From a thought-provoking keynote, insightful sessions, to comedy, the Finance Indaba was an impactful conference.
On 20 October, CFO South Africa hosted the first live Finance Indaba in the two years since the Covid-19 pandemic broke out, and it was a HUGE success! The day saw more than 1,500 finance professionals gather at the Sandton Convention Centre, proving once again that it is Africa’s biggest finance conference and expo.
The day started with an opening keynote address from the Auditor-General of South Africa Tsakani Maluleke, encouraging the delegates – and all finance professionals – to do and be better.
“Our role as finance professionals is to directly influence the lives of people, institutions, nations and the future,” she said. “This comes with huge responsibility, and we dare not excuse ourselves from showing up less than who and what we represent.”
From the leaders themselves
Inspired, delegates swarmed into the breakout rooms, where some of the country’s top finance leaders and experts were sharing their insights on how to do better.
In one room, Standard Bank chief finance and value management officer Arno Daehnke, Transaction Capital CFO Sean Doherty and Independent Power Producers’ Office head of finance and corporate services Dzunani Makgopa urged businesses and leaders to embrace sustainability.
In another session, attendees learned that conversation and collaboration are essential in navigating a tough turnaround from EOH group FD Megan Pydigadu and Coca-Cola Beverages South Africa FD Walter Leonhardt.
Tiger Brands CFO Deepa Sita, Kumba Iron Ore CFO Bothwell Mazarura and Liberty Africa Insurance CFO Ravi Singh discussed how to achieve growth during uncertain times.
In another room Auditor-General of South Africa national head of audit Bongi Ngoma, Flight Centre Travel Group CFO Averen Deonanan and Douglasdale Dairy CFO Bradley Wentzel revealed what it takes to be an authentic leader.
Read about the sessions here.
Brought to you by partners
In between sessions, attendees visited the exhibition hall, where 50 of South Africa’s leading finance service providers were showcasing the products and services no finance teams can do without.
Delegates were treated to free, freshly-brewed coffee at the Diamond Partner stands, Workday and Sage. They tested exciting new products at the Platinum Partner stands, including IIA SA, Microsoft and Xero.
Other stands included the Gold Partners: ACCA, Alteryx, CIPC, Corporate Traveller, Happay, Insight Consulting, Concise, Nutanix, Oracle, Oxalys, Paris Technologies, SAP, TreasuryONE and Zoho Expense, as well as the Silver Partners: Access Bank, AICPA & CIMA, BEE123, CaseWare Africa, Coupa, EasyDebit Payment Solutions, EMS Tax, Fasset, Finclusion, Fraxion, IDU Software, IMAS, Lofty Brainchild, MaxProf, Network Finance, OneStream, PayCurve, Resourgenix and SynergERP.
A funny end
At the end of the day, attendees gathered around the main stage for the last time with their drinks in hand as Joey Rasdeen took the stage with a stand-up comedy routine that left everyone in stitches.
