The Fuels Industry Association of South Africa was established in 1994 under the auspices of former president Nelson Mandela to represent the collective interests of the South African liquid fuels industry and to usher South Africa’s vital liquid fuels industry into a new democratic era.
Seelan Naidoo, Chief Executive Officer of Engen Petroleum Limited is the Chairperson of the Fuels Industry Association of South Africa for the year 2024 – 2025.
He is the 26th industry leader to chair the association since its establishment in July 1994.
The Fuels Industry Association of South Africa opened its membership in 2012 to accommodate both existing and potential marketers in the petroleum and refinery market. Membership is available to companies participating in the refining and marketing of petroleum products.
The oil industry is divided into upstream and downstream activities. Upstream refers to the exploration and production of crude oil. Downstream refers to the refining, transportation and marketing of end-user products.
The petrol retail price is regulated by government and changed every month on the first Wednesday of the month.
Under the threat from international oil sanctions in the past, the liquid fuel industry was losing less governmental intervention and regulation.
The Fuels Industry Association of South Africa takes pride in proactively engaging with key stakeholders, providing research information, expert advice and communicating the industry’s views.
For Media queries, please contact
Head Communication: Phila Mzamo
Mobile: 066 423 2319
Email: communication@fuelsindustry.org.za
Speakers
VP Refining, Chemicals and Oil Markets - Downstream Global SME
CHIEF ECONOMIST, ASIA PACIFIC
Vice Chairperson – SAPIA
Country Chairperson – Shell Downstream
CHAIRPERSON AND MANAGING DIRECTOR - VOLKSWAGEN GROUP SOUTH AFRICA
Group Chief Executive Officer - Transnet SOC Ltd
President and CEO - Toyota South Africa Motors
Chairperson – SAPIA
Managing Director and CEO – Engen Petroleum Limited
Vice President: Global Head of Fuels and Refining – S&P Global
Vice President: LPG – ARGUS MEDIA
Alan Gelder
VP Refining, Chemicals and Oil Markets – Downstream Global SME
Alan is VP Refining, Chemicals and Oil Markets. As Downstream Global SME, he is responsible for formulating Wood Mackenzie’s market and asset research outlook on this global sector, contributing to Wood Mackenzie’s integrated cross-sector perspectives.
Alan has 35 years of downstream industry experience across industry, consulting and research. He has had various people and content leadership roles in Wood Mackenzie during this 18-year tenure, including global head downstream consulting and research, having spent time in other locations, such as Houston.
Prior to joining Wood Mackenzie, Alan had 10 years of industry consulting after working for ExxonMobil in a variety of project planning and technical process design roles.
Alan has a first class Master Degree in Chemical Engineering from Imperial College, London, supplemented by an MBA from Henley Management College.
Alicia Garcia Herrero
CHIEF ECONOMIST, ASIA PACIFIC
Alicia García Herrero is the Chief Economist for Asia Pacific at French investment bank Natixis, based in Hong Kong and is an independent Board Member of AGEAS insurance group. Alicia also serves as Senior Fellow at the European think-tank BRUEGEL and as a non-resident Senior Fellow at the East Asian Institute (EAI) of the National University Singapore (NUS). Alicia is also Adjunct Professor at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST). Finally, Alicia is and an advisor to the Spanish government on economic affairs, a Member of the Board of the Center for Asia-Pacific Resilience and Innovation (CAPRI), a member of the Advisory Board of the Berlin-based Mercator Institute for China Studies (MERICS). an advisor to the Hong Kong Monetary Authority’s research arm (HKIMR) and a Member of the Council of the Focused Ultrasound Foundation (FUF),
In previous years, Alicia held the following positions: Chief Economist for Emerging Markets at Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria (BBVA), Member of the Asian Research Program at the Bank of International Settlements (BIS), Head of the International Economy Division of the Bank of Spain, Member of the Counsel to the Executive Board of the European Central Bank, Head of Emerging Economies at the Research Department at Banco Santander, and Economist at the International Monetary Fund. As regards her academic career, Alicia has served as visiting Professor at John Hopkins University (SAIS program), China-Europe International Business School (CEIBS) and Carlos III University.
Alicia holds a PhD in Economics from George Washington University and has published extensively in refereed journals and books.
Aluwani Museisi
SAPIA VICE CHAIRPERSON – SHELL DOWNSTREAM
Aluwani Museisi is the Country Chair and Corporate Relations Head for Shell Downstream South Africa. He leads the Country Coordination Team, which co-ordinates and aligns cross-business and cross-function activities at a country level.
Before assuming his current role, he was the Corporate Relations Head at Shell Downstream South Africa leading the communications, government relations, social investment, and external relations teams. He has a wealth of experience in stakeholder engagement and policy advocacy.
Prior to joining Shell Downstream South Africa, he was the Senior Director, for Government Affairs and Policy, for Sub-Saharan Africa at Johnson & Johnson.
Previously, Aluwani was with the Department of International Relations and Cooperation in the South African government. He was a diplomat for a period spanning 11 years and represented South Africa within the G20, the United Nations and the South African Embassy in Washington DC.
Aluwani holds a Master of Business Administration, a Bachelor of Economics, and an Advanced Diploma in Diplomacy.
Martina Biene
Chairperson and Managing Director of Volkswagen Group South Africa
Martina Biene is the Chairperson and Managing Director of Volkswagen Group South Africa. Biene assumed this position on 1 November 2022.
Biene has over 20 years of automotive industry experience. She began her career at Volkswagen in 2001 and held multiple roles at Volkswagen’s head office in Wolfsburg, Germany.
In 2010, she was appointed Head of Golf Product Line. Between 2012 and 2015, she held the position of Head of Small Cars, before being appointed into the role of Product Marketing – Volkswagen Passenger Cars Brand globally in 2015. Her portfolio included representing the Sales and Marketing function in terms of price volumes, line-up and innovations for all markets in the product development phase.
In 2018, she was assigned to Volkswagen Group South Africa in the role of Head of Volkswagen Passenger Car Brand. Her responsibilities included Sales, Marketing, Dealer Network Management, Product Marketing and Volkswagen Motorsport. In 2019, Biene steered the Volkswagen brand to achieve a 20.4% market share, which at the time, was the brand’s highest since 1996.
Following her tenure in South Africa, Biene returned to Germany in 2020 to take up the position of Head of Small & Compact Vehicles Product Line – Volkswagen Passenger Cars. She held this role until her appointment as the Chairperson and Managing Director at VWSA.
Michelle Phillips
Acting Group Chief Executive – Transnet SOC Ltd
Advocate Michelle Phillips is the Group Chief Executive of Transnet SOC Ltd and was appointed into this role on 28 February 2024.
She has 24 years’ experience in Transnet with a proven track record in business and operations improvement, specifically in the port environment. In 2020, She was appointed as the Chief Executive of Transnet Pipelines, a company that manages and operates 3 800 km of underground, high pressure petroleum and gas pipelines. In this role, she was responsible for ensuring security of supply to the market.
Phillips is an admitted Advocate of the High Court with a B Juries LLB from the Nelson Mandela University (Gqebherha); various executive development leadership programmes such as GIBS AND IMD, and several certificates for international terminal operations management from Antwerp, Rotterdam, Paris, and Le Havre.
Andrew Kirby
President and CEO – Toyota South Africa Motors
Andrew Kirby, the President and CEO of Toyota South Africa Motors, is a seasoned leader with a remarkable career trajectory. His journey began with a Mechanical Engineering degree from the University of Cape Town in 1988. He then joined Anglo America to pursue engineering in the Gold Mining Industry.
Upon obtaining his professional engineer qualification, Andrew transitioned to the motor industry, working at BMW South Africa in the Service Division. He made significant contributions to service, parts, and retail operations and provided invaluable insights into the challenges and value of re-engineering and change management projects.
A pivotal moment arrived when Andrew embarked on an executive PMD course at Harvard Business School, which saw him make a career move to join BMW North America for three years. In 2000, he returned to his homeland, South Africa, assuming leadership roles in Product Planning, Parts Operations, and Brand Management.
In 2005, Toyota South Africa Motors welcomed Andrew as Senior Vice President for Sales and Marketing, overseeing the Toyota, Lexus, and Hino brands. Six years later, he moved to Japan to take on global responsibilities, managing and leading the Lexus brand. He lived in Nagoya with his family and returned to South Africa in July 2013.
On his return from Japan, he took over responsibilities for the Corporate Administration team spanning offices in Sandton, Johannesburg, and Prospecton in Durban where the Toyota manufacturing facility in based. His purview included Finance, IT, HR, Corporate Affairs, and Corporate Planning.
In January 2016, Andrew was appointed Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, overseeing all operations. His unwavering commitment led to his subsequent appointment as President and CEO in April of the same year. His legacy continues to shape the automotive landscape in South Africa and beyond.
Seelan Naidoo
Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer – Engen Petroleum Limited
Seelan Naidoo, is the current Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Engen Petroleum Ltd. He has extensive Oil Industry experience acquired over a 38-year career in various senior roles within Refining, Sales, Marketing and Distribution environments, having operated in diverse markets with varying regulatory frameworks.
Before his appointment as MD/CEO, Seelan headed up Engen’s Retail Division, overseeing the extensive service station and convenience store network in South Africa. His career commenced at Durban’s Mobil Refinery in 1986, where he acquired solid oil & gas industry knowledge and expertise through various technical and management positions.
He acquired international exposure through a move to Engen’s International Business Division in 2007.
Seelan’s leadership journey included serving as Managing Director in Uganda and Tanzania, followed by his appointment as Regional Business Manager for East Africa. In this capacity, he managed sales, marketing, and secondary supply infrastructure across seven countries. Notably, during his tenure, Seelan chaired TAOMAC (Tanzania Association of Oil Marketing Companies), the Tanzanian equivalent of SAPIA. His unwavering commitment lies in sustainable growth, transformation, high-performance teams, and exemplary governance.
Daniel Evans
Vice President: Global Head of Fuels and Refining – S&P Global
As the Global Vice President at S&P Global, Daniel Evans leads the organisations global Fuels and Refining research team. The team is responsible for global and regional short-term refined product supply, demand, price, and margin outlooks, as well as detailed downstream market research. Additionally, Daniel’s team contributes to long-term forecasting efforts, focusing on the impact of the energy transition on fuel demand and the refining industry.
Before joining S&P Global, Daniel worked in corporate strategy at Statoil, where he analysed global business opportunities and framed strategic investment contexts for senior management. He holds a Master’s degree in Civil Engineering from Leeds University and also studied at the University of California, Berkeley.
David Appleton
Vice President: LPG – ARGUS MEDIA
David Appleton is Vice President for LPG at Argus Media, responsible for Argus’ LPG activities in Europe, Middle East and Africa. Prior to that he had a business development role in Asia-Pacific and was previously also editor of various LPG publications including the Argus LPG Outlook, Analytics, and the Statistical Review of Global LPG which is published jointly each year with the World LPG Association.
Before joining Argus in 2015, David spent six years at the European LPG Association, defending and promoting the interests of the sector. He holds degrees in politics, economics, and international development.