On 16 April, the CFO South Africa community will gather at 180 Lounger in Cape Town's CBD for an exclusive summit titled NextGen Finance. The event will bring together the country's most influential finance leaders to discuss the evolution of finance.
The Next-Gen CFO Summit promises bold conversations about the evolving role of the modern CFO, the digital transformation of finance, and the leadership grit it takes to make unpopular calls in the face of adversity.
The 180 Lounger, undoubtedly one of the city's most striking venues, offers uninterrupted panoramic views of Cape Town - a fitting backdrop for an evening of high-impact dialogue on digital transformation, data, AI, risk management, and building future-ready finance teams.
With artificial intelligence reshaping the finance function and economic pressures testing the mettle of CFOs across every sector, the timing of this gathering could not be more fitting.
The Summit will open with registrations, drinks and light snacks, setting the tone for what promises to be a thought-provoking and energising evening. The event is supported by an exceptional roster of partners, including BDO SA, Marsh, Stanlib, Workday, and AICPA & CIMA.
Guests will then move into interactive sessions exploring the future of finance and the evolving CFO mandate - a fitting launchpad for the conversations ahead. This will be followed by a panel discussion on the future of digital finance, data, and AI, featuring three heavyweights of the South African financial world.
Hywel George, director of investments at Old Mutual Investment Group, will take to the stage to unpack how data and emerging technologies are redefining the strategic role of the CFO - and what finance leaders must do to stay ahead of the curve.
But perhaps the most gripping session of the evening will be the masterclass in sticking to unpopular decisions - with a particular focus on a challenge that has become all too familiar for CFOs in infrastructure-heavy environments: dealing with construction mafia.
Kevin Jacoby, CFO at the City of Cape Town, and Zaf Mahomed, CFO at the Oceana Group, will share the hard-won lessons and unflinching resolve required to hold the line when the pressure to capitulate is at its most intense. It is the kind of raw, real-world insight that rarely makes it into a boardroom presentation - and exactly why the CFO South Africa community continues to grow.
The summit will also feature a fireside chat with one of South Africa's most respected financial minds: Paul Harris, co-founder and former CEO of FirstRand Group. Paul will share his perspective on building future-ready finance teams - drawing on decades of experience steering one of the continent's largest financial institutions through periods of profound change. His insights on talent, culture, and long-term thinking are sure to resonate deeply with every CFO in the room.
As the programme draws to a close, guests will have the opportunity to continue the conversation over drinks and networking - with the stunning Cape Town skyline as a backdrop, and the ideas of the evening still fresh in the air.
