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Pulane Sekepe | Convention MCPulane Sekepe has always been passionate about the entertainment industry, especially television and film, believing it’s one of the most influential tools in the world. Her production career started as a casting coordinator on the series High Rollers on SABC 3 where the “producing bug” bit her… Following that she worked as a production assistant and researcher on Die Van Coke Show. Pulane debuted as a producer on the Via TV dating show Se Vir Mamma and is currently producing season 2. She not only has experience from a production perspective, but also spent many years in front of the camera, appearing on stage as well. Her accolades include a leading role in the renowned The Market Theatre production of You Fool, How Can The Sky Fall and the Innie Bos Production Be(t)roudag. She’s taken on diversified parts ranging from comedic characters, like Cecilia in the KykNet series Die Kasteel to more dramatic ones such as the gritty street hustler in the Silverskermfees film Spoorloos. The dynamic twenty-eight-year old also hosted fan favourite TV shows likeVia’s Kom Ons Trou Nou, Pasella and Naweek. Her love for radio landed her a spot as the traffic presenter on the Martin Bester Drive Show on Jacaranda FM. Pulane is currently starring in Die Vlieënde springbokkie a sitcom on SABC2 Pulane’s illustrious and varied career has equipped her with a wholistic understanding of the entertainment industry which she still continues to work-, learn- and grow in today. |
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Alison BothaAudiences sit in rapt attention as Alison speaks of the brutally cruel torture to which she was subjected and how she has overcome the challenge of that experience by applying her own ABC – Attitude, Belief and Choice. You learn to recognise the importance of attitude at all times. You will gain insight into the power of belief in yourself and she will share of the freedom and responsibility of making choices, no matter what happens in your life. Alison has been speaking on the professional speaking circuit for several years. Her aim to ‘make a difference’ has been overwhelming as she has spoken to countless thousands of people which include large business corporations, women and social groups as well as several schools. She has addressed international audiences in over 20 different countries including the USA, Australia, Europe, Asia and Africa. Not everyone has the natural talent to inspire others from bad experiences but her message teaches how valuable life is and that the solutions to the challenges facing us lie within ourselves. Alison weaves her three strands of her life’s philosophy – attitude, belief, choice – into an unbreakable lifeline of strength for all to hold onto as a life skill never to be forgotten. |
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Kirsty Scully, CFP®Kirsty Scully, CFP® is the Chairperson-Elect of the Financial Planning Institute of Southern Africa, and this keeps her at the forefront of legislative changes within the financial planning profession. In addition to this, Kirsty is a Senior Financial Planner at Core Wealth Advisory Services in Cape Town, working with high net-worth individuals, many of them are visionary businesswomen, retired individuals and emerging entrepreneurs. With a track record as a financial planning professional that spans three decades, she gives pragmatic advice and approaches her client interactions on a detailed and highly professional basis. Not only is she a public speaker on international radio and TV broadcasts, but she is also an aspiring author of her book Financial Planning Conversations. She was awarded the Financial Planning Institute’s Media Award for her immense contribution to financial planning through the media. Her achievements in the profession were also recognised when she was a finalist in the Businesswomen’s Association of South Africa, Regional Business Achiever Awards. As if Kirsty’s life isn’t busy enough, she still makes time to ensure a balanced and healthy lifestyle. Keeping strictly to professional 8am to 5pm hours, she rises early in the morning either to walk or run around her suburb or spends time keeping fit with figure-skating at the ice-rink. She is incredibly involved at her church leading a group called Women of Influence. As hobbies, she loves interior decorating and craft painting. Travel is Kirsty’s passion and she loves cruising which, through careful saving is paid for by the time the holiday rolls around….. now that is leading by example! |
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Lelane Bezuidenhout, CFP®Lelané has been involved in the financial services industry since 1999. She started at a large life insurer where she fulfilled many roles over the 11 years with the insurer. It is in her dealings with compliance matters and consumer complaints that she took an interest in financial planning from a standard setting point of view. Over the years she studied, as a working mom, to become a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER®. From the life insurer she joined the FAIS Ombud’s office where she investigated FAIS (regulatory) related complaints. After five years at the ombud she joined the FPI in 2014 and headed the Certification and Standards department for a few years. Today after a journey of a little over 20 years, Lelané is the current CEO of the FPI where she continues to impact positively on the lives of all, as best she can, in serving the FPI’s vision of “Professional financial planning and advice for all”. She believes we have a great profession that is yet to achieve its fullest potential! She obtained both her Postgraduate Diploma in Financial Planning and Postgraduate Diploma in Investment Planning from University of the Free State. She furthermore completed a Compliance Management course at the University of Cape Town. She believes in lifelong learning as we can never know all there is to know! |
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Brian ParsleyBrian grew up being taught the ethos of working harder than most. When he combined this philosophy with the service of others his life changed. He’s sold two successful start-ups and travels globally sharing best practices on how to sell more and create loyal fans. In addition to keynote speeches and workshops, he coaches select top performers from top Executives to Professional Race Car Drivers. |
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Zanele NjaphaKnown to her awesome clients as ‘The UnLearning Lady’, Zanele Njapha is the world’s leading voice on using key unlearning principles to support the world’s best organisations build cultures where instead of annoyed and frustrated by change – people are EXCITED to transform and innovate!
Zanele not only exceeds client expectations when facilitating, but she expertly brings her youthful, fresh, and divergent energy to challenge long-standing dogmas that truly turn interventions into meaningful, trackable results for organisations! |
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Siphiwe MoyoSiphiwe Moyo is a sought-after and highly-rated International Keynote Speaker, Author and Organisational Development (OD) Facilitator. He has presented at numerous international conferences, primarily in the EMEA and APAC regions. A Southern African Speaker Hall of Fame and a Southern African Educator Hall of Fame Inductee, Siphiwe is a safe pair of hands for Executives trying to solve people-related issues in organisations. He’s a seasoned HR practitioner and Organisational Behaviour specialist. He studies and teaches human behaviour within a workplace context. He is considered an expert in leadership, cultivating optimism, hope & resiliency, employee motivation, and helping employees cope with organisational change. He has helped many senior leadership teams with team effectiveness interventions Siphiwe designed the initial postgraduate module in Organisational Behaviour offered at Stellenbosch University in South Africa. He has worked as an Adjunct Faculty member, teaching primarily Organisational Behaviour, at GIBS, Henley Business School Africa, Wits Business School and the Johannesburg Business School. Siphiwe was Vice President of the Professional Speakers Association of Southern Africa and was Chairman of the Board at the South African Board for People Practices. |
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Sue TorrSue Torr is co-founder of Crue Invest (Pty) Ltd, winner of FPI Financial Planning Practice of the Year™ 2023. Together with her husband, Craig Torr, the couple founded the business in July 2004 which at the time was one of only a handful of financial planning practices charging professional fees. Sue and Craig built the practice on a shared vision to create a fiercely independent, fee-based practice with clients’ interests at the heart of the advice offering. As a full-suite practice, the team, which includes two legal advisors, 9 Certified Financial Planners®, two healthcare advisors and an employee benefits specialist, provides advice on estate and tax planning, retirement funding, investment planning, risk protection, employee benefits, business protection and healthcare. Sue read for her BA LLB degrees at Rhodes University and is an admitted advocate of the high court. |
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Jason CarpenterI am the founder and portfolio manager of the Etherbridge fund, where we leverage on-chain data and crypto fundamentals to drive our investment decision-making process. Before starting Etherbridge, I worked at Evolve Fund Management in Johannesburg and spent time creating token profiles at Messari (Crypto’s version of Edgar/Bloomberg) as an analyst, outlining minimum disclosures to make crypto investments more comparable and transparent. In addition to managing Etherbridge, I serve as the Chief Investment Officer at Lima Capital LLC, a fund structuring business. Lima Capital has a presence in Mauritius and Singapore and has $500m in assets under management and administration. I hold a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting from Stellenbosch University and a Master of Science in Blockchain and Digital Currency from the University of Nicosia, Cyprus. My accounting degree provided the foundation to understand blockchain as a natural evolution of accounting principles, while my MSc solidified my technical understanding of blockchain technology and cryptoassets.
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Jeanette MaraisJeanette Marais was appointed as Group CEO for Momentum Metropolitan in August 2023, making her the first female CEO of a large, listed life insurance and asset management group in South Africa. With an Executive MBA (cum laude) from the International Institute for Management Development (IMD) in Lausanne, Switzerland, and a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of the Free State, Jeanette cut her business teeth in her first corporate stretch at Momentum, after which she gained valuable experience as a C-suite executive at other financial services firms in South Africa. She has a performance history of building strong, profitable businesses and has extensive knowledge of financial services, the retail investments market, intermediary distribution and operational aspects of investment management. She appears regularly in the media and is an active participant in relevant industry bodies. Her decades-long executive career has equipped her with an excellent leadership track record. Jeanette is a country girl who grew up on a farm in the Free State. She is married to Johann Cilliers, who runs their farm on the West Coast near Paternoster. Jeanette believes in keeping fit and has completed several marathons, ultra-marathons and trailruns over the last 20 years. She loves flowers and has a dream of owning her own flower shop one day. Making a difference in the lives of clients, her colleagues and empowering women are what energise her daily. |
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Hanli PrinslooHanli Prinsloo speaks about fear, freedom and the human body’s incredible connection to water. Hanli is an ocean advocate, free diver and avid ocean adventurer. She has a background in documentary filmmaking as well as fifteen years of record-breaking competitive freediving experience. Her documentary work has taken her into the front-lines of social political conflict all over Africa and she is a strong believer in the greatness of the human spirit under the toughest of circumstances, having seen beauty and hope flourish where least expected. In 2010 Hanli founded the award winning I AM WATER Foundation that offers innovative ocean workshops to youth from underserved coastal communities, instilling a love for the sea while creating thousands of ocean guardians each year. Her personal passion being mindful encounters with marine megafauna, Hanli spends many months every year exploring the world’s last true wild places swimming and meeting with whales, sharks, dolphins and more. Her visual material from the underwater realm combined with her vibrant storytelling captures the imagination and inspires audiences of all ages and walks of life. As a true ocean entrepreneur, Hanli and her partner Peter Marshall have co-founded two social mission business, I AM WATER Ocean Travel hosting high end freediving experiences for paying clients, and AGULHAS, the first ever sustainable freediving brand. Hanli has offered mental strength and resilience workshops for professional cyclists, rugby players, big wave surfers and leaders in the business world. Hanli is an acclaimed international keynote speaker, regularly working with clients from all around the world. She is a Young Global Leader under the WEF, an Ashoka Fellow and mom to two small water babies. |
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Jaco van TonderJaco is head of Advisor Services in South Africa at Ninety One. Prior to moving into this role, Jaco was sales director for the South African Advisor team and head of distribution for Ninety One Investment Platform. Having previously worked at Sanlam Group, Jaco occupied various positions which included heading up the product development for the Sanlam platform business, Glacier from 2000 to 2003, and heading up the business development and distribution team from 2003 to 2009. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Actuaries, and holds a B.Sc (Hons) degree from the University of Stellenbosch. |
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Ajanta Mayku, CFP®Qualifications:
Experience:
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Florbela Yate, CFP®Florbela Yates began her career in November 1993 as a consultant with Alexander Forbes in the health care division. She spent six years there before transferring to Investment Solutions as a senior marketing executive. After 13 years with the group, she joined RMB International as the company’s head of institutional business in SA. She then joined STANLIB Multi-Manager, where she was involved in growing institutional assets, product development and institutional reporting. She later joined Hollard Investments as an investment specialist consultant to the company’s investment team for a period of three years. Since January 2017, Florbela’s role has been as head of Equilibrium (previously Momentum Investment Consulting (MIC)) an independent discretionary fund manager in the Momentum Metropolitan group. She has a BCom (Economics, Business Finance and Marketing) degree and is a CFP® professional. |
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Francois du Toit, CFP®Francois has been working in financial services since 1994. He’s really good at financial planning, using technology, and helping financial advisory and planning firms grow their businesses. In 2015, he started PROpulsion to help financial planners get better through learning, events, and making friends in the industry. He received the “It Starts with Me” award from the Financial Planning Institute of Southern Africa in 2020 for his work. He also runs a popular YouTube show called “PROpulsion LIVE” where he talks to guests from all over the world about how they are growing their businesses, how they are using tech, and sharing their unique perspectives on a variety of topics. This show has helped create a friendly and supportive community for financial experts in South Africa, which was something new in 2021. Francois often gives talks and leads discussions at local and international conferences. You can find his ideas in magazines, on his blog, and on LinkedIn. He is a proud member of the Financial Planning Institute of Southern Africa and a CFP® Professional. |
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Vuledzani Dangale, CFP®Vuledzani Gloria Dangale is the Head of Regulatory Implementation at Liberty, boasting over 20 years of experience in the financial services. Her career is marked by a commitment to continuous learning, and a relentless drive for excellence. She holds a BCom in Finance, a Postgraduate Diploma in Financial Planning, an Advanced Postgraduate Diploma in Employee Benefits, an Advanced postgraduate diploma in estate planning, and an MBA. Vuledzani currently serves as a Non-Executive Director at the Financial Planning Institute of Southern Africa. Her professional journey includes leading regulatory compliance initiatives, managing complex risk assessments, and driving sales in roles such as Compliance Manager at Hollard Insurance and Manager of Bancassurance at Liberty. She is a Fellow member of the Insurance Institute of South Africa (IISA). As a recognized thought leader in the financial planning industry, Vuledzani is known for her insightful perspectives and innovative approaches. She is passionate about advancing financial planning excellence. At the upcoming convention, she will share her expertise on cultivating a growth mindset within financial planning practices, drawing on her extensive experience and leadership skills. |
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Navin Ramparsad, CFP®Navin Ramparsad is the Head of Financial Planning, Advisory and Product Development at Absa Private Wealth Banking. Prior to this he served as the Head of Strategic Product Development at Absa Investment Management Services. He is an admitted attorney with 23 years experience in the financial services sector. Navin commenced his career as a practicing attorney and early in his career joined the financial services sector. For 13 years Navin has occupied various legal and compliance leadership roles. In the last few years Navin has assumed a business leadership role with key areas of focus being product development, advisory and fiduciary services, and financial planning, risk management and communication. Navin holds the following degrees: BSocSc, LLB, Diploma in Tax Practice and a Adv Post Graduate Diploma in Financial Planning. Navin holds a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® designation. Navin has participated in various leadership courses through Gordon Institute of Business and London Institute of Leadership and Management. He is a FAIS Category III Key Individual, and was a trustee on three retail retirement funds. He also served as a director on two boards and the Chairperson of the Financial Planning Institute of Southern Africa. |
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Gerrit Schmidt IIIGerrit is Deputy CEO and Head of Family Governance Research at Schmidt Family Office. He lead the development of the Wealth Management First Principles Framework, SFOs proprietary model for family governance in wealth management practice. He is a Master of Science graduate from HEC Paris where he earned his qualification in business science. In addition to advising families on wealth management and his corporate responsibilities as Deputy CEO, Gerrit describes himself as a humble student of family dynamics. His current research is focused in behavioural finance wherein he seeks to advance the understanding of what he calls “Pro-Family Behaviour” (PFB) in service of wealth management professionals and family continuity. |
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Mzwandile MtshaliThe start of Mzwandile’s corporate career began as a Consultant at Deloitte. He later went on to join South African Breweries in several different roles such as Business Analyst, Information Security Office, Professional Services Manager and Global Business Programme Manager. He has also held several senior positions at ABSA, which include Head of Wealth, Investment Management and Insurance (WIMI)’s Consumer Bank segment and Chief Operating Officer for Wealth Investment Management and Insurance Distribution Business. Prior to joining PPS, he was the Managing Executive for Hollard’s Affinity Partnership business. Mzwandile joined the Professional Provident Society (PPS) in 2018 as Group Executive for Advisory Services and Enablement (ASE), with the primary responsibility of transforming the Financial Advisory team and establishing the Wealth Advisory teams for PPS Group, which under his guidance the business implemented a new target operating model and built a high-performance team that doubled its Assets and Premiums under Advice in under five years. The business comprises two front facing channels, (Financial & Wealth Advisory) two intermediaries and an enablement support spine (Fiduciary Services and Specialist Support Services). PPS ASE operates within the PPS Group with the goal of becoming a member driven, complementary, fully integrated advisory service for the professional graduate market. In 2023, Mzwandile moved into the role of Group Executive for Advice and Distribution, in which his leadership oversees all the Advice and Distribution Channels of PPS. Outside of the boardroom, you can find Mzwandile in the classroom unlocking the potential and inspiring the dreams of young learners through the Cultivating Tomorrow’s Professional programme, which he founded during lockdown in 2020. His passion for high performance, impact and education blend to ensure he leaves this world better than how he found it. |
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Katherine GibsonKatherine Gibson is an economist from Durban with extensive experience in public policy. She is currently Deputy Commissioner of South Africa’s market conduct regulator, the Financial Sector Conduct Authority, serving on EXCO. With a background in trade and competition policy, she worked for the National Treasury in the area of financial sector policy for over 12 years. Katherine was responsible for developing the conduct “peak” of South Africa’s twin peaks framework and has been with the FSCA since its establishment in April 2018 Katherine shares life with her husband Luke and two teenagers William and Sophie. Trail running keeps her sane. |
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Professor Elmarie VenterProfessor Elmarie Venter is a distinguished figure renowned for her roles as a presenter, facilitator, mentor, and consultant specialising in family businesses. With over 32 years of experience in academia, she currently holds the position of professor in the Department of Business Management at Nelson Mandela University. Throughout her career, Professor Venter has taught and conducted research, guiding both undergraduate and postgraduate students in diverse fields including Introduction to Business Management, Entrepreneurship and Small Business Management, Research Methodology, Marketing, and Marketing Communication Management. She brings over 17 years of consultancy expertise to South African family businesses, focusing on critical areas such as succession planning, governance, values, and achieving transgenerational success. Her dedication stems from a deep-seated passion for fostering the growth and prosperity of business families and students alike. As a founding member and Acting Director of the Nelson Mandela University Family Business Unit, the continent’s pioneering research initiative of its kind, Professor Venter collaborates closely with leading scholars and family enterprises. The unit excels in both research and education, setting benchmarks in the field of family business studies. Professor Venter’s influence extends globally through her engagements as a keynote speaker and presenter at over 100 national, African, and international events. Her topics often include succession planning, governance practices, the evolving roles of women, and sustaining transgenerational entrepreneurship within family-owned enterprises. |
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Alf McKnight, CFP®Alf McKnight, CFP®, brings over three decades of expertise in corporate pensions, private client wealth management, and investments. With a career marked by collaborations with major advisory firms and multinational corporate clients since joining OTAP in 2016, Alf is recognized as a seasoned CERTIFIED FINANICAL PLANNER®. His dedication lies in aligning his clients’ global wealth strategies with their personal and professional aspirations, striving to ensure their success. Outside of his professional endeavours, Alf enjoys supporting his favourite rugby team and staying updated on Formula 1 news. He values work-life balance and dedicates time to his hobbies. |
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Graham EastonGraham has an Economics degree from the University of the Western Cape, as well as a Commerce Honours degree in Marketing Research from the University of South Africa. He has worked in market research and strategy for leading insurers in South Africa for more than 25 years. His track record reflects:
Graham joined the Liberty Group in 2018 as the Divisional Executive for Research and Insights. The position is part of the Group Marketing and Communications Team. He describes this move as a personal journey of growth and learning, in doing so gaining an understanding of the company’s strategy and focus. His specialist area is understanding human behaviour and how it can be translated into business strategy. He takes a particular interest in market and consumer insights in the insurance industry. He is a keen runner, currently training to complete the demanding Comrades Marathon in 2023. The eternal student in him prefers to read, research and learn in his own time. He also enjoys gaining new experiences through travel. Graham’s advice is to never stop listening and learning. To be open to new experiences and to focus on the facts. He believes creating meaningful relationships leads to success in life at home and at work. |
