It was when he joined the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (Nepad) Business Foundation (NBF) in 2004 that chairperson Stanley Subramoney realised the importance of infrastructure for African business to thrive.

“When I was growing up, I didn’t know better, so I took the infrastructure around me for granted and didn’t realise how poor it was,” reflects the 54-year-old, who states that his humble background has given him a sense of what needs to be done in future to meet infrastructure needs.

“But my involvement in the development of Africa and South Africa goes beyond infrastructure,” says Subramoney.

His passion to make a difference in the lives of South Africans and the rest of Africa’s population has led to his commitment to many organisations from an early age.

“This shaped my outlook,” says Subramoney, who, in 2010, became the chairperson of the NBF, which was formed in 2004 at the request of former President Thabo Mbeki. He took over from Dr Reuel Khoza, the founding chairperson and new deputy chairperson of the NBF.

“Africa has a major infrastructure deficit and the NBF is incredibly bullish about the continent. We are also positive about intra-Africa trade and expect this to grow from 12% to 20% by 2020. This will have a profound impact on gross domestic product, poverty, unemployment and inequality,” he says.

The NBF, which believes “Africa’s time has come”, will host its annual Infrastructure Africa Business Forum, from July 16 to 17, at the Sandton Convention Centre, in Johannesburg, to provide role-players and stakeholders with the opportunity to share their thoughts on infra- structure, which Subramoney says is important for Africa to be globally competitive.

Subramoney was born in Overport, Durban, in 1958, and shortly thereafter his family were forcibly moved to Chatsworth under the apartheid era’s Group Areas Act.

“Life was difficult. My family was poor but both my parents instilled discipline in their children as well as a strong belief in education,” notes Subramoney, who was the first person in his family to pass matric and complete a university degree.

His road to education was tough as he had to walk a long distance to attend platoon classes in the afternoon at Oceanview Primary School, in Chatsworth, because of overcrowding, but he highlights the high quality of the education he received.

“There was a real commitment from the teachers and you didn’t misbehave for fear of corporal punishment,” explains Subramoney, whose wife is a teacher.

He then attended Southlands Secondary School, also in Chatsworth, from 1971 to 1976, after which Subramoney, from 1985 to 1989, chaired the Southlands High Ex-Students Society, an organisation focused on making a difference in the community, including working with child welfare organisations.

In the year he joined the organisation, he lost his 49-year-old father, and at 18 took on a leader- ship role in his family to assist his mother.

Subramoney put himself through university, taking out a student loan to become a chartered accountant, a career he chose because he wanted to be successful in business.

He studied part-time through the University of South Africa (Unisa), while working for a small Durban-based accounting firm, Catto, Young & Lester, and completed his B Compt degree in 1985 and the B Compt honours degree in 1986, he became a member of the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants and the Public Accountants and Auditors Board in 1987.

“I missed a lot of social experiences as a result of studying and working simultaneously, but I have no regrets,” he says.

Catto, Young & Lester, which Subramoney joined in 1976, merged with Pricewaterhouse-Coopers (PwC) in 1989, which enabled the NBF chairperson to learn about the business world through which he tries to make a difference. He became involved in PwC’s corporate social investment (CSI) as a result and helped to shape the firm’s strategy on CSI, while lecturing part-time in auditing and accounting.

“I grew up in the firm and have learnt so much from colleagues around me,” says Subramoney, who started at PwC as an audit manager in 1989, and thereafter became an audit partner, a responsibility that involved technical and human capital roles. Subramoney then led PwC’s corporate finance practice for KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) and, in 2001, joined the executive as deputy CEO.

He has led the government- and public-sector practice since 2010 and is responsible for strategy development within PwC. “While I have had one job, I have had many different roles within the firm, giving me wider exposure of PwC, Africa and the world,” states Subramoney.

Other positions held by him include KZN Marketing Initiative director from 1994 to 1998, Business Skills for South Africa Founda- tion chairperson since 2005 and a member of Business Unity South Africa’s board of trustees since 2007. He has also participated as a panellist at several conferences, including the World Economic Forum’s Africa summit.

“These roles have exposed me to business and government, giving me an extensive view of the business landscape in South Africa, Africa and worldwide,” he says, pointing out that he has been blessed to meet Presidents, captains of industry and leaders who have all had a hand in shaping his thinking.

Subramoney has travelled globally with former Presidents Nelson Mandela and Mbeki, as well as President Jacob Zuma, as part of the business delegations promoting trade and investment into South Africa.

Through these travels, he has shared his belief in the country, selling South Africa extensively abroad as a business destination, a country of hope and the future – a future which, on May 10, 1994, started to take shape at the Union Buildings, in Pretoria, where Subramoney was one of the invited guests who witnessed President Mandela’s inauguration.

“It was touching listening to President Mandela speak as the new President and this reinforced my belief that we lived in an amazing country, with great opportunities, and that I needed to do what I could to make a difference.”