Phindile Sithole-Spong

Phindile Sithole-Spong is the founder and current director of Rebtranding HIV (Pty) Ltd, an HIV and sexual health consultancy company, Sithole-Spong has been at the head of this successful company since it was founded in 2012. By creating tailor made campaigns and materials around HIV and sexual health, Rebranding HIV has been able to be at the forefront of changing common misconceptions around various sexual health issues as well as eradicate the stigma and shame attached to HIV/AIDS.

As the youngest board member to join the AIDS Consortium Board of Directors at the age of 22, one of South Africa's oldest organizations, and as the only youth member of the African Women Leaders Network, a network of women leaders from across Africa working on eradicating Sexual & Maternal Health amongst women in their countries, Sithole-Spong has ha the opportunity to be part of some important global discussions on HIV, Sexual & Reproductive Health and Rights.

As a well known advocate who is known to utilize various social media platforms to discuss issues surrounding HIV and Sexual Health, Sithole-Spong has been recognized for her advocacy both nationally and internationally. Some of her achievements include winning the PICA award for "Best non-professional writer of the year" for her article in Elle Magazine South Africa on her journey living with HIV (Feb 2012), to being named one of South Africa's 200 Young South African's under 30 by the Mail & Guardian for her advocacy work (2014), partnering with Keep A Child Alive, the international organization co-founded by Alicia Keys to speak at their annual black ball as a guest of honor (2014) and being named one of TIME magazines "Next generation leaders" (2014).

Whilst a bulk of Sithole-Spong's work has been around HIV and Sexual Health, she has also worked on various media and branding projects with a strong focus on social media.