Education
Bachelor of Science
(University of Witwatersrand, SA)
Higher Diploma in Personnel Management
(Wits Business School, SA)
Masters of Management
(Wits Business School, SA)
Master of Commerce
(University of Johannesburg, SA)
Doctor of Commerce
(University of Johannesburg, SA)
Professional Designations
Global Reward Practitioner (GRP)
(registered with WorldatWork, USA (formerly American Compensation Association))
Certified Compensation Professional (CCP)
(registered with WorldatWork, USA)
Master Reward Specialist (MRS);
Honorary Life Member
(Registered with the South African Reward Association (SARA), accreditation number MRS1306003)
Master HR Practitioner (MHRP);
Lifetime Award
(Registered with the South African Board for Personnel Practice (SABPP), (6401))
Competent Moderator
(Registered with the HR ETQA for SA, (115759))
Fellow of the Institute of Directors South Africa (FIOD).
Fellow of the Institute of People Management IPMF)
University Work
Professor
UNISA (since 2015);
Stadio / Southern Business School (since 2018)
Adjunct Professor
University of Cape Town
(since 2017)
Professor of Practice
University of Johannesburg
(since 2008)
Professor Extraordinaire
North West University
(2013 to 2017)
Research Associate Professor
GIBS (Gordon Institute of Business Science), University of Pretoria, (since 2014);
Lecture on the Board Learning Program (BLP) for board members on “Board performance and remuneration” (since 2005)
Boards & Committees
Current
21st Century
Stepped down as Chair, and now Lead Director (2025 to date)
Gijima Pty LTD
Board Member;
Chairperson of the HR and Nominations Committee
(2012 to date);
Member of ARC (since July 2025)
Impala Platinum LTD
Board Committee Remuneration Advisor (2017 to date)
Institute of Directors SA
King Committee member
(2019 to date)
St Davids Marist School, Inanda
Chairperson of the Board
(2018 to date)
River Bioscience RBX, CGA
Chairperson, Remuneration Committee (2022 to date)
Platinum Health
Chairperson, Remuneration committee (2022 to date)
Living Wage Network
Treasurer (since 2023)
Previous
Auditor General
Chairperson of HR and Remuneration Committee
(2006 – 2023)
DPSA (Department of Public Service and Administration)
Chair of Senior Management Service (SMS) Review Panel
(2007 – 2010)
The Presidency
Commissioner for the Independent Remuneration Committee for Public Office Bearers (President, Ministers, Judges, Magistrates, Parliament, and Traditional Leaders)
(2009 – 2014)
Great North Transport
Remuneration Committee member (2010 and 2011)
Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC)
Chairperson of HR committee (2015 – 2019);
Audit committee member;
HR committee member
(2013 – 2019);
Board member;
South African Football Association (SAFA)
Chairperson of HR Committee (2012 – 2015);
Board Member (2016 – 2022)
SAFA Development Agency
Chairperson of Remuneration Committee (2015 – 2021)
FASSET
Chairperson of HR and Remuneration Committee
(2018 to 2020)
St Davids Marist School Inanda
Chairperson of Board;
(2014 – 2016)
Deputy Chairperson (2009-2014)
Marist Schools Council (MSC) Member and Director
(2018 to 2025)
SARA (South African Reward Association)
President
(2009 – 2012) (2024 – 2025);
EXCO Member (2006 – 2008)
WorldatWork (USA)
Society Board Member;
Global Advisory Board member (2019 – 2024)
South African Journal of Industrial Psychology
Editorial committee member
(2015 – 2023)
Current Position
21st Century
- Group Lead Advisory Director (2025 – present)
- Chairperson and co-founding member (1998 – 2025)
Dr. Mark Bussin, former Chairperson and co-founder of 21st Century, serves on the Board of 21st Century as a Group Lead Advisory Director, ensuring strategic direction and nurturing key stakeholder relationships.
Mark has experience across all industry sectors and is viewed as a thought leader in the HR, Strategy, and Remuneration arena. He serves and advises on numerous Boards, ARC, and Remuneration Committees. He has appeared on both television and radio and in the press for expert views on remuneration.
Academic Roles
Mark has written 23 books and has successfully supervised 15 PhD dissertations, and 114 Master’s theses.
Mark lectures at the Wits Business School, University of Cape Town (UCT), GIBS (Gordon Institute of Business Science), NMMU (Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University), University of Johannesburg (UJ) and University of Pretoria (UP) as a guest lecturer on Executive Remuneration, Board member remuneration, HR best practice and trends, and Board performance.
Previous Positions
Sasol
- Group Rewards & Benefits Manager (Secondment)
(June 2007 – November 2008)
An 18 Month secondment to develop the reward and performance strategy and policy, prepare & present submissions to the Compensation Committee for the entire workforce including Non-Executive Directors, the Chairman and manage the department.
Standard Bank
- Global Head of Rewards, Benefits and Mobility (Secondment)
(June 2011 – September 2012)
A secondment to develop the reward and performance strategy and policy, prepare and present submissions to the Remuneration Committee for the entire Group across 20 countries and 4 continents, including Non-Executive Directors and the Chairman, and manage the department and the International Assignee department.
South African Breweries
- Human Resource Project Manager
(Jan 1996 – February 1999)
Develop and implement executive and shop floor strategies, systems, procedures, strategy and policies. Prepare and present submissions to the Remuneration Committee for the entire Group, including Non-Executive Directors and the Chairman.
BHP Billiton / Gencor
- Group Manager: Human Resource Systems and Remuneration Strategy
(1995)
Provided professional strategy advice and policies to Gencor divisions (Gengold, Samancor, Implats, Ingwe, Billiton, Alusaf, and Columbus Joint Venture). Researched and established new ways of developing human potential and restructuring work so that it has an impact on the “bottom line”. Ensured national and international competitiveness of pay and conditions of service. Prepared and presented submissions to the Remuneration Committee for the entire group, including Non-Executive Directors and the Chairman.