Thursday, November 6, 2025
7:00 a.m. – 6:30 p.m.
IWF Registration Desk
The Westin Old Harbour Lobby
7:00 a.m. – 7:30 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. – 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. – 10:00 a.m.
Official Conference Opening and Welcoming Remarks
CTICC Ballroom
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 Mayufis, Secretary-General, UN Trade and Development
- Dr. Monica Juma, National Security Advisor to the President of the 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, IWF Georgia: “Redefining Global Equity in the AI Economy”
- Connie Stacey, IWF Canada: “Powering Possibility: Ending Energy Poverty”
- Carika Weldon, IWF Bermuda “Caribbean DNA for Global Healthcare Solutions”
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.
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)
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 Sinayo Global.
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. – 2:00 p.m.
Bidvest Networking Lounge
CTICC Main Lounge
9:00 a.m.
Day 2 Opening
CTICC Ballroom
9:15 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.
Plenary 4: 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. Speakers will include: Andrea Albright, Chief Growth Officer, Walmart International; Operating Partner, Massmart; IWF Leadership Fellows Program alumna; Dr. Precious Moloi-Motsepe, Philanthropist, Entrepreneur, and Activist; and graduates of IWF South Africa’s FASSET Women’s Program.
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:
- Bongiwe Njobe, Board Chairperson, FARA Africa
- Dr. Wanjiru Kamau-Rutenberg, Africa Managing Director, the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT
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
- Winnie Byanyima, Executive Director, UNAIDS
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
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 Sinayo Global.
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.
