Trudi Makhaya, a partner at BCG, is former economic adviser to the South African Presidency and a thought and execution partner dedicated to driving sustainable growth and shaping Africa’s economic future. Between 2018 and 2023, as economic advisor to President Ramaphosa, Trudi steered South Africa’s economic reform programmes including the Investment Drive, Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan, Just Energy Transition and Operation Vulindlela. Trudi also served as South Africa’s G20 sherpa, leading the technical delegation in the drafting and negotiations ahead of Leaders’ summits and meetings. Before taking up this role, Trudi held positions at the Competition Commission of South Africa (including as Deputy Commissioner), Deloitte, Genesis Analytics and AngloGold Ashanti. She has held non-executive directorships at Vumelana Advisory Fund and MTN South Africa, and is an early-stage investor in a data insights start-up. 

An active public commentator, Trudi was a columnist for various publications, and has also published academic journal articles on competition economics and policy. Trudi holds an MBA and an MSc in Development Economics from Oxford University, where she studied as a Rhodes Scholar. From the University of Witwatersrand, she holds an MCom in Economics, an honours degree in economics and a BCom in Law and Economics.  Trudi enjoys creative writing. Her work has been published in New Contrast (Summer 2016) and the Sol Plaatje European Union Poetry Anthology Vol IV. A former league debater, Trudi represented Wits at two World Universities Debating Championships (Manila 1999, Sydney 2000).