Chichi Maponya is the Co-founder and Executive Chairperson of Africa Travel Retail, a leading travel retail distribution and advisory firm with experts on airports customer experience, sense of place, implementation, and non-aero-commercial advisory services based in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Chichi currently serves as a Board Chairperson of Maponya Group, a diversified family business established in 1952 by her late father, Dr. Richard Maponya.  She is a Trustee of former South African President Kgalema Motlanthe’s Foundation and of Dr. Richard Maponya Institute for Skills and Entrepreneurship.  She is also a Board Member of Consumer Goods Council of South Africa and actively serves as a member of the Middle East Africa Duty Free Association’s Advocacy Board Committee.

Chichi is a former Deputy Chairperson of South African Council on International Relations (SACOIR) tasked with advising the Minister on international relations; a former Chairperson of Brand South Africa – an agency tasked with marketing and promoting South Africa as a global investment destination.  She also served as a Board Member of South African Tourism and of 4 Africa Exchange (4AX) – alternative stock exchange.

With her vast experience and achievements as a business leader, Chichi has earned the coveted South African Businesswoman of the year award in 2008.