Lee Zama

Ms Zamekile Corene Lee Zama is an accomplished board director, executive leader and governance professional with more than 30 years of experience across food, tourism, hospitality, infrastructure, facilities management, commercial services, economic development and stakeholder relations.

She brings extensive experience in corporate governance, strategic planning, risk management, policy development, organisational performance and stakeholder engagement within complex public- and private-sector environments. Lee currently serves as a Board Member of the iSimangaliso Wetland Park Authority, appointed by the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment. She chairs the Authority’s Infrastructure, Ecotourism and Commercialisation Committee, providing strategic oversight of infrastructure investment, tourism development, commercialisation, sustainability and revenue diversification for South Africa’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Her board and governance experience includes roles with the Tourism Business Council South Africa, where she chaired the Transformation and Growth Committee and the Covid-19 Tourism Protocol Development Committee; the Tourism Grading Council of South Africa; Bidvest Prestige Group; The Colony Executive Hotel; and the BEECA Cleaning Association.

Lee is the Managing Director of CEO Directives Advisory, where she advises on policy, sustainability, commercialisation and strategic partnerships. Her work includes leading in establishing the SADC Tourism Business Alliance across 16 member states and supporting the development of governance frameworks, strategic plans and initiatives that promote inclusive economic participation and institutional sustainability.

She previously served as Chief Executive Officer of FEDHASA. During the Covid-19 pandemic, she led the sector’s engagement with government and coordinated the development of national tourism and hospitality safety protocols.

Her contribution is grounded in a commitment to accountable governance, inclusive growth, institutional sustainability and effective collaboration across government, business, and civil society.