Seminar Moderator Bruce Robertson

Bruce Robertson was Regional Coordinator of Consultative Business Movement from 1990 to 1991 (Johannesburg Region). He was responsible for establishing dialogue between business leaders and political leaders in the area of economic policy, development, and conflict resolution. From 1991 to 1995, Mr. Robertson was General Manager of Premier International Development where he was responsible for trade in wheat flour, maize, and edible oils for Premier Group in Sub-Saharan Africa. He also investigated investment opportunities for Premier in other African nations. In 1995, Mr. Robertson was made Managing Director of Africa Resources Holdings Limited, where his primary responsibility was raising capital to invest in cotton ginneries in eastern Uganda.

In 1997, Mr. Robertson established Great Lakes Cotton Company in partnership with a Liverpool-based cotton merchant. Through Great Lakes they have purchased cotton ginneries in Malawi, Zimbabwe, Zambia, and South Africa. The company employs around 2,500 people, provides cotton farming inputs to around 120,000 farmers, and provides the main source of cash income to around 180,000 rural families through cash purchasing of their cotton.

Mr. Robertson is married to Janina Masojada, has two young children, Aleks and Klara and lives in Durban. His time is taken up balancing travel and travails in Africa with a delightful but expectant family. Any advice on the art of balancing is welcome but will be returned with interest.