Just a few weeks into their launch, the War Room trio have welcomed Redi Tlhabi to their corporate affairs offering, boosting their North America exposure.
Tlhabi, based in Washington DC, is in the hotspot of activity right now, able to lean in swiftly and decisively from a geopolitical standpoint. “Redi is an international broadcaster, policy strategist, and scholar–practitioner of international relations whose work bridges Africa and the world. She brings over two decades of experience at the intersection of diplomacy, media, and governance – advising multilateral institutions, governments, and private sector leaders on how to translate complex policy into actionable communication and public engagement strategies,” says Phumzile Van Damme, currently based in Europe.
The multiple award-winning Van Damme, a former MP, Harvard Fellow, and Forbes Top 20 Power Women in Africa honouree, will continue advising companies on influence positioning, regulatory risk, government affairs, and narrative strategy. Her combination of senior legislative experience and proven expertise in strategic and political communications, including dismantling large‑scale influence and disinformation operations, gives her a rare, expert‑level understanding of how policy and laws are written, and how they are shaped, distorted, and weaponised in the information environment. She helps organisations anticipate political and regulatory tremors before they become crises, repair reputational damage when they do, and navigate these pressures to achieve their objectives.
The War Room is housed under the KAMuses Consultancy group that Keri-Ann Stanton has quietly built over the past seven years, winning over 86 awards to date for clients across sectors and disciplines. “Corporate Affairs is fast becoming the most dynamic and exciting discipline: one that you are seeing influence anything from product development to policy change. Its geopolitics, its economics, its cultural and its societal,” says Stanton, “That is why I can’t think of a more powerful collective coming in to solve things fast in high pressure situations. It’s been a long-time dream to bring us all together under one offering. Redi is the unexpected cherry on top.”
Khadija Patel, who is still travelling extensively in her role as founding member of the executive team at the International Fund for Public Interest Media (IFPIM), will be advising across portfolios, with a firm eye on geopolitics. Her work there has given her experience in building multilateralism, policy and strategic partnerships.
Bookings are open at http://warroom.global
Bios (in alphabetical order);
Khadija Patel: Global Media Leader and Public Policy Advocate
Khadija Patel is a distinguished journalist, editor, and media executive whose career is defined by a commitment to information as a public good. A leading voice in global press freedom and media sustainability, she has spent over a decade at the intersection of investigative reporting and high-level policy design.
Patel was a key member of the founding executive team at the International Fund for Public Interest Media (IFPIM). In this role, she spearheaded global initiatives to rebuild the public value of journalism, focusing on creating resilient media ecosystems that serve as the bedrock of informed public policy.
Her leadership extends to the international stage, where she recently completed two terms on the executive board of the Vienna-based International Press Institute (IPI). After serving as Vice Chairperson, she was elected Chairperson in 2021, leading a global network of editors and executives dedicated to defending the right to inform and be informed.
Patel’s expertise is grounded in a formidable editorial career. As the former Editor-in-Chief of the Mail & Guardian, she navigated one of Africa’s leading investigative publications through a period of digital transformation, successfully launching a subscription model during the global pandemic while maintaining rigorous editorial integrity. She also co-founded The Daily Vox, an award-winning news platform that redefined youth-focused reporting in South Africa.
A respected voice in global journalism, her reporting has appeared in Al Jazeera, The Guardian, BBC World News, and the Daily Maverick. Her contributions to justice and peace were famously recognized by former U.S. President Barack Obama, who described her as a “fearless journalist” who has “exposed the roots of conflict” and “challenged leaders as a voice for peace and justice.”
Patel has also bridged the gap between practice and theory as a research associate at the Wits Institute for Social and Economic Research (WISER). She brings a unique perspective to public policy, advocating for the protection of information integrity and the amplification of underrepresented voices as essential components of a healthy democracy.
Redi Tlhabi – Global strategist and narrative advisor
Redi Tlhabi is an international broadcaster, policy strategist, and scholar–practitioner of international relations whose work bridges Africa and the world.
Her advisory and convening roles span the United Nations, World Bank, G20, African Union, and Bled Strategic Forum, where she designs and moderates high-level dialogues on multilateral reform, trade, and technology governance
Her expertise lies in U.S.–Africa relations, multilateral reform, development finance, and the political economy. Redi has presented before the U.S. Congressional Committee on Africa and continues to work with global institutions to strengthen Africa’s agency in shaping the evolving world order.
A former chief anchor for BBC, Al Jazeera, and ENCA, Redi has moderated over 50 high-level multilateral panels and produced influential media platforms on governance, gender, and global affairs. Her literary work includes two award-winning books, “Endings and Beginnings” and “Khwezi”, both recognized for advancing social justice and public accountability in South Africa.
She holds an MA in International Relations from the University of Westminster, London, and degrees in Communications and English Literature from the University of Johannesburg. Her board service includes the Atlantic Fellows for Racial Equity, Section27, and Women in Safe Cities International. In 2025, she received the University of Johannesburg Alumni Dignitas Award for her contribution to global dialogue and leadership.
Redi combines academic rigor with narrative empathy- amplifying African voices in global policy debates and building bridges between citizens, policymakers, and multilateral systems.
Keri-Ann Stanton: Strategist and Creative
Keri-Ann Stanton is one of Africa’s leading strategic communications voices — a founder, innovator, and storyteller known for building brands through culture, credibility, and creativity. With over two decades in public relations, corporate reputation, and creative strategy, she has consistently redefined how earned-first ideas deliver both impact and results.
As Founder and Chief Strategist of KAMuses Consultancy, Keri-Ann pioneered a modern, fully remote agency model operating across sub-Saharan Africa. Since launching in 2020, KAMuses has become one of the continent’s most respected independent consultancies, delivering award-winning work for global brands, and earning more than 86 major industry awards across the Loeries, SABRE Africa and EMEA, IPRA Golden World Awards, PRISMs, Bookmarks, Smarties and Apex Awards.
Previously, she founded and led Kezi Communications, Engage Joe Public within Joe Public United, and Avatar PR within the Avatar Group. Named one of Provoke Media’s Top 25 Innovators in EMEA, Keri-Ann brings a distinctly African perspective to global creativity — grounded in empathy, effectiveness, and the belief that great PR doesn’t chase attention, it earns trust.
Phumzile Van Damme: Digital Transformation and Policy Strategist
Phumzile Van Damme is an award-winning consultant International advising corporate clients, governments, and international organizations on political risk, regulatory strategy, strategic communications, and policy development, particularly in sectors shaped by digital transformation.
A Political Science graduate and 2023/24 Fellow at Harvard Kennedy School’s Carr Center, she is a former Member of Parliament in South Africa.
Known for ideation, strategic clarity, political acumen and persuasive communication, she serves on international advisory boards including the World Economic Forum’s Global Future Council.
She has been recognized as one of Forbes Magazine’s Top 20 Youngest Power Women in Africa, a Mail & Guardian Top 200 Young South African, a Vital Voices Global Leader, and among the Top 100 Women in AI globally.