Deshan Naidoo
South Africa

Deshan is an award-winning youth industrialist in South Africa and private sector advisor to the national department of trade and industry. He served as a board member for the South African Association of Automotive Component Manufacturers from 2017 – 2023. As Managing Director at Afrivolt, Deshan leverages relationships for battery minerals in the South African Development Community and an international ecosystem of partners to create Africa’s first Gigafactory in South Africa. Beyond his executive roles, Deshan has advised the South African government on fostering local export businesses, has provided input to some of the country’s industry masterplans and has been invited to speak at events hosted by the Advanced Minerals Development Centre at the African Union, in support of the African Green Minerals Strategy. His achievements have garnered prestigious recognition, including the South African Youth Industrialist and Exporter of the Year in 2022, presented by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa. Deshan holds a bachelor’s in economics and finance from the University of Cape Town, complemented by a variety of executive certificates from leading universities. He is a Certified International Director by INSEAD (IDP-C).