Wamkele Mene serves as Chief Director: Africa Economic Relations, at the Department of Trade & Industry of South Africa. In this role, he is South Africa’s chief trade negotiator responsible for leading all free trade negotiations with African trading partners.

Prior to assuming this position, Wamkele was the Director: International Trade & Investment Law at the Department of Trade & Industry, a role in which he was principal legal counsel on international trade law and international investment law.

From 2010 until 2015 Wamkele represented South Africa, at the rank of deputy Ambassador, at the World Trade Organisation (WTO) in Geneva, Switzerland. As South Africa’s trade diplomat, Wamkele negotiated and structured international commercial agreements aimed at the removal of trade and regulatory impediments to exporting to or investing in markets around the world.

Wamkele has written and lectured internationally on international trade law, international investment law and international business law. He holds a Bachelor of Arts – Law degree from Rhodes University in South Africa, a Master of Arts in International Economics from the School of Oriental & African Studies (SOAS), University of London and a LL.M (Master of Laws) in Banking Law & Financial Regulation from the London School of Economics & Political Science.