Nola Richards

Nola Richards
Executive Head of ESG & Sustainable Business at Vodacom Group

Nola Richards is a seasoned ESG and Sustainable Business executive and currently serves as Executive Head of ESG & Sustainable Business at Vodacom Group, where she leads the integration of environmental, social and governance considerations into business strategy, risk management, reporting and stakeholder engagement across multiple African markets.

With more than a decade of experience spanning telecommunications and financial services, Nola is recognised for her expertise in ESG strategy execution encompassing responsible business, climate strategy, sustainable development, ESG risk management, as well as sustainability disclosures. She has extensive experience engaging executive leadership and Boards, executives, investors and external stakeholders on sustainability matters, emerging ESG trends, business resilience and the role of technology in advancing sustainable development. She leads programmes aligned to global frameworks, including IFRS Sustainability Standards, GRI, emerging climate and biodiversity frameworks and the UN Sustainable Development Goals. 

A respected voice in the sustainability community, Nola actively contributes to industry dialogue and the sharing of best practice on topics including sustainable finance, climate action, ESG governance, digital inclusion and responsible business. She has represented organisations in industry working groups and multi-stakeholder initiatives and is known for translating complex sustainability challenges into practical business solutions that create measurable value for organisations and society.

Passionate about the transformative power of technology, Nola champions the role of connectivity, digital services and innovation in advancing sustainable development across Africa, helping organisations create long-term value while contributing to a more inclusive and resilient future.