Jessica van Onselen

Jessica van Onselen has over 15 years of experience working with companies, governments, donors, investors and institutions across Africa. Jessica began their career in 2005 as a Corporate Affairs Officer for AngloGold Ashanti, where they then moved on to become a Government Relations Specialist and Sustainability Manager. In 2011, they took a six-month secondment with the World Gold Council. In 2012, they returned to AngloGold Ashanti as Senior Manager: Public Affairs Africa Region. In 2013, they founded BrightGuide Africa, where they acted as Managing Director & Founder | Communications Strategist. Jessica also worked as a Communications Advisor to Customs Reform & Trade Enhancement Somalia (CRATES), Strategic Communications Advisor on the Tax and Economic Governance (TEG) project Mozambique, Strategic Communications Advisor to the Tax Transformation Programme Ethiopia, and Strategic Communications Advisor to the Mineral Production Monitoring Support Project Zambia. In 2022, they will become the Director of Communications & Marketing for Apolitical.

Jessica van Onselen attended the University of the Witwatersrand from 1998 to 2008, earning a B.A. in Dramatic Art in 2001, a Postgraduate Diploma in Management (Business Administration) in 2004, and a Masters in English Literature in 2008. Jessica also attended Greenside and Wits Business School, although the duration of their attendance and the qualifications they obtained are unknown.