Who’s Speaking at HR Retail Africa 2027

Ayanda Dlamini

Ayanda Dlamini is a seasoned Human Resources and Employee Relations executive with 17 years of progressive leadership experience across South Africa's leading FMCG organisations. She is recognised for leading complex people strategies that enable organisational transformation, strengthen workforce capability and build high-performing, values-driven cultures within large, unionised and operationally intensive environments.

Her career spans executive leadership roles at RCL Foods, Nestlé South Africa and Tiger Brands where she has successfully partnered with business leaders to navigate organisational transformation, labour relations, governance, leadership development, talent strategy and business performance. Having led Employee Relations at both regional and national levels, Ayanda has established herself as a trusted advisor in balancing commercial imperatives with sustainable people practices while fostering constructive relationships with organised labour and key stakeholders.

In her current role as Director: Human Resources and Employee Relations for RCL Foods, Ayanda provides strategic leadership across one of South Africa's largest manufacturing operations. She leads initiatives focused on organisational effectiveness, culture transformation, leadership capability, employee engagement, governance and workforce sustainability, helping position people as a competitive advantage in delivering business performance.

Passionate about developing future leaders, Ayanda is an active mentor to emerging HR professionals and is committed to advancing the HR profession through thought leadership and evidence-based practice. Her work is driven by the belief that sustainable organisational success is achieved when leaders create environments where people can thrive, contribute meaningfully and perform at their highest potential.

Ayanda holds an Honours Degree in Industrial and Organisational Psychology,Postgraduate Diploma in Labour Relations and a Master of Business Administration (MBA). She is currently completing her Doctorate in Business Administration, where her research focuses on leadership, psychological need fulfilment and sustainable employee performance within South African manufacturing. Her research aims to develop practical leadership models that strengthen organisational performance while enhancing employee wellbeing and engagement.

Through her leadership, scholarship and passion for people, Ayanda continues to shape the future of Human Resources by championing inclusive leadership, organisational excellence and sustainable business success.