Margaret Dawes is a senior finance, governance and financial services executive with extensive experience across Africa.  A qualified Chartered Accountant, she has held senior leadership roles including CFO, COO, Regional Executive and Executive: Mergers & Acquisitions.

She spent 18 years as an Executive Committee member of Sanlam Emerging Markets, leading finance, M&A, governance, integration, regional operations and insurance businesses across multiple African jurisdictions. Her experience includes board and board committee representation in 13 African countries, responsibility for life, general insurance, health and asset management businesses, and oversight of major acquisitions, integrations and governance implementation.

Prior to Sanlam, Margaret held senior finance roles in listed financial services companies and was an audit partner in Johannesburg. Since retiring from Sanlam in December 2023, she has undertaken consulting assignments including Acting CEO of Sanlam Angola, M&A project work and governance review support.