Economist Panel

Dr Michael K C Jackson

Dr Michael K C Jackson, who has a doctorate in monetary economics, as well as being a graduate electrical engineer, MBA and CMA. He has extensive experience in quantitative economic consulting, research and econometric modelling, as well as in wider management consulting and economic development.

Professor Mohammed I Jahed

Professor Jahed holds a PhD in Economics and has obtained experience and expertise in public economics and finance, macroeconomic policy, development economics and management in the public sector.He has served as senior economic planning specialist at the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA).  He was appointed Deputy Director General: Office of the Premier Limpopo Province, responsible for economic growth and development, economic policy, economic planning, transformation and provincial administration. Prof Jahed joined the South African business sector representative group, the National Business Initiative, as Director of Economics. From 2003 to 2005, he was seconded by the South African Presidency as Chief Economist and Head of Policy, Strategy and Research of the NEPAD Secretariat. Prof. Jahed has been Professor at the University of Witwatersrand in the Graduate School of Public and Development Management (2005-2010). He was subsequently appointed Divisional Executive: Policy and Integration at the DBSA. Prof Jahed was the Director of the Parliamentary Budget Office from 2013-2018. In January 2019, Prof Jahed was appointed at the University of Johannesburg as Professor in the School of Public Management, Governance and Public Policy, College of Business and Economics.

Prof Jahed currently serves on the NEPAD Business Foundation Board.

Contact Details

• Email: mjahed@econoquest.co.za
• Phone: 082 336 4639

Dr Colin Wood

With a PhD in physical chemistry, Wood’s scientific background is broadened by extensive industrial experience in both the chemical (ICI UK) and metals industries (Samancor), where he contributed in the international arena to development and research.  His diverse industry experience includes cost engineering (Mintek), project evaluation for capital sanction, as well as management experience heading research groups and laboratory services on major chemical projects (AECI), while more recently acting as a senior international strategic business development consultant in establishing customer networks and conducting market entry studies (Sasol Group and AECI).  He contributes to public discourse as a journalist, where he has authored a regular column on upstream/downstream topics for Business Report and currently publishes opinion in Business Day with a focus on the renewable energy sector.