The South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA) witnessed a resounding success at the recently concluded In‑FOR_sight Summit 2025, held from 14–16 October at the Gallagher Convention Centre in Midrand, Gauteng. The event, which brought together professionals from the public and private sectors, young leaders, technologists, and sustainability experts, delivered on its promise of immersive, high‑impact conversations and actionable insights. (In‑FOR_sight Summit)
Sharp focus on accountability, ethics, and economic growth
Day 1 set the tone for robust dialogue on South Africa’s economic trajectory. Patricia Stock, SAICA CEO, opened proceedings, followed by remarks from Vincent Motholo, SAICA Chairman. The keynote delivered by Khulekani Mathe, CEO of Business Unity South Africa (BUSA), challenged business leaders to prioritise investment and bold strategies for inclusive growth.
A plenary moderated by Mandy Wiener featured senior executives including Phumzile Langeni (Deputy Chairperson of Imperial Logistics and Executive Chair of Afropulse Group), amplifying the call for business to drive structural transformation.
Subsequent sessions dived into public-sector reform, with panels exploring the implementation of oversight mechanisms, accountability frameworks, and how audit findings can translate into practical policy reforms. Contributions from voices such as Mpho Mookapele (CEO of EWSETA), Denicia Samuels (Training Officer at KwaZulu-Natal Treasury), and Sandiso Gcwabe (CFO of Wesgro) enriched the conversation around transparency and governance.
Ethics, artificial intelligence, and future of the profession
Day 2 honed in on ethical leadership in an era of rapid technological change. A high-profile ethics panel, moderated by Milton Segal, brought together ethicists and accounting leaders to debate the role of professionals in upholding integrity and public trust. Participants included Prof Bonang Mohale, Chancellor at University of the Free State, Zimkita Mabandla, audit partner and external audit lead at SKX, and Tarryn Wright, Chair of SAICA’s Ethics Committee.
The Future of the Accounting Profession plenary surfaced critical issues of skills, digital transformation, global standards, and professional education. Panelists such as Bruce Vivian (Director, Accountancy Education at IFAC), Alan Hosking(CEO of Osgard and publisher of HR Future magazine), as well as academic leaders like Prof Ahmed Mohammadali-Haji (Head of Department of Accountancy at University of Johannesburg), and industry executives such as Victor Sekese, CEO of SNG Grant Thornton, shared forward-looking perspectives on evolving qualification frameworks and professional roles.
A standout stream on artificial intelligence, led by Kris Dobie from the Ethics Institute, addressed risks of overhype and the need for ethical governance within AI deployment. Msizi Gwala, SAICA’s Lead on Public Sector Thought Leadership, delivered a timely session on the “AI bubble,” signalling how accounting professionals should remain impartial, transparent, and ethically vigilant amid techno-disruption.
Young professionals, wellness, and mentorship
Parallel to technical content, the summit emphasised wellness and lifestyle for high-performance professionals. Sessions on resilience, mental health, and high-performance routines drew large attendance, reflecting the growing recognition that sustainable achievement is grounded in well-being. Mentoring workshops and speed-mentoring facilitated by next-generation leaders enabled delegates to connect with senior practitioners across industries.
Awards and recognition
On the evening of 16 October, the summit concluded with the prestigious awards ceremony, where the Top 35 Under 35and Trainee Trailblazers were honoured. The ceremony recognised emerging leaders whose work exemplifies innovation, resilience, and leadership potential. Among the awardees, bold names would appear here for category winners and overall accolades.
Implications and next steps
The outcome of the summit is expected to ripple through the accounting profession and beyond. The emphasis on ethics and governance signals heightened expectations for accountability among professionals and public officials. Meanwhile, discussions on AI and digital transformation reinforce that practitioners must adapt new skill sets to remain relevant in an evolving regulatory and technological landscape.
For attendees and observers, the summit reaffirmed that leadership in finance is no longer just about numbers—it is about integrity, innovation, and purpose.
