Let’s talk: Be the change you want to see
The trend towards adopting sustainable practices and lifestyles is gaining momentum. Modern consumers are increasingly conscious of the long-term impact that their purchasing decisions and utilisation of services can have on the planet. Similarly, future investors are actively seeking out strategies that promote sustainability and longevity. This is not a passing trend, but rather the direction of the future.
“As stewards of capital, we have a duty to manage the money that is entrusted to us in a responsible manner. Our duty extends beyond our mandates to deliver positive investment outcomes – it also requires us to make a real, sustainable difference to people and planet. ”
– Carl Roothman, CEO Sanlam Investments
Let’s talk about being the change you want to see. Join the first Critical Conversations virtual event of 2023 on 7 June at 10.00 SAST, with our panel of leaders as we focus on value propositions to new generations, who hold positive environmental, social and governance (ESG) changes at the forefront of an investment decision.
During the virtual event, we will also be sharing our insights and learnings on:
- The future of companies without an ESG commitment
- Correlation of sustainability and profitability
- Regulation and ESG
- Sustainability as a core principle in business
- The new concept of ESG Additionality
Innovative, courageous conversations start here
We’ve created Critical Conversations to tackle the dynamics of sustainability and impact investing. It highlights the need for educated and authentic conversations that explore the right ideas, with the right people, to continue to move the best solutions forward.
What steps are you taking to adopt a more sustainable lifestyle?
Meet our panel.
MC: Lerato Mbele
Business and News Presenter
Lerato is a business and news presenter well known for raising Africa’s profile in world news and current affairs. Lerato has spoken at and moderated televised debates for the World Economic Forum on Africa, the World Bank and IMF annual meetings, African Development Bank summits, the UN Climate Change Summit COP-17 and has hosted the televised presidential debates for the Nigerian Economic Summit Group. Lerato is a previous business presenter for BBC World Television and was the host of Africa Business Report. Before that, Lerato was a senior business anchor for CNBC Africa and a national public broadcaster of South Africa. Recipient of the Charlotte Maxeke Women in Media Award in recognition of her achievements on the African Continent.
Dion Chang
Future trends analyst and founder of Flux Trends
Dion Chang specialises in identifying unexpected business opportunities within shifting trends, and the impact of disruptive technologies across all industries. He is one of South Africa’s most respected trend analysts, consultants and keynote speakers on disruption, trends, generation Z, and business strategy.
His research on youth trends and subcultures is particularly important as Generation Z will hold companies responsible for not embedding ESG into their organizational strategy. His 2023 Generation Z Immersion tour is introducing young solutions-based innovators to South African business leaders.
Dion presents modules on Foresight and Innovation Implementation for executives and senior management at various business schools, including GIBS, UCT’s Graduate School of Business and Duke CE. He has devised and hosted three trends conferences and published three books on the topic.
Shameela Soobramoney
Chief executive officer at National Business Initiative
Shameela Soobramoney is the CEO of the National Business Initiative (NBi), a coalition of South African and international companies working towards economic inclusion, social transformation, environmental sustainability and institutional capacity building.
Previously, she was Chief Sustainability Officer and Group Strategist for the Johannesburg Stock Exchange ( JSE), where she was appointed to various local and global advisory panels on ESG and sustainability, governance, impact investing and climate change.
She is a member of the Presidential Climate Commission’s Climate Finance Advisory Group, the BRICS Financial Sector Working Group, the IoDSA, and a non-executive director of the WWF SA, and the Green Building Council SA. She has been a member of the Strategy Group of Global Investors for Sustainable Development Alliance and Chair of the World Federation of Exchanges’ Sustainability Working Group.
Shameela has a Master’s Degree in Sustainability Leadership from the University of Cambridge and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Pretoria, GIBS. She is also a recipient of the Chevening and Mansion House scholarships.
Ravi Pillay
Faculty. Gordon Institute of Business Science
Ravi Pillay is the former Advisor to the Chairman and Managing Director of Nestlé East and Southern Africa Region. As a permanent faculty member at GIBS, he lectures on Marketing, Sustainability, Reputation Management, and Corporate Governance, while completing his PhD, focusing on Multi-stakeholder Partnerships.
He is a Board member of both the CGSO and Foodforward SA and served as President of the Swiss Chamber of Commerce for 3 years.
Ravi is a frequent panelist at Regional World Economic Forum events with a specialist focus on ESG topics, the most recent being Water Sustainability and Impacts of the Fourth Industrial Revolution on the manufacturing sector.
Tashmia Ismail-Saville
Chief business development officer at Mitacs, Toronto
Tashmia Ismail-Saville is a seasoned executive and consultant, creating solutions for partners innovating for the betterment of people, planet, and prosperity. She leads a large national team, operating in frontier sectors, building knowledge networks, driving industry innovation in Canada and internationally. Previously, VP of Innovation Consulting at MaRS Discovery District, North America’s largest urban innovation hub, Tashmia has designed strategies and solutions for partners across innovation and impact-related themes.
Before relocating to Canada, she was the Chief Executive of the Youth Employment Service (YES), a leading corporate-funded employment programme in South Africa, which created over 68 000 work opportunities for youth in over 1500 private sector firms, including Sanlam. She has lectured at business schools on four continents, including GIBS, Erasmus Rotterdam School of Management in the Netherlands and Kelley School of Business in the USA. Tashmia is also the author of articles, case studies and a book, covering a range of innovation topics, from inclusive technology-based start-ups in India to rural financial models in Kenya.
