Annie McWalter is the CEO of both SAICA Enterprise Development (SAICA ED) and The Hope Factory, entities that are part of the South African institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA). Known as The Hope Factory Group, she has been with The Hope Factory for 14 years and launched SAICA Enterprise Development Pty(Ltd) eight years ago. SAICA ED and The Hope Factory have served in several sectors, in the specialist area of Enterprise and Supplier Development, Skills Development and Socio-Economic Development.
To date, The Hope Factory Group has impacted 3969 Small businesses and capacitated 2932 individuals in 459 programmes nation-wide; with the aim of uplifting individuals and communities, strengthening businesses and stimulating economic activities primarily through entrepreneurship and financial excellence skills. She holds qualifications in Industrial Psychology; Social Entrepreneurship and the Sciences, and loves to encourage and inspire others, particularly young women, in their specific leadership and professional journeys. Annie helped to shape the Gender Diversity Awards at the 2022 Windaba and served in the Gender Diversity Working Group with SAWEA for a period.