Legal leadership with impact

At Futuregrowth, delivering returns that matter depends as much on strong governance and legal discipline as it does on investment expertise. That intersection of rigour, judgement and purpose sits at the heart of Rookaya Ahmed’s role as Head of Legal – and has now been recognised through her selection for inclusion in the Legal 500 GC Powerlist: South Africa 2026.

Rookaya Ahmed, Head of Legal at Futuregrowth, receives top recognition for her leadership and contribution.

The GC Powerlist recognises the country’s leading General Counsel and senior in‑house lawyers, based on independent research that considers leadership, professional achievement and impact within both the legal profession and the organisations they serve.

Rookaya’s recognition reflects her role at the centre of Futuregrowth’s legal, governance and risk framework, supporting a business that combines rigorous fiduciary discipline with a strong commitment to developmental investing in South Africa.

Over the past year, the Futuregrowth legal team has been closely involved in a range of complex projects aligned to the firm’s dual mandate of delivering sustainable commercial returns while advancing meaningful social and economic outcomes. This includes legal support across infrastructure, energy, transport and agriculture investments, financing community property developments, contributing to housing and social upliftment initiatives, and supporting rural economic activity and food security. Alongside this, Futuregrowth continues to play a significant role in South Africa’s fixed‑income markets, investing in government and inflation‑linked bonds that support capital markets stability and national development priorities.

Commenting on her approach to legal leadership, Rookaya emphasised the importance of resilience and clarity during periods of uncertainty.

“Legal processes must remain effective even under pressure. My role is to ensure that governance, fiduciary discipline and legal frameworks support investment execution, particularly during periods of uncertainty, while safeguarding Futuregrowth’s developmental and financial objectives.”

Rookaya’s career path brings together deep technical expertise and strategic in‑house leadership. After spending a decade in private practice specialising in competition law, regulatory enforcement and complex merger matters, she transitioned into an in‑house role within developmental finance, a move that required a shift from external legal advisor to embedded strategic partner within the business.

This experience has shaped her approach to legal risk, governance and decision‑making, enabling her to apply legal discipline not only to compliance, but to structuring transactions and frameworks that enable long‑term, real‑economy impact.

“Moving from competition law into an in‑house role within developmental finance required a shift – from advising on legal risk to becoming a strategic partner in enabling long‑term outcomes. That combination has been one of the most rewarding aspects of my career.”

A strong personal commitment to meaningful change in South Africa underpins Rookaya’s work. She believes that legal and governance expertise can play a critical role in building resilient institutions, unlocking opportunity and supporting inclusive growth.

Read: Meet Rookaya Ahmed, Futuregrowth’s legal eagle

“Working in developmental finance allows me to align my professional discipline with my personal values. Applying legal and governance expertise to projects that strengthen infrastructure, uplift communities and support sustainable growth is what makes this work deeply meaningful.”

Rookaya’s inclusion in the Legal 500 GC Powerlist: South Africa 2026 reflects not only her individual leadership, but also the broader role that strong governance, principled decision‑making and thoughtful legal frameworks play in supporting Futuregrowth’s purpose‑led investment approach.