Economist Impact Unveils Final Speaker Lineup for Inaugural Sustainability Week Africa

Economist Impact has announced the final speaker lineup for the first Sustainability Week Africa, part of its successful series of sustainability events. 

The theme of the two-day event, organised by Economist Impact, is “Africa’s green industrial revolution” and changing how businesses operate to achieve their sustainability goals.

Focusing on business and investment, the event will provide original insights and solutions on how companies can support the continent in driving green growth, while avoiding the worst impacts of climate change.

The two-day conference will bring together pan-African and global leaders in-person at The Westin, Cape Town from Thursday, October 24th to Friday, October 25th.

On Thursday, October 24th, Vijay Vaitheeswaran, global energy and climate innovation editor at The Economist will deliver opener remarks, followed by keynote addresses from Amina J. Mohammed, deputy secretary-general of the United Nations and Tolupe Lewis Tamoka, chief, government relations and Africa at the United Nations Global Compact.

With more than 500 delegates and 100 speakers confirmed, Sustainability Week Africa will welcome many figures from the sustainability community, including governmental officials, global investors and senior executives from key sectors such as retail, transportation, logistics, food and beverages, energy, agriculture, manufacturing, technology, finance, science, and civil society. 

They will focus on Africa’s role as a global sustainability leader and explore strategies for enhancing Africa’s appeal to international investors, discussing insights from successful pan-African sustainability initiatives.

Speakers across Sustainability Week Africa include:

1. Mo Ibrahim, founder and chair, Mo Ibrahim Foundation
2. Amina J. Mohammed, deputy secretary-general, United Nations
3. Nigar Arpadarai, UN climate change high-level champion, COP29
4. Carl Hermann Gustav Schlettwein, minister of agriculture, water and land reform, Republic of Namibia
5. Dan Marokane, group chief executive, Eskom
6. Stéphanie Mbombo, presidential special envoy for new climate economy, Democratic Republic of Congo
7. Feroz Koor, group sustainability officer, Woolworths Group
8. Mandisa Mabaso, country manager, South Africa, Rio Tinto
9. Barend Petersen, executive chairman, De Beers Group South Africa, deputy chair, Mining 2030 and representative, Archbishop of Cape Town
10. Noluthando Gosa, independent non-executive director, MTN Group, executive director, Akhona Group, and adviser, Sustainability Week Africa
11. Mpho Makwana, former chairman, Nedbank, Eskom and ArcelorMittal South Africa, chairman, Epitome Investment, and adviser, Sustainability Week Africa
12. Joseph Nganga, vice president for Africa, Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP), and adviser, Sustainability Week Africa
13. Vaughan Pierce, chief sustainability officer, Pick n Pay

A full list of speakers can be found here

The programme will explore a variety of topics, including opportunities for the continent to strengthen its manufacturing capabilities and increase its share of the global value chain. 

Discussions will also centre on sustainable growth for small businesses and suppliers across the continent, addressing the compatibility of sustainability with population growth and its implications for food security. 

In addition, the event will highlight the potential of green jobs, explore collaborations between companies and the African youth, explore biodiversity’s key role in Africa and the benefits of intra-African trade for advancing sustainability.

Sustainability Week Africa will also include a CSO leaders club, curated networking sessions and cross-industry sessions aimed at leveraging synergies. Find the full agenda here.

Sponsors of Sustainability Week Africa include Woolworths, Standard Bank, Nedbank, Boston Consulting Group, Amazon Web Services, Genesis Analytics, United Nations Global Compact, Webber Wentzel and the City of Cape Town.

More details about the event, including the programme and a link to register, are available on the event website.

Members of the media are invited to register here