South Africa, Aug. 19 -- A veteran journalist and editorial leader, Katopodis has spent more than 20 years at the frontline of South African and global news. Her leadership journey began in her twenties when she was thrust into one of the most high-pressure assignments of her career: coordinating breaking news coverage of the 9/11 attacks.

At the time, she had just taken over as news editor. It was a baptism by fire that would shape her career and her newsroom ethos. Since then, Katopodis has been at the helm of coverage during some of the country's most defining moments, including national elections, presidential transitions, the Marikana tragedy, and the death of Nelson Mandela. Her track record for leading decisive and credible covera...