South Africa
Over a career spanning diplomacy, public administration, tourism, nation-branding and geopolitical advisory, Kingsley has worked at the highest levels of government in South Africa and across the African continent. He has held senior roles including Ambassador of South Africa to Portugal, High Commissioner of South Africa to Kenya, Chief of State Protocol, Deputy Director General in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Director General of South Africa’s National Department of Tourism.
Kingsley has advised and led on complex issues involving foreign policy, peace processes, organisational restructuring, state capacity, brand positioning and strategic stakeholder engagement. His work has included peace and diplomatic missions in Somalia, Sudan, South Sudan and the Comoros, as well as senior engagement with governments, civil society, diplomatic communities and international institutions.
As Director General of the National Department of Tourism, he oversaw a department with a R1.7 billion budget and 450 staff, leading organisational restructuring, strengthening performance management and building partnerships with universities to support research and capacity building for elected officials and civil servants. Earlier, within the Department of Foreign Affairs, he played a central role in transforming South Africa’s State Protocol Division in the post-apartheid democratic era.
Kingsley has also served as Commissioner General of South Africa at Expo 98 in Lisbon, helping to position South African business internationally during one of the country’s early major global engagements after apartheid. In South Sudan, he helped negotiate and implement a state capacity-building programme in partnership with the University of South Africa, through which approximately 5,000 officials were trained between 2005 and 2008.
He is currently a Director at RiskRecon, a consulting firm he co-founded with Dr Petrus de Kock. He has also served as Chief Executive Officer of Brand South Africa and is affiliated with the University of Pretoria as a research associate. Kingsley holds a PhD in Political Science and an MA in Diplomatic Studies from the University of Pretoria.
Kingsley offers:
- Senior counsel on diplomacy, public affairs, stakeholder engagement and political strategy
- Deep experience in African governance, state institutions, public sector reform and intergovernmental relations
- Expertise in peacebuilding, conflict resolution, negotiation and complex political environments
- Strategic advice on organisational restructuring, change management and capacity building
- Insight into country positioning, state reputation, protocol and international engagement
Roles:
- Director, RiskRecon
- Former Chief Executive Officer, Brand South Africa
- Former Director General, National Department of Tourism, South Africa
- Former Chief of State Protocol and Deputy Director General, Department of Foreign Affairs
- Former High Commissioner of South Africa to Kenya
- Former Ambassador of South Africa to Portugal
- Former Deputy Chief Representative, ANC Observer Mission to the United Nations, New York
- Board member, Centre for Mediation in Africa
- Board member, Liliesleaf Museum
Project examples:
- Transformation of South Africa’s State Protocol Division following the democratic transition
- Restructuring of the National Department of Tourism’s domestic and international operations
- South Africa’s participation at Lisbon Expo 98 as Commissioner General
- Peace and diplomatic missions relating to Somalia, Sudan, South Sudan and the Comoros
- Capacity-building programme for South Sudanese government officials, delivered with UNISA
- Strategic training for Ugandan senior officials ahead of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting
Sector and institutional examples:
South African Government, Department of Foreign Affairs, National Department of Tourism, Brand South Africa, University of South Africa, University of Pretoria, African diplomatic institutions, public sector organisations, peace and mediation platforms.