Ebrahim-Khalil Hassen started his career at the Gauteng Provincial Government, where he managed the Vusani Amadolobha Grant Fund, which was South Africa’s first public-private partnership fund for urban renewal. His commitment to public sector transformation saw him join the National Labour and Economic Development Institute (NALEDI), a think tank established by the Congress of South African Trade Unions. At NALEDI, he managed the People’s Budget Campaign. He led advisory work for unions in public service and state owned enterprises, engaging with restructuring processes and developing alternatives and options.
From 2007, Ebrahim-Khalil has worked as an independent public policy analyst. . As an independent public policy analyst, his clients have included the Centre for Poverty, Employment and Growth at the Human Sciences Research Council, Trade and Industrial Policy Strategies (TIPS), National Labour and Economic Development Institute (NALEDI), Development Policy Research Unit (DPRU), Who Owns Whom among other organisations .
Ebrahim-Khalil currently serves as the Chair of the board of the South African Labour Bulletin, and is one of the adjudicators of the Old Mutual Budget Speech Competition. He holds a Masters of Management from the University of the Witwatersrand. He has been the recipient of academic merit awards at university and won the Premiers Service Excellence Award while in government. He has been featured in the Little Black Book – a publication that features leaders in their respective fields of expertise and has received a commendation for contribution to public sector transformation.
Ebrahim-Khalil is however happiest when his work translates into real change. In this regard he launched ZAPreneur in 2011. ZApreneur is a platform for advocating for policy changes for small business in South Africa and aspires to creating a marketplace.