South Africa’s potential to thrive depends on the pace and trajectory of its socio-economic transformation. The overall development and growth of the country is reliant on an intricate social economy driven by industrial innovation, public-private collaboration, educational and artistic empowerment, technological integration, mutually beneficial partnerships, intercontinental trade and many other pillars that contribute equally to progress and transformation of South Africa.
This is why Change Hub is launching the Socio-Economic Impact Summit (SEIS), a pro-active conference that intends to address the country’s socio-economic challenges, opportunities and solutions. The summit, which will take place on the 14th October 2024, has attracted a range of heavy hitting professionals, analysts, activists, government authorities and entrepreneurs – all game-changers in their field.
Katie Mohamed, CEO of Change Hub, said the summit “intends to bring together leaders and captains of industry in the public and private sectors, with the collective goal of co-creating a more socially conscious, inclusive and transformative society.”
SEIS is backed by DP World, Brand South Africa and the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) and has also partnered with W-Suite, Social TV, Good Governance Africa, Afrika Tikkun and the BrandFusion Foundation.
Over 400 delegates have already signed up to attend the event, with registrations needing to close a week prior to the event due to overwhelming response and interest. The summit has welcomed influential speakers and panellists in key positions in sectors ranging from business, agriculture, technology, social entrepreneurship, women empowerment, social justice and education. A variety of panels, featuring over 50 speakers between them, will run simultaneously, each addressing different Sustainability Development Goals as laid out by the United Nations.
The summit also features a continuation of Brand South Africa’s successful entrepreneurship programme, Play Your Part Ignite, which has been running nationally for over 3 years. In the scope of SEIS, Play Your Part Ignite has been adapted into an unconferencing experience, designed to engage entrepreneurs and SMMEs in pro-active dialogues with relevant business owners, SMME developers, business mentors and support providers.
SEIS’s goals are long-term with the intent to host annual summits. Katie Mohamed, who is looking to expand the summit next year, allowing a larger quotient of delegates, said that “in such a rapidly changing world, today’s problems could be tomorrow’s solutions and it’s important that we, as South Africans, keep the dialogue alive and continue to focus on how we can work together to forge thriving, sustainable industries with the potential to provide equitable opportunities.”
