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The seventh BizNews Conference, BNC#7, is to be held in Hermanus from March 11 to 13, 2024. This is the second time the annual gathering of the BizNews tribe will be in a massive Marquee and Auditorium within the Municipal precinct of the magnificent Western Cape resort town of Hermanus. The venue is within walking distance of plentiful accommodation, the sea, and excellent restaurants - and over the road from the venue of the Wednesday evening dinner where SA’s Golden Girl Tatjana Smith is the guest of honour (with a ’nightcap' discussion).

After a successful experiment last year, delegates will once again have the option of two speakers for part of the programme. A comfort break has been introduced during this part of the programme to ensure those who wish to can swap between the two venues within the precinct.

The star-studded lineup of 25 keynote speakers is the strongest yet to grace the event. The conference will be opened by SA’s Deputy President Paul Mashatile and closed by the nation’s globally respected futurist, Clem Sunter. Delegates will also be exposed to some of the country’s most admired leaders from business and politics.

Plenary sessions for the 500 delegates will be held in a specially built structure that will comfortably accommodate them all. The adjacent Hermanus Municipal Auditorium (capacity: 190) is an alternative option for part of the programme.

As with the previous six events, the 2025 BizNews Conference is designed to provide an excellent opportunity for members of the BizNews community to interact directly with the keynote speakers, old (and new) friends from previous BNC events - and to interact with members of the BizNews team.

The event begins on Tuesday, March 11, 2025, with the opening keynote delivered at 1:30 p.m. Registration is at the venue from 10 a.m.

Each keynote is allocated an hour broken down into three equal segments - the first 30 minutes from the podium, the following 15 minutes interview style with BizNews editor Alec Hogg, and in the final 15 minutes, the keynote speaker answers questions posed by those in attendance via the custom-created BNC WhatsApp channel.

The conference ticket price includes refreshments, lunch (and VAT) and the Nighcap dinner on Wednesday evening. Accommodation and participation in leisure activities are being arranged for Friday 14th, including the David Carte Memorial Golf trophy (Hermanus Golf Club), where partners are randomly drawn and are for the delegate’s account.

Paid-up delegates will be sent details of recommended accommodation and instructions for participating in the golf and other leisure events.

PROGRAMME FOR BNC#7 -

BizNews Conference #7 Program

TUESDAY 11 MARCH 2025———————FROM 12 noon | REGISTRATION-1:30 PM - 2:30 PM | Opening address Speaker: Paul Mashatile, Deputy President of the RSA

2:30 PM - 3:30 PM | The view of SA from abroad Speaker: André Pienaar, founder of C5 Capital 3:30 PM - 4:00 PM | TEA AND CAKE 3:30 PM - 4:30 PM | SA’s Top Challenge Part One - The GNU Speaker: Helen Zille, chair of the DA Federal Committee

4:30 PM - 5:30 PM | SA’s Top Challenge Part Two - Electricity Speaker: Dan Marokane, CEO of Eskom

WEDNESDAY 12 MARCH 2025———————–9:00 AM - 10:00 AM | Quo vadis SA - view from inside business Speaker: Rob Hersov, global entrepreneur

10:00 AM - 11:00 AM | Quo vadis SA - view from inside government Speaker: Gayton McKenzie - SA Minister of Sport 11:00 AM - 11:30 AM | TEA AND CAKE 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM | Our entrepreneurial journey Speakers: Faan and Dirk vd Walt - Founders of WeBuyCars

12:30 PM - 1:30 PM | LUNCH Marquee -1:30 PM - 2:30 PM | In conversation with……. Speaker: Neil de Beer with Chris Steyn

2:40 PM - 3:40 PM | In conversation with……. Speaker: Ian Cameron with Chris Steyn

Auditorium -1:30 PM - 2:30 PM | Investment insights……. Speaker: Magnus Heystek with Bronwyn Nielsen

2:40 PM - 3:40 PM | Investment insights ……. Speaker: Cy Jacobs with Bronwyn Nielsen

3:40 PM to 4:00 PM | TEA AND CAKE

4:00 PM - 5:00 PM | SA’s brighter future - A view from KZN Speaker: Chris Pappas, executive mayor of uMngeni

5:00 PM - 6:00 PM | Warren and Charlie - the Oracles of Omaha Speakers: Kokkie Kooyman and Piet Viljoen

DINNER AT GROBELAARSAAL———————–FROM 6:00 PM | NIGHTCAP Speaker: Tatjana Smith, SA’s most decorated Olympian with Alec Hogg

THURSDAY 13 MARCH 2025———————-

9:00 AM - 10:00 AM | Realising South Africa’s potential Speaker: Adrian Gore, Founder and CEO of Discovery Group

10:00 AM - 11:00 AM | SA - An optimistic view from a Realist Speaker: Magda Wierzycka, Founder and CEO of of Sygnia

11:00 AM - 11:30 AM | TEA AND CAKE

Marquee -11:30 AM - 12:30 PM | Zimbabwe - lessons for SA Speaker: Trevor Ncube, Entrepreneur in Zim and SA

Auditorium -11:30 PM - 12:30 PM | Investment insights……. Speaker: Sean Peche with Bronwyn Nielsen

12:30 PM - 1:30 PM | LUNCH

Marquee -1:30 PM - 2:30 PM | A South African recovery story Speaker: Simon Baloyi, CEO of SASOL

2:40 PM - 3:40 PM | AI, Bitcoin, tech and the new economy Speaker: Stafford Masie, tech entrepreneur

Auditorium -1:30 PM - 2:30 PM | Investment insights……. Speaker: Peter Major with Bronwyn Nielsen

2:40 PM - 3:40 PM | Can the GNU deliver? Speaker: Ann Bernstein with Bronwyn Nielsen

3:40 PM - 4:00 PM | TEA AND CAKE

4:00 PM - 5:00 PM | The future of the GNU Speaker: RW Johnson

5:00 PM - 6:00 PM | Closing address Speaker: Clem Sunter

6:00 PM – Thanks and appreciation from Alec Hogg

FRIDAY 14 MARCH 2025——————–

DAVID CARTE MEMORIAL———————From 08:30 | Golf competition - random drawHermanus Golf Club

MOUNTAIN HIKE————-

MOUNTAIN BIKE TRAIL——————–

OTHER ACTIVITIES TO BE ADDED—————————-