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Programme

Programme Overview

Welcome to the official programme for our two-day conference, where industry leaders and experts convene to discuss critical developments in sustainability and strategic leadership. Each session is designed to provide valuable insights and actionable knowledge to drive impactful change.

For detailed information on each session, please click the info icon adjacent to the topic. This will expand the description, allowing you to plan your participation effectively.

We encourage you to explore the schedule thoroughly and take full advantage of the expertise and dialogue presented.

This will be an interactive breakfast where CEOs and other leaders will engage with each other on their personal and organisational sustainability leadership journeys and future challenges.  Attendees will be asked to reflect on their commitments for the year ahead.

Outcome: A Sustainability Leadership Statement

Welcome remarks and setting the tone for the event. including a short video on Africa’s sustainability status.

The Minister will be briefed to cover the changing landscape of sustainability from an international perspective and African implications and responses.

CEOs and the Minister (TBC) discuss the importance of Sustainability and ESG as a strategic priority during challenging times and their leadership approach.

Outcome: Leadership perspectives on sustainability and its future and their personal and business lessons and approach to deal with the uncertainty.

This session will include discussion on 30 years of climate change negotiations, the upcoming G20 and other global initiatives including the CSRD, CBAM and financial initiatives such as TCFD.  The panel will consider their future influence and focus given the changing geopolitical environment and what this means for Africa.

Outcome: An understanding of the global driving forces of sustainability and how they are changing and likely to evolve over the next few years. Information on the upcoming G20 in South Africa and the role of business.

This session will assess the latest trends in reporting and then consider:

  • Is materiality really understood?
  • Is reporting shifting the needle and for example, encouraging capital flows into Africa?
  • Are we focusing on impact rather than trends and are the right indicators being used for Africa?

 

Outcome: An understanding of the critical measures of sustainability and their relevance and impact on Africa. Insights about how to make sustainability reporting work for you in support of the organisation.  A materiality guide will be included for the session and research into some of these issues presented.

Sectoral breakouts will have cross-cutting themes of:

  • Innovation using the innovation canvas as a tool (partner IUK)
  • Supply chain tool EcoIQ
  • SMME baseline tool (UNGCSA)
  • Data platform (UNGCSA)
  • Governance with the governance maturity assessment tool (partners GGA and GGAfrica)
  • Legal frameworks and reporting due diligence on supply chains
  • Value chains trends and issues
  • GRI sector standards for agriculture (including fisheries and aquaculture) and Mining sector
  • Others depending on customisation
  • Consumerism
  • AI and robotics
 

Each session will be curated with sector partners to focus on key sustainability issues for that specific sector.  This will include environmental, social, governance, economic, legal and technological issues. The sessions will be focused on trends (current and future), appropriate tools, case studies and addressing barriers and opportunities for African companies.

  • Agri-Food Futures: Nourishing People and Planet
  • Mining and Energy Transitions: From Extraction to Innovation
  • Transport and Logistics: Greening the Movement
  • Manufacturing for Tomorrow: Cleaner, Smarter, Stronger

 

Outcome: Sector-specific action plans and areas for collaboration or further research.  New knowledge on tools and an understanding of lessons learnt from case studies. Virtual site visit experience where they are included.

Overall outcomes: Sector-specific issue briefs.

*Note, there is a cross-cutting enablers session later on covering finance, IT and skills

The YES organisation will host a breakfast for all conference attendees and give out their annual awards for excellence amongst their clients in the area of youth employment.

This session will focus on what companies are doing to integrate sustainability and risk (positive and negative) into their business practices and using strategic thinking tools like scenarios, systems thinking, etc, to deal with uncertainty.  What this means for strategy, business planning and operations will be highlighted as well as best practices and global trends.

Outcome: Practical insights and examples of how to integrate risk and sustainability (and ultimately strategy) for improved productivity, efficiency and opportunity management.  Understanding of some critical strategic thinking tools. A workbook will be included for delegates.

This session will consist of case studies from resilience-building in various sectors, with real-world examples and including social resilience. It will showcase various aspects of resilience including climate, societal, policy etc.

Outcome: A deeper understanding of resilience and its importance in business continuity and strategy execution.  Lessons learnt and best practice examples of resilience across a variety of different business and government areas. Case studies will be detailed and published on the website.

These sessions will be a deep dive into some of the critical cross-cutting areas.

  • Skills and Certification: Powering the Sustainability Workforce – This session will explore the importance of skills development and certification in Sustainability/ESG roles, and how they shape the future. Outcome:  An understanding of the various sustainability and related certification processes and skills development case studies.

 

  • Finance for Impact: Making Money Work for Africa –This session will cover some of the current challenges in the sustainable finance space, how we can address challenges in an African context and what the finance sector can do differently? Outcome: An in-depth understanding of financial inclusion and its role in Africa, SMME issues and trade finance amongst other issues.

 

  • Digital Sustainability: Tech as a Transformation Engine – What is the role of IT, telecoms, AI etc in enabling Sustainability and ESG and what are some of the barriers? What should digital companies do differently? Outcome: Understanding of the role of digitalisation in sustainability, opportunities and threats for IT companies and the sectors they service. Case studies of digitalisation as a business model enabler.

A lively session with eight short debates (list below to be added to and then prioritised) of 30 minutes each.  These will have 5-10 minutes for a proponent on each side of the debate to put forward their cases, followed by audience interaction and debate and finally a vote. The following topics are under consideration:

  • AI: Friend or Foe?
  • Should Sustainability and ESG be Regulated?
  • ESG as Your Best Communication Tool
  • The Role of Business – Are PPPs Working?
  • Is water going to be our next crisis? Do we pay enough attention?
  • On or near shoring – sustainability driven or me first?
  • Is consumer behaviour more important than government policy in achieving sustainability goals?
  • Will technological innovation alone solve the climate change challenge and ensure we meet net zero?
  • Do carbon taxes drive sustainable change and if so, at what level?
  • Is colour washing/colour fading on the rise or are companies avoiding the reputational risk?
  • Can African leadership show the way to the rest of the world?
  • Should any sustainability debate in Africa start with social issues?

 

Outcome: An overview of the pros and cons of various issues that sustainability professionals will have to address within their organisations and especially with ExCo and Board and some possible responses.

Three case studies showcasing how sustainability initiatives have led to significant transformation of business models and added financial value.

Outcome: Learning on the practicalities and barriers for strategy and business model shifts using sustainability opportunities.  An understanding of different tactics and approaches.

Summary of the key takeaways from the conference and thank you.

In addition:

  • A side event focussing specifically on SMMEs is planned to run in parallel with the main plenary on the morning of Day 2. This event will be on barriers, tools and scaling up case studies for SMMEs. 
  • A Corporate Showcase Programme will be run in parallel with the main plenary and be held in the exhibition areas. Companies can launch new products, reports etc.

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