MMI : The Directors Event – a platform for constructive dialogue

The Directors Event - a platform for constructive dialogue

The Sunday Times Top 100 Companies proudly presents The Directors Event 2017 brought to you by MMI Holdings, in association with the Institute of Directors (IOD), USB Executive Development (USB-ED), Hogan Lovells, Johnnie Walker and Aluwani Capital Partners.

Johannesburg, 15 May 2017: Now in its third year, The Directors Event is cementing its place on the country's business calendar, with more than 200 business leaders set to attend the discussions at the Sandton Convention Centre on 9 June 2017.

The Directors Event, brought to you by MMI Holdings, invites industry experts to unpack three topics of national importance and discuss solutions in a public forum, moderated by highly-respected media personalities. Issues that will be debated in the panel discussion format include the challenges being faced to protect South Africa's economy, the risks of increasing geopolitical uncertainty, and youth education and unemployment.

Dan Moyane, Acting Group Executive, Brand and Corporate Affairs of MMI Holdings, says 'We at MMI Holdings are intensely aware of the role we must play in improving the financial wellness of South Africans. We believe that a concerted effort from all spheres of society is required to collectively address key socio-economic challenges facing our country. To enable this, we encourage constructive dialogue to harness the intellectual energy of business, government, labour and civil society who will sit around the boardroom table to develop solutions to enhance national financial wellness and social cohesion.'

The keynote address, to be delivered by Pravin Gordhan (former finance minister and recipient of the Sunday Times Top 100 Companies Business Leader of the Year Award for 2016) and The Chairman's Report presented by Bonang Mohale (Chairman of Shell SA and Deputy Chairman of Business Leadership South Africa) will set the scene for the panel discussions and debates that follow.

Mohale Ralebitso (Founder & CEO, Itataise Investments), Mpho Sedibe (Managing Director, Mopsy (SMME advisory), Dr Iraj Abedian (Economic Advisor for Accelerated and Shared Growth Initiative for South Africa (ASGISA) and Executive Chairman & CEO, Pan-African Capital Holdings), Prof Chris Malikane (Associate Professor, WITS University and economic advisor to the Minister of Finance), Lungisa Fuzile - out going Director General, National Treasury, and Sibusiso Mabuza (CEO, Aluwani Capital Partners) will debate the short-term solutions that could benefit South Africa's economy in the long run, and restore investor confidence in the country.

The implications of Brexit, Donald Trump's presidential victory in the United States, and the current state of South African politics have been far-reaching - especially when coupled with climate crises such as the severe southern African drought. Nikiwe Bikitsha will moderate the discussion on the geopolitical risk factors that are currently adding to worldwide social, environmental, and economic instability with Dr Johan van Zyl (Co-founder, African Rainbow Capital), Kingsley Makhubela (CEO, Brand South Africa), Innocent Dutiro (CEO: Africa & Asia, MMI Holdings), and Karima Brown (Independent Political Analyst).

In a discussion that will focus on the importance of education, entrepreneurship, leadership and talent management during South Africa's digital era - in light of the growing education crisis in the country - Alishia Seckham will moderate a panel comprising Barrie Bramley (conference speaker and curious disruptor), Debbie Goodman Bhyat (Founder and Managing Director, Jack Hammer Executive Headhunters), Maryana Iskander (CEO, Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator), Sizwe Nxasana (Chairman, NSFAS and Sifiso Learning Group), and Hlomela Bucwa (Former SRC President, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU).

Reardon Sanderson, GM Commercial at Times Media says, 'creating the platform for these important debates is an imperative for a media organisation like TMG and the Sunday Times, which continues to set the news agenda in South Africa. We expect this year's forum to be as engaging and relevant to business as it has been previously, and we look forward to welcoming business leaders to the table once again.'