Programme

Programme

 

08:30 Welcome remarks
Musa Mabesa
, Principal Executive Officer,
Government Employees Pension Fund (GEPF)
08:40 Opening Remarks
Dondo Mogajane, Chairperson of the Board of Trustees: Government Employees Pension Fund (GEPF
09:00 – 09:30

Keynote address

Global Growth Under Siege and its Impact

09:30 – 11:00

A South African Outlook 2025 – 2030: A perspective from South Africa’s top Chief Executives and Economists

Moderator: Mark Colegate, Editorial Director – Asset TV

Discussants:

Luvuyo MasindaChief Executive of Corporate and Investment Banking (CIB)
Isaah Mhlanga, Chief Economist and Head of Research – Rand Merchant Bank (RMB)
Paul Hanratty, Group Chief Executive Officer – Sanlam Limited
Mpumi Madisa, Chief Executive Officer – Bidvest Group
Sanisha Packirisamy, Economist – Momentum Investments

11:00 – 11:30 Break
11:30 – 13:15

Rethinking investment policies, strategies, and portfolio’s

In an environment of restrictive financial conditions, investors should build balanced portfolios with a focus on quality and sustainable earnings. A discussion on how the investment industry is rethinking investing amid challenges such as:
Reconciling long-term investing and sustainable goals with short-term challenges such as inflation, interest rates, and funding levels
The emergence of cryptocurrencies and their potential inclusion in institutional portfolios
Current market and socio-economic challenges impacting sustainable investing
Global impacts such as the middle east conflict
Continuing to search for Alpha in challenging economic conditions

Moderator: Sifiso Sibiya, Head Investments: Government Employees Pension Fund (GEPF)

Discussants:
Nieros Oyegun Soerensen, Partner – Verod Capital
Ed Collinge, Managing Director, Global Head of Client, and Sustainable Investing Solutions – Robeco
Philip Saunders, Director Investment Institute – Ninety-One
Mike Adsetts, Chief Investment Officer – Momentum
Tryphosa Ramano, Independent Non-Executive Director – Public Investment Corporation (PIC)

13:15 – 14:15 Lunch
14:15 – 15:45

Relooking at pension schemes. Is there a need for reinvention?
As many countries begin to allow for early access to retirement savings, what needs to be considered? How can governments and systems replenish these pots? What does intergenerational fairness and risk-sharing look like in pension systems. What are some of the solutions and what can we learn from them?

Moderator: Anne Cabot-Alletzhauser, Adjunct Faculty and Practice Director Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS)

Discussants:
Professor Alex van den Heever, Chair Social Security Systems Administration and Management Studies – University of the Witwatersrand
Janina Slawski, Head of Investments Consulting – Alexander Fobes
Prabashini Moodley, Managing Director – Old Mutual Corporate
Brian Karidza, Head of Benefits Administration and Actuarial – Government Employees Pension Fund (GEPF)
Benjamin Versluijs, Senior Vice President – Northern Trust

15:45 – 16:00 Break
16:00 – 17:15

Keynote address

The energy transition: what, how, when, and why? Can it be done?

Speaker:
Dipak Patel, Head: Climate Finance and Innovation – Presidential Climate Commission (PCC)

18:30 Conference Dinner

 

09:30 – 11:00
Achieving efficiencies in pension management
A discussion on how the retirement industry can work with key stakeholders to bring about efficiencies in pension management.
Moderator: Sebastien Betermier, Executive Director – International Centre for Pension Management (ICPM)
Discussants:
Muitheri Wahome, Independent Financial Professional
Stephen Walker, Principal Consulting Actuary – Old Mutual Corporate
Geraldine Fowler, President – Institute of Retirement Funds Africa (IRFA)
Zethu Msindo, Member of the Board of Trustees – Government Employees Pension Fund (GEPF)
Anne Simpson, Global Head: Sustainability – Franklin Templeton
Laurent Barras, Full Professor in Asset Management – University of Luxembourg

 

11:00 – 11:30 Break
11:30 – 13:00
Venture Capital – Trends and opportunities
A discussion on the key trends and opportunities with respect to venture capital. A perspective from institutional investors, allocators, and managers.
Moderator: Tshepiso Kobile, Chief Executive Officer – Southern African Venture Capital & Private Equity Association (SAVCA)
Discussants:

Thiru Pather, Investment Principal – SA SME Fund

Botsang Ramorwa, Fund Principal – Public Investment Corporation 
Abi Mustapha-Maduakor, Chief Executive Officer – African Private Equity and Venture Capital Association (AVCA)
Natalie Kolbe, Managing Partner – Norssken22
Michael Jordaan, Venture Capitalist – Montegray Capital
13:00 – 13:45 Lunch
13:45 – 15:15
Digital transformation in pension investing and benefit administration
A discussion into the digital transformation journey of pension funds.  Exploring how technology, such as AI and blockchain, can help improve investment models and the administration of benefits. Considering how these and other technologies can help support member engagement, the user experience, and help improve outcomes for pension savers.

Moderator:Professor Alistair Mokoena, Former Country Director – Google Southern Africa

Discussants:
Gautam Bhardwaj, Co-founder, and Director –  pinBox Solutions, Singapore.
Britt Hoffmann Jones, Head of DC, and Retirement Solutions – Schroders

Musa Malwandla, Co-Chief Investment Officer – Differential Capital
Jason Suares, Director-Aladdin Business Development – BlackRock

Michael Cook, Deputy Portfolio Manager – M&G Investments
Clay Lambiotte, Senior Partner – Lane Clark & Peacock
15:15 – 16:15
Closing keynote address 
Harnessing the power of Behavioural Finance
Understanding how cognitive biases, emotions, and social factors influence the decision-making of individuals and institutions in financial markets. Can such influences and biases be the source for the explanation of all types of market anomalies and specifically market anomalies in the stock market, such as severe rises or falls in stock price? How do we educate and empower our members for retirement readiness noting the impact of biases, emotions, and social factors.
Speaker: Dr. Thomas, Associate Professor of Finance – Maastricht University
16:150 – 16:45 Closing remarks
Musa Mabesa, Principal Executive Officer: Government Employees Pension Fund (GEPF