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2024 SAICA Difference Makers Conference

2024 SAICA Difference Makers Conference

Theme

MAKING WAVES, EMPOWERING CHANGE

Join SAICA for the inaugural Difference Makers Conference, a dynamic event designed to propel SAICA members into a future of impactful difference. Held at Sun City, this conference embraces the theme Making Waves, Empowering Change Difference Making Beyond Numbers.


What to expect:

Become a wave maker

Gain cutting-edge industry knowledge and tools through engaging sessions led by renowned experts. Learn about critical topics, emerging trends, and how to leverage your skills to create lasting change. Hear from industry experts Bonang Mohale (leadership expert), John Sanei (futurist), Riaan Manser (pioneering explorer), Dr Liezl Groenewald (ethics expert), and many more.

Fuel Collaboration

Network with fellow members and ignite powerful conversations. Meet with SAICA’s Executive Team and

attend breakaway sessions for members in small and medium practices, the public sector, academia or business.

Be entertained

Brent Lindeque (The Good Things Guy) will be the entertaining host for the conference. A mini-concert at the Valley of Waves, a comedy session with Conrad Koch, and a brandy-tasting session will contribute to making this conference a memorable one.

By attending the SAICA Difference Makers Conference you will:

  • Gain the latest industry knowledge and best practices.
  • Develop new skills and enhance your professional expertise.
  • Connect and network with peers, fostering collaboration and a sense of community.
  • Stay ahead of the curve in a rapidly evolving business environment.
  • Leave feeling inspired and empowered to make a positive impact beyond numbers.

Exclusive to SAICA Members – CAs(SA), AGAs(SA) and ATs(SA)

COST:

R500 – Friday only. Book here.

R1000 – Saturday only. Book here.

R1500 – Both days. Book here.

Please note that these are conference fees and are exclusive of 15% VAT.

Members need to arrange their own accommodation. Click here.

Outline

Day 1: FRIDAY 13 SEPTEMBER

TIME

TOPIC

SPEAKER / HOST AND SUBJECT / PRESENTATION TITLE

11:00 – 12:30

Arrival, registration and lunch

Team

12:30 – 12:40

MC opening day 1

Brent Lindeque, The Good Things Guy

12:40 – 13:00

Welcoming address day 1

Patricia Stock, SAICA Chief Executive Officer

13:00 – 14:00

Futurist

John Sanei, Keynote Speaker in Human-AI Dynamics

Trans-for-motion: Making Waves with Organisational Change

John shares lasting transformation strategies for organisations to build a sustainable tomorrow in a time of exponential change and innovation while still keeping the lights on today.

  • Learn how to build organisational agility and resilience while navigating ongoing transformation.
  • Explore the neuroscience behind organisational behaviour and gain insights into strategies for achieving long-term success.
  • Provide tools and knowledge for shifting organisational perspective, rethinking biases and assumptions, and building teams for the future.

14:00 – 14:30

Sponsors

Draftworx

Greatsoft

Circit

Panel discussion

Facilitated by Andrew Alt from Draftworx, a panel of representatives from the sponsors will discuss how they can bring value to you through their products.

14:30 – 15:00

Refreshment break

15:00 – 16:00

Ethics – TBC

TBC

16:00 – 17:00

Motivational speaker

Riaan Manser, Pioneering Explorer, Guest Speaker, Author

There’s an Ocean between Saying and Doing

Riaan speaks passionately about his adventures, while motivating and inspiring the audience. A talk that incorporates true courage, perseverance and the right attitude to effectively lead in adversity.

17:00

MC closing for the day

Brent Lindeque, The Good Things Guy

17:00 – 19:00

Leisure

19:00 – 20:00

Pre-dinner cocktail and entertainment

African dancers and Marimba band at Monkey Spring Plaza

20:00 – 21:00

Dinner

Valley of the Waves

Theme: TROPICAL

Catering: Surf and Turf

Entertainment – Naledi Mohapi and Band

21:00 – 23:00

Networking and entertainment

Sunset Sweatshop, at the Valley of the Waves

Day 2: SATURDAY 14 SEPTEMBER

TIME

TOPIC

SPEAKER / HOST AND SUBJECT / PRESENTATION TITLE

08:00 – 08:55

Registration and refreshments

Team

08:55

MC opening day 2

Brent Lindeque, The Good Things Guy

08:55 – 09:00

Welcoming address day 2

Azhar Panchbhai, SAICA Executive: Member Engagement

09:00 – 10:00

Leadership

Bonang Mohale, Leadership Expert, Author

Lift as You Rise

  • The bastions of leadership, governance and consistency.
  • How to have a head for business and a heart for the world.
  • Making time for the things that really matter.

10:00 – 11:00

Sustainability

SAICA Standards - Milton

11:00 – 11:30

Refreshment break

11:30 – 13:00

Breakaway sessions

Seers Court 1 – 65 pax

Seers Court 2 – 65 pax

Warriors 3 - ? pax

Breakaway stream 1: SMALL AND MEDIUM PRACTICES

Denise Mare, SAICA Project Director: Practice

Innocent Mthembu, SAICA Project Director: Practice

Willem Haarhoff, Entrepreneur, Founder and CEO at DoughGetters

TBC

Breakaway stream 2: PUBLIC SECTOR

Annalene Marais, TBC

Msizi Gwala, SAICA Project Director: Enabling Competencies, Public Sector

Annalien Carstens, Managing Director, Altimax

Panel

TBC

Breakaway stream 3: ACADEMIA

Boitumelo Kuzwayo, Head of Department, Commercial Accounting, University of Johannesburg

Riaan Rudman, Professor, University of Stellenbosch

Breakaway stream 4: MEMBERS IN BUSINESS / OTHERS (recorded?)

Jenni Sacks, Impakt IT

13:00 – 14:00

Lunch

Foyer – Warrior Hall

14:00 – 15:00

Whistleblowing

Dr Liezl Groenewald, CEO of The Ethics Institute

and

Ronel De Wet, Whistleblower

  • Fireside chat – Making a difference with courage and conviction - TBC

15:00 – 15:30

Sponsor

Standard Bank – Topic to be confirmed

do need a minimum 30min presentation on the Fri or Sat, whatever works for your programme – and their topic could be something around either an Economic Outlook or perhaps Structuring – but open to your thoughts on other topic options. We’ll push for a senior speaker/Exec from them too

15:30 – 16:30

Motivational speaker

TBC

16:30

Closing words

Ciara Reintjes, SAICA Northern Region Regional Executive: Member Engagement

16:30

MC closing of the conference

Brent Lindeque, The Good Things Guy

16:30 – 18:00

Leisure

18:00 – 19:00

Comedy session

Conrad Koch, Ventriloquist and Comedian

Kings Ballroom

19:00 – 20:00

Dinner

Kings Ballroom

Catering: Buffet

20:00 – 22:00

Entertainment and networking

Whiskey Rebels

DJ Tino

Day 3: SUNDAY 15 SEPTEMBER

No formal programme. Attendees can book leisure activities from options available at Sun City.

Refer to the activity list to make a booking. Click here.

Event links

2024 Difference Makers Conference: Making Waves, Empowering Change - 2 Days conference package

Click here

2024 SAICA Difference Makers Conference - Making Waves, Empowering Change - Day 1

Click here

2024 SAICA Difference Makers Conference - Making Waves, Empowering Change - Day 2

Click here

Speaker Profiles

Brent Lindeque, MC

Blogger, influencer, journalist, change maker and the Good Things Guy. These are all words used to describe Brent. He is proudly South African, with the power to inspire kindness wherever he goes. He is regularly featured in the media, spreading good news about South Africa and ordinary South Africans doing extraordinary things in their communities. Brent says: “My intention at the time of starting Good Things Guy was to bring a little sunshine into the lives of others, to bring hope to people who felt despair and perhaps offer some balance in a world that can sometimes feel overwhelmingly sad. I wanted to share one good news story every single day and to make people proud of South Africa and remind everyone of all the good things happening in our beautiful country and the world. Since then, the platform has grown beyond my wildest dreams.” Brent Lindeque pioneered the #ChangeOneThing movement which went viral internationally Using the simple premise that YOU have the power to change everything. His story is both inspiring, accessible and relevant.

Patricia Stock

SAICA Chief Executive Officer Topic: Welcome Address – Day 1 Meet Patricia Stock, the dynamic CEO of SAICA, a strategic entrepreneurial accountant with a passion for transforming people and organisations. As the co-founder and former CEO of MGI RAS, a distinguished member firm of MGI Worldwide, Patricia boasts diverse experience in talent management, ESG (with a specialisation in governance) audit, IFRS (with Masters in International Accounting), and quality assurance. A Chartered Accountant (South Africa) and Chartered Director (South Africa), Patricia has left an indelible mark in various senior executive and non-executive directorship roles. Her journey spans both private and public sectors advisory, skills development and assurance, including auditing United Nations' organisations during her tenure at the Auditor General of South Africa. Notably, she served as the Head of Transformation(DEI) in a global firm, showcasing her commitment to fostering positive change. Patricia's expertise extends to performance and leadership coaching, aligning with her fervour for responsible growth in organisations and individuals. With a life motto of "Grow as I grow," Patricia Stock is not just a CEO; she's a visionary leader dedicated to realising the potential of others in a sustainable manner.

John Sanei

Futures Strategist, Global Keynote Speaker, Bestselling Author, Global Expert at Singularity University & Faculty at Duke Corporate Education Topic: Trans-for-motion: Making Waves with Organisational Change John Sanei is responsible for helping countless organisations shift, elevate and evolve—far beyond their current perceptions and present-day tasks. John specialises in preparing leaders, decisionmakers, and high-performing individuals for the future, helping them navigate the challenges and uncertainties that lie ahead. John’s role is to guide your organisation through unlearning, relearning, and changing awareness. Drawing from neuroscience, psychology, business strategy, and futurism, John empowers decision-makers and leaders to prepare for all eventualities beyond the current popular trends that often dominate the conversation. He has worked with some of the top leaders in the world, including CEOs of Fortune 100 companies, heads of state and government leaders, board members of education institutions, and even royal families worldwide.

Dr Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka

Former Deputy President of South Africa Topic: TBC Dr Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka is former United Nations Under- Secretary- General and Executive Director of UN Women. She was awarded a doctorate in Technology and Education from Warwick University. She has authored several scholarly and other opinion pieces. A Hauser Leader at the Harvard Kennedy School’s Centre for Public Leadership. She became a Member of Parliament, Deputy Minister of Department of Trade and Industry, Minister of Minerals and Energy, and finally as Deputy President of South Africa in 2005 to 2008. Dr. Mlambo- Ngcuka worked tirelessly on programmes and policies to reduce inequality. As the head of the UN women, she has been a global advocate for women and girls. She established initiatives such as the HeForShe for men and boys to address gender Equality. She is a Chancellor of the University of Johannesburg a leading university on universal education on 4IR. She is a founder and leader of Umlambo Foundation which is dedicated to improvement of education and digital literacy training for educators.

Riaan Manser

Pioneering Explorer, Author and Speaker Topic: There is an Ocean between Saying and Doing Riaan Manser is a solo adventurer who was the first person to cycle around the perimeter of Africa; he spent over two years cycling 37 000 km through 34 countries. In 2009, he became the first person to circumnavigate Madagascar by kayak, which is 5 000 km and took 11 months. He has also paddled 2 300 km for five months around Iceland and climbed Mt Kilimanjaro. Riaan has earned the title “Out There Adventurer of the Year” in 2006 and 2009. He also started the initiative NO FOOD FOR THE LAZY MAN to invest in sporting equipment for schools without access to them. Thousands of people from blue chip companies to community projects and from schools to non-governmental organizations have been moved by Riaan’s extraordinary, and often hilarious, tales of perseverance and unrelenting resolve. Manser speaks passionately about his adventures, motivating and inspiring all who attend his presentations.

Azhar Panchbhai

SAICA Executive: Member Engagement Topic: Welcome Address – Day 2 Azhar is a CA(SA), a registered auditor and a member of the Institute of Directors of Southern Africa. Azhar joined SAICA in 2015 and is responsible for gaining insights into the membership and ensuring relevant services and offerings to members. Azhar initiated the formal Nontechnical Training Department and enabled the widespread adoption of webcasting seminars to members. Azhar has 20 years of experience in and out of public practice. He worked for several multinational companies in diverse industries where his responsibilities included implementing international anti-corruption and privacy laws locally.

Bonang Mohale

Businessman and Author Topic: Lift as you Rise Bonang Mohale is the Chancellor of the University of the Free State, Former President of Business Unity South Africa (BUSA), Professor of Practice in the Johannesburg Business School (JBS) in the College of Business and Economics and Chairman of two listed entities, The Bidvest Group Limited and ArcelorMittal as well as SBV Services and Swiss Re Corporate Solutions! He is a member of the Community of Chairpersons (CoC) of the World Economic Forum and author of the two best-selling books, “Lift As You Rise“ and “Behold The Turtle”! He has been included in the Reputation Poll International’s (RPI) 2023 list of the ‘100 Most Reputable Africans’. The selection criteria are Integrity, Reputation, Transparency, Visibility and Impact. He is the recipient of the 2023 ME-Vision Academy Award’s ‘Exclusive Recognition in Successful Leadership’ for consistently leading self successfully, consistently leading people successfully, successfully leading as a senior executive & CEO, successfully leading society in various impactful roles and your contribution to mentoring & inspiring future successful leaders.

Milton Segal

SAICA Executive Director: Standards Topic: Sustainability Milton Segal CA (SA) is an Executive Director of SAICA and heads the Standards Technical Department for SAICA. The department’s primary mandate is to provide technical oversight, thought leadership and advocacy within audit and assurance, corporate reporting, ethics, public sector, and taxation. An expert in IFRS, Milton’s skills extend to non-financial and integrated reporting, and is a well published author and researcher having presented to thousands of students, trainees, and members locally and internationally. Milton is a member of SAICA’s Executive Committee. He represents SAICA, and South Africa on the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC)’s Professional Accountant in Business advisory committee. The IFAC is a global member body consisting of over 180 global accountancy member bodies. Milton, too represents SAICA and South Africa on the IFRS Foundation’s Emerging Economies Group, the Connectivity Council of the IFRS Foundation (formerly known as the Integrated Reporting Council) and is a board member of the Integrated Reporting Council of South Africa on behalf of SAICA. He is the alternate for the SAICA CEO on the King Committee of South Africa. Milton is a devoted father and husband and is married to Talya, herself an academic and CA (SA). They have two sons, Daniel age 15, and Jonathan age 13.

Dr Liezl Groenewald

CEO of The Ethics Institute Topic: Making a difference with courage and conviction Dr Liezl Groenewald is the CEO of The Ethics Institute (TEI) in South Africa, she is the immediate past president of the Business Ethics Network of Africa (BEN-Africa) and is a co-founding director of The Whistleblower House. She completed both a Masters and a Doctoral degree in Applied Ethics at the University of the Witwatersrand and Stellenbosch University respectively. With a wealth of experience, she takes on the role of a seasoned facilitator for The Ethics Institute, as well as for the Institute of Directors South Africa (IoDSA). Additionally, she serves as guest lecturer at a business school in Innsbruck, Austria (MCI), and at various business schools in South Africa. Liezl is a sought-after speaker at both local and international conferences. She contributes her insights as a media commentator on matters related to ethics and whistleblowing, and she adeptly moderates discussions. Her expertise extends to being an author of articles on business and military ethics. Notably, she has authored a comprehensive Whistleblowing Non-retaliation Toolkit, Whistleblowing First Responder Guide, along with the Whistleblowing Management Handbook. She has also co-authored the Ethics and Compliance Handbook, as well as the Institutionalising Ethics Handbook. In terms of her affiliations, Liezl actively participates on the Council of the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) and is chairperson of its Governance and Ethics Committee. She is also the chairperson of the Social and Ethics Committee Forum of the Institute of Directors SA. She holds a membership on the King IV Committee, the Inaugural Committee of the International Society of Military Ethics for Africa (Afro-ISME), the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA) Ethics Committee and is a member of the Advisory Boards for BEN-Africa and Visslan, a whistleblowing service provider based in Sweden. Her dedication to research is evident as she serves as a research associate at US Philosophy Department. On a global scale, Dr Groenewald represented South Africa in the global technical working groups responsible for drafting ISO 37000, the ISO Standard for the Governance of Organisations, as well as ISO 37002, the ISO Whistleblowing Management Standard.

Ronèl Van Wyk

Senior Manager, Assurance Topic: Making a difference with courage and conviction Ronél van Wyk is a Certified Ethics Officer, associate member of the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners and a member of the International Audit Association. She is currently employed at SNG Grant Thornton as a Senior Manager. Her role includes conducting due diligence, developing fraud risk management programs, and investigation of fraud and related activities. She assists EXCO in high level confidential matters. She previously held roles as a Colonel in the South African Police Service and was the Head of Criminal Investigations and Prosecutions department at the South African Revenue Service for 17 years where she managed approximately 370 investigators. She holds an MBA from the Gordon Business Institute at the University of Pretoria and a BA Police Science degree from UNISA. She was recently featured as a whistle blower in a New York Times article on Bain Consulting’s involvement in South African companies and how this effected state capture. Ronèl submitted whistleblowing reports to both the Nugent inquiry investigating state capture at SARS and the Zondo Inquiry focusing on state capture. She was persecuted in her role as a whistleblower and had to withstand immense pressure from some of the highest political and organised crime individuals. She is an advocate for the protection of whistleblowers. Ronèl was also featured in the latest book published by Jacques Pauw – Our Poisoned Land in which Pauw called her one of the “most discerning officials at SARS”. Ronèl van Wyk believes in the higher purpose, she is a servant of our country, and she strives to make a difference in the lives of others daily. Ronèl is the mother of two daughter aged 25 and 29 and has been married for 31 years.

Our sponsors:

Standard Bank Private

Website

Draftworx

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GreatSoft

Website

Circuit

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