Exclusive for: HR Executives
Location: Johannesburg
Date & Time: 14 May 2026 09:30
Under the theme “The Leadership Paradox: What does it take to lead boldly when the rules keep changing?”, the day explores the real tensions CHROs face daily, balancing empathy with performance, innovation with stability, and courage with uncertainty.
You will hear directly from leaders across major organisations including Vodacom, Old Mutual, Netcare, Santam, ABSA, Exxaro Sasol and Dis-Chem, sharing real experience from the front line of business and transformation.
This is where South Africa’s HR leaders come together to challenge thinking, sharpen impact, and turn complexity into opportunity.
Programme
09h00 Arrival & registration
10h00 Speed networking - A rapid-fire soundboarding experience for building real connections
11h00 Welcome and mentimeter survey by Kgaogelo Letsebe, Community Manager at CHRO South Africa
11h30 Panel: Trust Tested: The tough calls that define leadership with Matimba Mbungela, Group CHRO at Vodacom, Faith Burn, Chief Technology and Operations Officer at Land and Agricultural Development Bank of South Africa moderated by Dr. Phil
Tshikotshi, Vice President and Country HR Head, HR at Startek, and Kiv Moodley, Country Managing Director – South Africa at Workday
12h30 Marriott Executive Lunch
13h15 CHRO Deep dive: What leadership paradox will define the next era of HR — and are we bold enough to confront it?
Deep dive: Room 1 - What leadership paradox will define the next era of HR, and are we bold enough to confront it? with Colin Smith, Award-winning HR Executive at Norplats Mining, and Sashir Milne, Group Chief HR at Tongaat Hulett and Discovery
Deep dive: Room 2 - What leadership paradox will define the next era of HR, and are we bold enough to confront it? with Dr Nceba Ndzwayiba, Group HR Director at Netcare Limited, Norah Sehunoe, Executive Head of Human Resources at Santam, and Indherani Jolene Reddy, COO at Regenesys Business School
Deep dive: Room 3 - What leadership paradox will define the next era of HR, and are we bold enough to confront it? with Lindiwe Miyambu, CPO at Afrocentric, Brenda Talazo, Vice President & Head of HR & Business Enablement at Saab, and S’onqoba Vuba, Chief Partnerships Officer at Old Mutual Corporate
Deep dive: Room 4 - What leadership paradox will define the next era of HR, and are we bold enough to confront it? With Malisha Awunor, Award-winning HR Executive & Founder at Ikigai, Lerato Morathi, Executive: Human Capital at Alex Forbes, and Ricky Robinson, Founder & CEO at LRMG
14h15 Networking & Dessert
15h00 Breakaway: Room 1 - The Courage Gap: Why HR leaders know what must change, but organisations struggle to move - Nolo Thobejane, chief people, culture and purpose officer at YUM!, Daniel Olifant, CHRO at SANBS, and Deel Local Payroll, powered by PaySpace
Breakaway: Room 2 - AI vs EQ: Will algorithms replace leadership judgement or make it more important than ever? Dr Sane Ngidi, executive head of people at Imagine Worldwide, Avanthi Maharaj, Head of HR - Africa at Google, and GIBS
Breakaway: Room 3 - Culture under pressure: What happens when business survival clashes with company values? Joseph Rock, CPPO at Exxaro; Reabetswe Motshegare, HR director for sub-Saharan Africa at Scatec ASA, and Caroline van der Merwe, Co-founder and COO at Jem
Breakaway: Room 4 - The Talent Paradox: Why organisations invest more in people than ever, yet retention keeps getting harder? KG Bako, Managing Executive: Talent Management & Transitions at ABSA, Nomfundo Vilakazi, People & Culture Director at Dis-Chem, and Heine Bellingan, Founder and CEO at JOBJACK
16h00 Closing, drinks and networking
Apply here to attend.
For more information, please contact Kgaogelo Letsebe. To sponsor this event, please contact Shaun Bateman.
