Ms. Erica Bruce
President of the South African Institute of Stockbrokers (SAIS)
Stockbroking has been part of my life for four decades. I began my career in 1985 at Ferguson Brothers in equity settlements and soon moved to Kaplan and Stewart, where I advanced to managing the administration office. My early involvement with the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) included consulting on the development and rollout of the Broker Deal Accounting (BDA) system, training member firms and playing an active role in the landmark transition from the open outcry trading floor to the JSE’s first electronic trading platform, JET.
Over the years, I have held senior positions across leading institutions, including HSBC Simpson McKie, Cadiz Group, and Noah Financial Innovation. In 2009, I co-founded Navigare Securities, where I continue to serve as Managing Director and Stockbroker in Control, overseeing compliance, risk, operations and strategy.
I have been deeply involved in the evolution of South Africa’s financial markets. During the shift from paper to electronic settlement, I contributed to numerous committees for the creation of STRATE CSD. I have also served on a wide range of JSE and market committees, including the Equity Clearing and Settlement Advisory Committee, Equity Trading Advisory Committee, and the Financial Markets Review Panel, working closely with regulators, exchanges, and National Treasury to strengthen market structures and governance.
Beyond my executive roles, I have had the privilege of serving as President of the South African Institute of Stockbrokers (SAIS), the industry association and professional body for stockbrokers and financial market professionals. Under its mandate, the SAIS has advanced the mission of raising standards of professionalism and competence through accredited qualifications, continuing professional development and advocacy on regulatory and market issues.
The SAIS plays a vital role in strengthening the collective voice of the profession, advocating on behalf of members, ensuring the perspectives of a diverse industry are represented and actively engaging in regulatory consultations. We regularly comment on policy and discussion papers and work to address the wide-ranging challenges and opportunities facing participants across South Africa’s financial markets. This ensures that industry voices are heard, respected and incorporated into decisions that shape the future of our markets. The SAIS continues to play a central role in building an inclusive, ethical and sustainable financial market environment in South Africa.
Throughout my career, I have remained passionate about transformation, mentorship, and education, ensuring that new generations of financial professionals are equipped with the skills, integrity and vision to safeguard the future of our markets.