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Programme

SEACon 2025 Programme Highlights

Theme: Adapt. Innovate. Succeed – Sustainability in Changing Times.

Over two transformative days at the Sandton Convention Centre, the Sustainability & ESG Africa Conference & Expo (SEACon) 2025 brought Africa’s sustainability leaders together for an energising exchange of insight, innovation, and collaboration. From boardroom strategy to grassroots action, the programme moved beyond conversation — turning bold ideas into practical commitments and measurable impact.

SMME Empowerment at SEACon 2025:
Building Sustainable Businesses for Africa’s Future

Building Sustainable Businesses for Africa’s Future

A cornerstone of the 2025 programme was a strong focus on empowering Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs) — widely recognised as the backbone of Africa’s economy and a critical driver of inclusive, sustainable growth.

SEACon 2025 placed SMMEs at the centre of the sustainability conversation, equipping entrepreneurs and business owners with the knowledge, tools, and confidence needed to participate meaningfully in corporate value chains and ESG-driven markets.

To add to the Programme page

Workshop Focus: Your Compliance Roadmap

One of the most impactful sessions, “Your Compliance Roadmap: What SMMEs Need to Work with Corporates,” provided a clear, actionable guide for SMMEs navigating sustainability and ESG expectations.

Led by industry experts Karen Daniels (Eco-IQ), Colette Crichton (ESG Cubed), and representatives from the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) — Bhongolwethu Sonti and Nyasha Mukaratirwa — the workshop unpacked key aspects of ESG compliance, reporting, and performance measurement. A strong emphasis was placed on practical, accessible, and cost-effective approaches, ensuring that sustainability was positioned as achievable rather than overwhelming.

Collaboration, Community & Practical Outcomes

The interactive format encouraged peer learning and open dialogue, fostering a growing community of practice where participants could continue sharing insights, experiences, and opportunities well beyond the event itself.

SMMEs walked away with a suite of practical tools and templates to help them:

  • Integrate sustainability into day-to-day business operations

  • Identify and manage environmental, social, and governance risks

  • Engage more effectively with corporate partners and procurement teams

  • Use sustainability as a strategic and competitive advantage

This hands-on, solutions-focused approach reflected SEACon’s broader mission: to move beyond theory and create inclusive, real-world pathways that strengthen both people and planet.

Looking ahead to 2026

Through its SMME empowerment initiatives, SEACon continues to support entrepreneurs in building resilient, responsible, and purpose-driven businesses across the continent.

As we look toward Sustainability & ESG Africa 2026, the SMME stream will expand to include additional workshops, mentorship opportunities, and success stories from across Africa — further growing a pan-African movement for sustainable business, led from the ground up.

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

The importance of Sustainability and ESG as a strategic priority during challenging times and their leadership approach.

With 30 years of climate change negotiations, the upcoming G20 and other global initiatives including the CSRD, CBAM and financial initiatives such as TNFD.

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. 

Fast Moving Consumer Goods

Transforming FMCG: Innovation, inclusion and impact in African markets

Mining and Energy Transitions

 From Extraction to Innovation

Supply Chain and transport Sustainability

Greening the Movement

Manufacturing for Tomorrow

Cleaner, Smarter, Stronger Partners

About the Session

How FMCG companies are embedding sustainability across product design, supply chains, consumer engagement while addressing unique challenges and innovations emerging from Africa’s markets

Energy and mining, central to Africa’s economic growth, are evolving under the influence of climate change and technology. Discussions will cover sustainable jobs, skills, critical minerals, green hydrogen, and the role of SMMEs in the sector.

Supply Chain is dependant initiatives in from services providers and the transport sector. This session will unpack policy-level opportunities and support, and the role of OEMs in advancing electric, low-carbon vehicles, alternative fuels, and supporting infrastructure.

Africa’s manufacturing sector is balancing growth with rising sustainability demands, adapting to tighter regulations, localisation shifts, tariffs, and resource constraints through innovative models aligned with environmental goals.

Come and join us at the to celebrate excellence in sustainability and the leaders driving real impact.

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.

Case studies from diverse sectors will illustrate resilience-building in areas such as climate, society, and policy, highlighting its critical role in ensuring business continuity and effective strategy execution. The discussion will share lessons learned and best practice examples, allowing a deeper understanding of resilience and action required in today’s world.

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

Skills and Certification: Powering the Sustainability Workforce

Finance for Impact: Making Money Work for Africa

Digital Sustainability: Tech as a Transformation Engine

Eight high-energy conversations. Fresh perspectives from sharp speakers. Then it’s over to you — the audience — to debate, challenge, and shape the dialogue. Expect energy, bold ideas, and real interaction you won’t want to miss.

14:00 - 14:15
AL Friend or Foe?
Should Sustainability and ESG be Regulated?
Is colour washing/colour fading on the rise of are companies? Is ESG as your best Communication Tools or not?
The role of Business - Are PPPs working?
14:30- 15:00
Is water going to be our next crisis & do we pay enough attention?
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 or do we need measures like carbon taxes?
Can African leadership show the way to the rest of the world and lead sustainability through social upliftment?

Case studies on sustainability initiatives that transform business models can showcase how companies have shifted operations, products, or services to align with environmental and social goals while driving profitability. They can cover areas such as adopting circular economy practices, transitioning to renewable energy, embedding sustainable supply chains, innovating low-carbon products, or entering new green markets.

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

08:30 - 08:40 | Welcome and Introduction to workshop leaders

Outlines objectives: helping SMMEs understand compliance requirements and how to access corporate opportunities.

  • Reporting and disclosure basics.
  • Why transparency matters in corporate procurement.
  • Practical tips for SMMEs starting their compliance journey.
  • Q&A
  • What corporates look for in suppliers.
  • Common gaps that prevent SMMEs from qualifying.
  • Simple steps to prepare your business for partnerships.
  • Tools to help
  • Q&A
  • Step by step guide to achieving compliance (tax, B-BBEE, Governance, ESG)
  • Checklist of must haves document and processes
  • Real examples of SMMEs that become corporate – ready
  • Q&A

2025 Sponsors & Partners

Gold Sponsors
Silver Sponsors
Student innovation Competition Sponsorss
Training and development partners
Leadership Form partners
Partners
Media Partners