Agenda

Agenda

Tuesday, November 4, 2025

9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

IWF Registration Desk
The Westin Old Harbour Lobby

9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Pop-Up Shops
The Westin Old Harbour Lobby, Diaz & Da Gama

6:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

Global Leaders’ Dinner Pre-Dinner Drinks
The Westin Old Harbour Lobby

By invitation only (Current Global Board Members, Current Forum Presidents, Past Global IWF Presidents or Past Leadership Foundation Presidents)

7:00. – 9:30 p.m.

Global Leaders’ Dinner
The Westin Grand Ballroom

By invitation only (Current Global Board Members, Current Forum Presidents, Past Global IWF Presidents or Past Leadership Foundation Presidents)

9:00 p.m. – 12:00 a.m.

Hospitality Suite
The Westin Raleigh’s Bar

Enjoy complimentary beverages and light fare presented by Standard Bank.

Wednesday, November 5, 2025

8:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Presidents’ Council Meeting
The Westin Grand Ballroom

Attendance at the Presidents’ Council Meeting is limited to: Forum Presidents, Chapter Presidents, the chosen representative of a Forum or Chapter President if she is unable to attend; and, as observers, IWF Global Board Directors.

9:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.

IWF Registration Desk
The Westin Old Harbour Lobby

9:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.

Pop-Up Shops
The Westin Old Harbour Lobby, Diaz & Da Gama

2:15 p.m. – 3:15 p.m.

Connecting to Self and Others
The Westin Grand Ballroom

Connect with IWF members from around the world in a session designed to help you pause, recharge, and engage. Through facilitated and easy movement and guided dialogue, you’ll have the opportunity to meet fellow members in a relaxed and energizing way, sparking conversations and connections to carry forward throughout the conference and beyond.

Facilitator:

Bunie Matlanyane Sexwale, Co-founder, Lesaka La Basadi (IWF South Africa)

3:45 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Advanced Leadership Workshop: Leading at the Speed of AI
The Westin Grand Ballroom

In the past 12 months, large language models (LLMs) have become 70% more accurate while costing only a fraction of previous implementations, a shift that is redefining what’s possible for organizations and leaders alike. Yet adoption is uneven: while some teams advance exponentially, others experience a decline in decision quality and overall performance when relying on AI. How can leaders leverage AI-driven acceleration for workforce strategy, organizational learning, and human-centric leadership?

Speakers:

Deema Alathel, Executive Director, Global Strategic Initiatives, IBM
Charmaine Houvet, Senior Director Africa, Cisco (Former IWF SA Board Member & Former Chair IWFSA Leadership Development committee, IWFSA Member)

5:00 p.m.

Opening Reception Bus Departures
The Westin Main Entrance

6:30 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.

Opening Reception
Vergelegen Wine Estate

IWF South Africa will warmly welcome you to South Africa as you reconnect with old friends and meet new ones.

10:00 p.m. – 12:00 a.m.

Hospitality Suite
The Westin Raleigh's Bar

Enjoy complimentary beverages and light fare presented by Standard Bank.

Thursday, November 6, 2025

7:00 a.m. – 6:30 p.m.

IWF Registration Desk
The Westin Old Harbour Lobby

7:00 a.m. – 6:30 p.m.

Pop-Up Shops
The Westin Old Harbour Lobby, Diaz & Da Gama

7:00 a.m. – 8:45 a.m.

Breakfast Taken at the Hotels
*Breakfast available from 06:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.

7:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Bidvest Networking Lounge
CTICC Main Lounge

9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.

Official Conference Opening
CTICC Ballroom

Welcoming Remarks:

Kimberly Cooper Jaqua, Global Board Chair, International Women’s Forum
Irene Charnley, IWF Cornerstone Conference Co-Chair (IWF South Africa)
Nolitha Fakude, IWF Cornerstone Conference Co-Chair (IWF South Africa)
HE President Cyril M Ramaphosa, President of the Republic of South Africa

10:00 a.m. – 10:50 a.m.

Plenary 1: The World Turned Upside Down: Staying Agile, Aware, and Ahead
CTICC Ballroom

In a world where traditional alliances may no longer exist and conflicts are increasing, our speakers will share their insights into the current geopolitical environment and what we might expect in the coming months and years.

Speakers:

Rebeca Grynspan, Secretary-General, United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD)
Dr. Monica Juma, National Security Advisor, Republic of Kenya

Moderator:

Redi Tlhabi, Global Affairs Journalist and Moderator

10:50 a.m. – 11:10 a.m.

Coffee Break

11:10 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Plenary 2: Ideas Remaking the World
CTICC Ballroom

Listen as your IWF sisters share their ideas for remaking the world and transforming their communities. Meet the innovators, instigators, and disruptors among us, and find inspiration in their successful initiatives that run the gamut from arts to education, business to philanthropy, technology to the environment.

Speakers:

Farhana Hasan, Founder and CEO, HerWILL: “Redefining Global Equity in the AI Economy” (IWF Georgia)
Connie Stacey, Founder and CEO, Grengine Inc.: “Powering Possibility: Ending Energy Poverty” (IWF Canada)
Carika Weldon, Founder, CEO, and Director of Research, CariGenetics: “Caribbean DNA for Global Healthcare Solutions” (IWF Bermuda)

Moderator:

Claudia Patton, Chair, Ideas Remaking the World Selection Committee (IWF Georgia)

12:00 p.m. – 12:45 p.m.

Break

12:45 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Luncheon: Plenary 3: Susan Hammer Memorial Lecture
CTICC Ballroom

The Susan Hammer Memorial Lecture honors the legacy of the late IWF Oregon member Susan Hammer, a trailblazing lawyer, mediator, and advocate for women’s advancement. Each year, the lecture features women who have made significant contributions to peace and civil society. This year’s speaker, Advocate Mojanku Gumbi, is the Special Adviser for Addressing Racism in the Workplace for the UN. She is an internationally respected lawyer, mediator, and peacemaker and has dedicated her work to fostering dialogue, justice, and reconciliation around the world.

Welcome Remarks:

Dr. Anna Mokgokong, Chancellor, Honorary Consul, Professor, Co-founder and Executive Chairperson, Community Investment Holdings (IWF South Africa)
Yolanda Cuba, Deputy CEO, MTN South Africa (IWF South Africa)

Speaker:

Advocate Mojanku Gumbi, Advocate of the High Court of South Africa; Chancellor of the University of Venda; Special Adviser to the UN Secretary-General on Addressing Racism (IWF South Africa)

Moderator:

Allyson Maynard Gibson KC, former Attorney-General and Minister of Legal Affairs of the Bahamas (IWF Bahamas)

2:15 p.m.

Behind the Scenes Bus Departures
CTICC Ballroom

3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Behind the Scenes
Scheduled Return by 5:00 p.m.

6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.

Dine Around Reception
The Westin Grand Ballroom

Grab a drink and connect before Members depart for Dine Arounds. Please refer to the back of your badge for your bus departure time.

6:15 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.

Dine Around Bus Departures
The Westin Grand Ballroom

6:15 p.m.

Guest Dinner Bus Departure
The Westin Hotel Main Lobby

6:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.

Guest Dinner
Gold Restaurant

8:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.

Member Dine Arounds

It would not be an IWF conference without our beloved Dine Arounds. You will have the opportunity to meet and connect with your IWF sisters from around the globe in small groups. The dinners will be hosted around the city by Members of IWF South Africa.

10:00 p.m. – 12:00 a.m.

Hospitality Suite
The Westin Raleigh’s Bar

Enjoy complimentary beverages and light fare presented by Standard Bank.

Friday, November 7, 2025

7:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

IWF Registration Desk
The Westin Old Harbour Lobby

7:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Pop-Up Shops
The Westin Old Harbour Lobby, Diaz & Da Gama

7:30 a.m. – 8:45 a.m.

Breakfast Taken at the Hotels
*Breakfast available from 06:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.

7:30 a.m. – 8:30 a.m.

Special Interest Group: Law Breakfast
The Westin Grand Ballroom

7:30 a.m. – 8:30 a.m.

Fellows Aumnae Breakfast
Prince Edward Island and Shappen Island, Mezzanine Level of The Westin Hotel

7:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Bidvest Networking Lounge
CTICC Main Lounge

9:00 a.m.

Day 2 Opening
CTICC Ballroom

Opening Remarks:

Mpumi Zikalala, CEO, Kumba Iron Ore (IWF South Africa)

9:15 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.

Plenary 4: The Power of Hope: The Pathway to Excellence in Leadership
CTICC Ballroom

What does it take to shape the next generation of exemplary leaders? Mentorship, leadership development, and a strong, supportive cohort of peers are all foundational. IWF members are actively engaged in ensuring these elements are part of a leadership continuum in South Africa and globally. From IWF South Africa’s FASSET Women’s Leadership Program to the Motsepe Foundation’s global gender work to IWF’s Leadership Fellows, the results are remarkable.

PART I: Fireside Chat with Andrea Albright

Andrea Albright, Chief Growth Officer, Walmart International; Operating Partner, Massmart (IWF Arkansas)
Moderated by: Stephanie Mathews O’Keefe, CEO, International Women’s Forum

Part II: From Vision to Impact: Spotlight on IWF SA FASSET Program

Charmaine Houvet, Senior Director Africa, Cisco (Former IWF SA Board Member & Former Chair IWFSA Leadership Development committee, IWFSA Member)
Moderated by: Ms. Nozipho Tshabalala, CEO, the Conversation Strategists (IWF FASSET Program Alumna)

Part III: Fireside Chat with Dr. Precious Moloi-Motsepe

Dr. Precious Moloi-Motsepe, Co-Founder and CEO, Motsepe Foundation (IWF South Africa)
Moderated by: Ms. Nozipho Tshabalala, CEO, the Conversation Strategists (IWF FASSET Program Alumna)

10:15 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.

Coffee Break

10:30 a.m. – 11:15 a.m.

Plenary 5: Our Daily Bread: The Challenge of Food Security
CTICC Ballroom

The ripple effects of war, the rising number of climate-related crop failures, and unpredictable trade barriers are combining to make food–one of the most basic human needs–much less available and affordable. This perfect storm is testing the resilience of food systems, threatening to increase global hunger and inequality. How can we reverse this troubling trend and protect food supplies and foster stability?

Speakers:

Barbara Clemens, Representative and Country Director, World Food Programme, Zimbabwe
Bongiwe Njobe, Board Chairperson, Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA)
Dr. Wanjiru Kamau-Rutenberg, Africa Managing Director, the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT

Moderator:

Dominique Anglade, Executive Director and Professor of Practice, HEC Executive Education; Former elected official (IWF Canada)

11:15 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Plenary 6: Chaos Reigns: A Conversation on the Global Economy
CTICC Ballroom

Increasing trade barriers, currency fluctuations, the transformation of productivity through AI, and even climate change are creating an uncertain economic environment. How will all these cross-cutting issues affect the way countries and individuals act—and what will that mean for prosperity across the globe?

Speakers:

Trudi Makhaya, Senior Advisor, Boston Consulting Group
Joshua Phoho Setipa, Former Minister of Trade and Industry, Lesoto

Moderator:

Funeka Montjane, CEO Personal and Private Banking, Standard Bank (IWF South Africa)

12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Speaker Meet and Greet
Meeting Room 1.41

12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Break

1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.

Closing Luncheon: Plenary 7: Feeding the Soul
CTICC Ballroom

Creativity fuels connection, resilience, joy and, at times, is an outlet for collective pain. South Africa has been a birthplace of creative brilliance and protest art, from authors like Nadine Gordimer, Miriam Tlali, and J.M. Coetzee to globally influential musicians like Hugh Masekela, Miriam Makeba, Pretty Yende and Grammy Award-winning Lebo M. These artists challenged systems, preserved histories, and reshaped cultural identity.

Today, artists continue to redefine expression across mediums, using digital platforms, visual storytelling, and music to push boundaries and amplify underrepresented voices. This session celebrates the role of creativity in building identity, healing communities, and imagining new futures—both personal and collective.

Speakers:

Dr. Margaret Busby, CBE, Hon. FRSL, Publisher, Editor, Author, Activist and Mentor
Thandiswa Mazwai, Influential Post-Apartheid South African Singer, Multi-SAMA & Kora Award Winner, Activist

Moderator:

Nkhensani Nkosi, Creative Director and Founder, The Stoned Cherrie

5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Elly's Ladder Reception
The Westin Raleigh's Bar

6:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

Leading Light Gala Reception
CTICC Ballroom Pre-Function & Main Lounge

7:00 p.m. – 12:00 a.m.

Leading Light Gala Dinner and Celebration
CTICC Ballroom

Experience the magic of IWF as you enjoy dinner and dance the night away with your IWF sisters.

11:00 p.m. – 1:00 a.m.

Hospitality Suite
The Westin Raleigh’s Bar

Enjoy complimentary beverages and light fare presented by Standard Bank.

Saturday, November 8, 2025

9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Full Day Tours:

Dylan Lewis Sculpture Garden & Babylonstoren
Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens
Robben Island
DeMorgenzon Wine Estate

Looking for assistance with registration? Contact us at: iwf@executivevents.com or +1 (866) 216-8040 [toll free]. We will respond to you within one business day.