Trialogue Business in Society Conference 2018

This industry-leading annual event promotes thought leadership, collaboration and innovation for more effective development, with emphasis on the integral role of business in society. On 8 and 9 May 2018, more than 400 corporate, non-profit, government, academic and media delegates convened at The Wanderers Club in Johannesburg.

Click on the ‘Insights’ tab below for summaries of the conference sessions.

Download the programme

Insights

KEYNOTE ADDRESSES

CSI can help to unlock ‘democracy dividend’ (keynote address by Prof Thuli Madonsela)
Nation building, good leadership vital for the future of SA business (keynote address by Bonang Mohale)
Upskilling needed to ensure inclusive growth in the digital age (keynote address by Dion Chang)
CSI and collective change in South Africa (keynote address by Cathy Duff)
The state of corporate social responsibility in India (keynote address by Priya Naik)

SUPPORTING SOCIAL JUSTICE

Presented in partnership with Nedbank

A growing number of companies are thinking about their CSI more strategically and questioning the long-term impact of their efforts. Conference sessions explored why companies should be compelled to help make the societies in which they operate more equitable and sustainable; some of the risks associated with supporting social justice work, and how these can be mitigated.

Why social justice is everyone’s business (plenary session)
Development strategies for lasting change (practical breakout)
Does activism have real impact? (topical breakout)
Business that contributes to systemic social change (integrated breakout)

STAKEHOLDER INTERACTION FOR SOCIAL IMPACT

Presented in partnership with Sasol

Drawing from two decades of research, Trialogue has identified stakeholder interaction as a key trend that will significantly shape the CSI sector, and responsible business more broadly, in the coming years. It is anticipated that companies will support ongoing and robust engagement with government, customers, staff, suppliers and investors. Conference sessions explored how companies can engage with various stakeholders to ensure developmental impact; how employee volunteerism can be equally beneficial for the participating company and society; whether cross-sector collaboration works, and approaches to effective relationship-building.

Approaches to stakeholder interaction for sustainable development (plenary session)
Employee volunteerism that creates meaningful change (practical breakout)
The art of collaboration (topical breakout)
Corporate case studies on stakeholder interaction for social impact (integrated breakout)

INCLUSIVE GROWTH IN THE FOURTH INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION

Presented in partnership with Vodacom Foundation

The Fourth Industrial Revolution, defined by disruptive and innovative technologies and trends, has the extraordinary potential to improve efficiency and our quality of life. However, this new era also threatens to deepen global inequality. Conference sessions asked how companies can ensure that their technological advancements are human-centric and inclusive; what government should be doing to ensure that particularly the lower-skilled workforce is capacitated to cope with this disruption, and how non-profit organisations can leverage technology to enhance their developmental impact.

Inclusive growth in the Fourth Industrial Revolution (plenary session)
Unlocking the potential of tech for the non-profit sector (practical breakout)
Digital data for development (topical breakout)
Technology for inclusive business (integrated breakout)

DONORS’ DEN

Presented in partnership with Eskom Development Foundation

This interactive session, adapted from the international acclaimed Dragons’ Den series, featured three carefully-selected non-profit organisations who pitched their projects to a panel of corporate donors and received detailed feedback, empowering them with expert advice on how to hone their fundraising skills.

Pitching ideas for social change (interactive pitching session)

Speakers

KEYNOTE SPEAKER: Thuli Madonsela

Thuli Madonsela is an Advocate of the High Court of South Africa and a lifelong activist on social justice, constitutionalism, human rights, good governance and the rule of law. Named one of TIME100 influential people in 2014, and Forbes Africa Person of the Year 2016, Thuli Madonsela is one of the drafters of South Africa’s Constitution and co-architect of several laws that have sought to illuminate South Africa’s democracy.

She was South Africa’s Public Protector for seven years and Founding Chairperson of the African Ombudsman Research Centre. Currently resident at Harvard University as an Advanced Leadership Fellow, Thuli Madonsela accepted the Chair of Social Justice at Stellenbosch University with effect from January 2018. She is a Paul Harris Fellow, Tallberg Global Leader, and the recipient of Transparency International’s Integrity Award, the German Africa Prize and the Commonwealth Lawyers Truth and Justice Award, among her innumerable accolades.

SPEAKERS

Photos

: Registration kindly sponsored by Transnet

: More than 400 delegates from the corporate, non-profit, government, academic and media sectors gathered to share lessons and ideas for more effective development.

: Trialogue director, Vusi Khoza, welcomes delegates to our 11th annual conference

: Trialogue director, Cathy Duff, shares key findings from Trialogue’s annual research into the CSI sector

: With more than 20 years of industry experience, Trialogue founder and managing director, Nick Rockey, shares insight into the evolution of CSI in South Africa

: Conference chairperson, Thabang Skwambane, welcomes keynote speaker Thuli “Madam Slayer” Madonsela to the stage

: Prof Thuli Madonsela inspired with her wisdom, honesty and graciousness

: “Together, our candles can defeat the darkness.”

: “It is in all our interest to ensure that no one is left behind.”

: Bonang Mohale, CEO of Business Leadership South Africa, delivered a powerful keynote address on the imperative of business with integrity

: This panel discussion on why social justice is everyone’s business, explored why and how companies should help to make the societies in which they operate more equitable; some of the risks associated with supporting social justice work, and how these can be mitigated. Presented in partnership with Nedbank.

: Bongiwe Mlangeni, CEO of Social Justice Initiative, chaired the panel discussion

: Prof William Gumede, founder and Chairperson of Democracy Works Foundation

: Thabang Chiloane, executive head of Nedbank’s Group Public Affairs

: This breakout session, under the social justice theme, asked whether activism has real impact; exploring the determinants for successful activism; how the impact of activism can be measured; how donors can support activism, and some of the alternative means of engaging government structures. Presented in partnership with Nedbank

: Axolile Notywala, general secretary of Social Justice Coalition

: Justin Steyn, policy analyst at South African Local Government Association

: Mark Heywood, executive director of Section27

: Section27 exhibition

: Nedbank exhibition

: A breakout discussion under the social justice theme asked companies how they were contributing to systemic social change, presented in partnership with Nedbank

: Nonkqubela Maliza, director of Corporate and Government Affairs at Volkwagen Group South Africa

: Executive overview on the theme of stakeholder interaction, delivered by Wrenelle Stander, senior vice president of corporate affairs and real estate services at Sasol

: Panel discussion on approaches to stakeholder interaction for sustainable development, presented in partnership with Sasol

: Colleen Magner, managing director of Reos Partners South Africa

: Taddy Blecher, CEO of Community and Individual Development Association Maharishi University of Management

: Asyia Sheik-Ojwang, head of public affairs communications and sustainability for Coca-Cola

: Andrew Boraine, CEO of Western Cape Economic Development Partnership

: Calvin Chirwa, land reform manager at South African Forestry Company Limited

: A breakout session, under the stakeholder interaction theme, unpacked how employee volunteerism can create meaningful change

: Desiree Storey, manager of the FirstRand Volunteers Programme

: Collen Magner (Reos Partners South Africa), Godwin Khosa (National Education Collaboration Trust and Andrew Boraine (Western Cape Economic Development Partnership) discuss whether cross-sector collaboration works, the potential and nuances of cross-sector collaboration, and how to overcome conflict and tension, for greater good.

: This breakout session profiled how companies are building and strengthening their relationships with various stakeholders, to ensure that developmental needs are met and initiatives sustained. Presented in partnership with Sasol

: Maharishi University of Management students providing excellent event assistance

: Trend analyst, Dion Chang, delivering a keynote address on inclusive growth in the digital age

: Priya Naik, founder and CEO of Samhita, delivered a fascinating keynote address on corporate social responsibility and emerging sector trends in India

: Takalani Netshitenzhe, Vodacom chief officer of corporate affairs, delivered an executive overview on why the future is exciting for social development and inclusion

: Panel discussion on inclusive growth in the Fourth Industrial Revolution, presented in partnership with Vodacom Foundation

: James Keevy, CEO at Jet Education Ltd The Leading Education Consultants

: Emilar Ghandi, Facebook’s public policy manager for the SADC region

: Quentin Williams, CSIR

: Charlene Verzmoter, Philanthropies Lead at Microsoft

: This breakout session on digital data for development explored the potential of technology to improve data collection and interpretation, and how this can contribute to more meaningful insight gained through monitoring and evaluation

: Ayanda Mtanyana, head of advisory services at New Leaders Foundation, presenting on the innovative Data Driven Districts project, which aims to improve learner outcomes by improving the way key educational data is collected and used by officials in the education system to support schools and teachers more effectively.

: Breakout discussion on how companies are using technology to improve its responsible corporate citizenship and help ensure that its services become more widely accessible

: Acting chief information officer for Eskom, Willy Majola delivered executive commentary on the company’s work with and development of SMEs Eskom Development Foundation

: Balisa Ntloko of IkamvaYouth SA kicked off the interactive Donors’ Den session with a bang! Presented in partnership with Eskom Development Foundation

: Sam Vos of U-turn Homeless Ministries, presenting in Donors’ Den 2018 Eskom Development Foundation

: Sonja Pithey of Siyavuna Abalimi Development Centre, presenting in Donors’ Den 2018 Eskom Development Foundation

: Millicent Maroga, head of the Old Mutual Foundation, offered Donors’ Den participants useful feedback about how to hone their fundraising pitches.

: Steph Prinsloo, programme manager in the Eskom Development Foundation, encouraged Donors’ Den participants, and all NPOs, to develop their own business plans