“Live a Great Life.”
Claire Clarivette is a globally experienced Chartered Accountant whose career spans more than two decades and four continents, weaving together a narrative of financial leadership, organizational transformation, and a steadfast commitment to empowering people and advancing strategic excellence. Grounded in her personal belief to “live a great life,” Claire approaches every role—whether guiding multinational teams, presenting to boards, or shaping financial strategy—with intention, integrity, and a deeply human-centered perspective. Her professional journey reflects not only upward mobility and increasing responsibility, but also a consistent ability to bring clarity to complexity and stability to rapidly evolving business environments.
From the earliest days of her career at Grant Thornton, Claire distinguished herself as a driven and capable professional. Transitioning quickly from audit junior to audit senior, she built a foundation in public audits that sharpened her analytical abilities, fortified her technical knowledge, and strengthened her capacity to assess organizational controls with precision. Her work across manufacturing, entertainment, and medical sectors provided a diverse base of exposure that would later accelerate her ability to adapt effortlessly to new industries and global contexts.
Her transition to Nedbank marked a pivotal expansion of her expertise. As an IT Auditor and later a Forensic Accountant, Claire immersed herself in highly detailed, investigative work that required both discretion and critical thinking. Performing complex forensic audits and mentoring newer team members, she refined her ability to analyze operational risks through a systems lens—an approach that would become a defining hallmark of her leadership style. These roles also deepened her understanding of financial integrity, internal processes, and control environments across large-scale organizations.
Claire’s tenure at Eskom, one of South Africa’s most significant state-owned enterprises, provided her with a platform to engage directly with executive-level financial governance. As Senior Group Accountant, she prepared consolidated IFRS financial statements, crafted policies to enhance compliance, and supported Audit Committee submissions. She became a central resource for training financial teams across the organization, reflecting her natural strength in developing people and leading with collaboration. Her work contributed materially to the strengthening of Eskom’s financial reporting culture during a period of considerable operational complexity.
Her leadership trajectory accelerated further during her years with Sasol, where she held multiple senior roles, including Financial Manager and Manager of Finance for the RSA Business. In these positions, Claire oversaw end-to-end financial operations, from P&L management to working capital oversight, forecasting, budgeting, and the presentation of consolidated financial results to executive leadership. She was entrusted with evaluating capital project models valued at more than CAD $500 million and collaborated with stakeholders across Canada, Uzbekistan, Qatar, and the United States. Her ability to bridge technical financial insights with strategic business needs positioned her as a trusted advisor within Sasol’s global operations.
Claire’s appointment to the Board of Directors of Sasol Cobalt Catalyst Manufacturing further exemplified her emerging influence as a governance leader. During her board tenure, she played an integral role in executing group finance restructuring initiatives, achieving full delivery of Day 1 objectives, and ensuring contract compliance for transactions reaching up to CAD $100 million. She provided high-level financial input, guided risk assessment, and helped standardize financial practices across the business. These responsibilities strengthened her boardroom presence and expanded her perspective on organizational oversight, stakeholder alignment, and enterprise risk management.
Her international career advanced further with her move to Canada, where she pursued an MBA at the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management—an experience that broadened her strategic thinking and deepened her focus on people management. Her coursework emphasized leadership, innovation, and the behavioral dynamics of organizations, enhancing the relational and human-centered approach that has become a defining strength of her executive career.
Claire’s work with Right To Play offered a natural extension of her desire to use her financial expertise for social impact. In roles spanning Finance Analyst to Program Finance Assistant, she contributed to donor compliance frameworks, enhanced financial reporting processes across 12 countries, and facilitated training for global finance teams. She played a key role in simplifying organizational financial structures, redesigning the chart of accounts, and supporting grant reporting mechanisms essential to international program delivery. These achievements reflected her continued ability to elevate financial clarity in mission-driven environments.
Her most recent leadership chapter unfolded at Fasken, one of Canada’s premier law firms. As Senior Finance Manager and previously as Manager of Financial Analysis and Reporting, Claire led teams through complex reporting cycles, guided business process improvements, strengthened internal controls, and developed future finance leaders. She became a vital partner to firm leadership, offering financial insights that supported operational decisions and long-term planning. Colleagues recognized her not only for her technical mastery but also for her calm, thoughtful approach to leadership and her capacity to foster trust across all levels of the organization.
Claire’s career, spanning South Africa, Canada, the UK, the Netherlands, and Germany, has equipped her with a rare global fluency and cultural adaptability. She speaks both English and Afrikaans, carries deep knowledge of IFRS, SOX, GAAP, and financial governance frameworks, and thrives in environments where strategic clarity is essential. Her unwavering commitment to collaboration, relationship building, and ethical leadership continues to define her work—qualities that make her a powerful asset to boards seeking grounded, globally minded financial expertise.
As she pursues expanded board opportunities, Claire brings not only technical excellence but also a profound sense of purpose shaped by decades of learning, leading, and empowering others. Her journey reflects a belief that leadership is not merely about results, but about enabling organizations and people to move forward with confidence, insight, and integrity.
Character:
Claire exemplifies strong character through her steadfast integrity, her commitment to ethical leadership, and her ability to navigate complexity with clarity and calm. She consistently acts in the best interest of the organizations she serves, demonstrating a deep respect for governance and accountability. Her grounded, empathetic approach enables her to build trust across diverse teams and cultures, reinforcing her reputation as a principled leader.
Knowledge:
Her extensive technical knowledge spans financial reporting, risk management, internal controls, and global accounting standards, allowing her to provide well-reasoned guidance in both operational and strategic contexts. She continuously expands her expertise through experience across sectors such as Oil & Gas, Legal Services, Utilities, and Non-Profit organizations. Her ability to integrate financial insight with real-world business dynamics makes her an invaluable partner to executive teams and boards.
Strategic:
Claire approaches every challenge with a strategic mindset, balancing analytical rigor with long-term organizational vision. She excels at translating financial data into meaningful insights that inform major business decisions and guide enterprise-wide transformations. Her global exposure and multi-industry experience enable her to anticipate risks, identify opportunities, and contribute to shaping sustainable strategic pathways.
Communication:
A thoughtful, articulate communicator who can translate complex financial matters into clear, accessible language for diverse stakeholders. She adapts her communication style to meet the needs of executives, board members, and operational teams, ensuring alignment and understanding. Her consistent ability to foster open dialogue strengthens collaboration and supports informed decision-making at all levels of the organization.
