unit at UCT and was the Course Director for the Housing Finance Couse for Sub-Saharan Africa (UCT/Wharton). He has consulted to the World Bank and the South African National Treasury with respect on Land-Based Financing, Project Feasibilities and Public Sector Property Asset Management. He has previously worked in the Department of Construction Economics and Management at UCT as a Senior Lecturer, The Gauteng Department of Economic Development, Urban LandMark, The Cambridge-MIT Institute, Standard Bank, Nedbank and the City of Cape Town.

Rob holds a Master’s Degree in City & Regional Planning and an MPhil in Land Economics. He is a registered member of the South African Council for Planners (SACPLAN)

Zama Mgwatyu is the Programme Manager for Development Action Group's People-Led Housing Solutions Programme, leading the Contractor and Developer Academy and Backyard Matters. With nearly two decades of experience, he champions Community-Led Housing, Collaborative Urban Development and Active Citizenship. He is an IHS Alumni Impact Award recipient and leads an award-winning innovation programme.

Zama holds an Honours Degree in Public Administration from the University of the Western Cape (UWC) as well as a Diploma in Urban Land Management and Informal Settlement Regularisation from Erasmus University Rotterdam, Netherlands. Zama is a Management Committee Member of the WCPDF since 2025.

Laila joined Equites Property Fund in 2015 and played an integral role in improving internal processes within the Group as well as growing the scale and sophistication of the overall finance function. Prior to joining Equites, she gained experience in auditing and assurance, working in both PWC’s assurance and advisory divisions. She was appointed as Chief Financial Officer in May 2020 and has served as an executive director from that date. She has a keen interest for Environmental, Social and Sustainable Initiatives and serves as a Director of the Michel Lanfranchi Foundation. Laila also serves as a board member of the South African Property Owners Association (SAPOA) and forms part of the Accounting and JSE Committee of the SA REIT Association.

Georgina Smit is an award-winning leader and driving force in Sustainable Design and Green Building Innovation. She served as Head of Technical at GBCSA for five years before assuming the CEO role in May 2026. Georgina directs GBCSA’s Strategic Mandate to mobilise Industry Leaders, Government Partners and the Property Sector toward a net zero future.
Her passion for Collaboration, Technical Excellence and Market Transformation, guides her to advance the council's mission to scale Sustainable Building Solutions, embed best practice and foster a culture of environmental responsibility across South Africa’s Built Environment.

She holds a Master’s Degree in Urban Studies/Affairs from the University of Cambridge, an MPhil in Sustainable Development Management and Planning from Stellenbosch University and a Master’s Degree in Sustainability Studies from Stellenbosch University and joined GBCSA after nearly ten years of consultancy at Arup where she contributed to Multidisciplinary Projects focused on Resilient Design and Low Carbon Innovation.

Sian holds a Bachelor of Business Science and a Master of Science in Property Studies. She began her career at Mason Property Developments as a Development Project Coordinator before joining Investec in 2023 as a Property Risk Consultant. She recently passed the SACPVP Board Examination and is registered as a Professional Associated Valuer.