AI, sustainability guru headlines TC awards

SCOTLAND-based Zimbabwean Artificial Intelligence (AI) and sustainability expert, Dr Ephias Ruhode, will be the guest of honour at this year’s prestigious Top Companies Survey Awards, set for this evening in Harare.

The event, organised by The Financial Gazette in partnership with Old Mutual Zimbabwe, is themed “Sustainable Investment for Social Impact,” making Ruhode a fitting keynote speaker.
A distinguished academic and digital business researcher at the University of the West of Scotland (UWS), Ruhode is renowned for his transformative work supporting UK entrepreneurs and driving sustainable development initiatives.

Dr Ephias Ruhode

Before joining UWS, he served as an Associate Professor of Digital Business at Wits Business School in South Africa and at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology, where he led Transdisciplinary Studies. His consultancy work focuses on digital transformation at the intersection of society, business, and technology.
Ruhode is also actively involved in the TwentyforGood Movement, a multi-stakeholder initiative based in Cape Town that champions job creation aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The initiative seeks to boost skilled labour and enhance environmental and social impacts, such as expanding access to renewable energy and promoting local manufacturing — principles that align with the theme of this year’s Top Companies Survey and Awards.
In 2021-2022, Ruhode played a pivotal role in the Smart Africa Continental AgriTech Blueprint, a project aimed at accelerating agricultural productivity across Africa through the use of ICTs. He was also instrumental in the development of Zimbabwe’s e-Agriculture strategy.
His research on e-Governance has been key to improving public administration and transparency in both Zimbabwe and South Africa.
In 2017-2018, he led the development of a free and open-source software readiness assessment methodology for South Africa’s Limpopo Provincial Government, and was a lead researcher in the International Learning Network of networks on Sustainability (LeNS), a project involving 16 institutions across five continents.
Ruhode’s work extends beyond academia. He serves as a digital transformation consultant for the Help2Grow programme, which supports entrepreneurs in the UK, and the CeeD Scotland programme, which connects business organisations with academic institutions.
His extensive international experience has positioned him as a thought leader in digital transformation, offering insights crucial for companies navigating modern business challenges.
As this year’s guest of honour, Ruhode will not only celebrate the successes of leading companies but will also underscore the importance of digital innovation in building a sustainable future. His address is expected to inspire attendees to embrace technology as a catalyst for positive change in their businesses and communities.
The survey, which focuses on listed companies, is now in its 39th edition. It was conducted annually from 1980 to 2008, then took a break before resuming in 2013 and has continued since. Old Mutual has been a sponsor for the past 11 years.
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