November 7, 2018

AGM 2018 – Cape Town – Business session report

South Africa makes a huge impression on travellers; its cosmopolitan towns and cities are an avant-gardist snapshot of the African continent, and its exceptional diversity brings together almost all the cultures of the world.
In the light of this, Cape Town seemed an obvious choice as the venue for this AGM.

Not less than 36 delegates and 16 guests attended this meeting, to enjoy a programme that was as fascinating in business terms as it was for leisure activities! Several very enthusiastic potential members also attended.

The Programme Committee did a great job organising this event that was particularly rich in fascinating presentations by exciting speakers. Members attending the meeting could also enjoy a exciting and lively panel discussion about succession planning, moderated by Anne and Martin Roughley. See them below, in video !

How to do business in South Africa

Emma Pardoe, Founder, Emma Pardoe Chartered Accountants

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Biography

Emma has been involved within the accounting profession for more than 20 years and has predominantly concentrated on providing professional consulting services to entrepreneurs, their businesses and their family affairs. She believes that any advice is based on a thorough understanding of each client’s business. Her aim is to identify problems before they arise, and to recognise and explore every opportunity for growth and profit. She started her accounting, tax & audit practice in March 2000.
Over the years, she has gained wide experience in the retail, manufacturing and distribution industries, and also has extensive experience in dealing with family-owned and managed businesses in the small to medium sector and providing solutions for the challenges that face these enterprises. She studied at UNISA part-time where she completed her Bachelor of Accounting Science degree, and at University of Natal part-time where she completed her Diploma in Theory of Accountancy. She commenced her traineeship at Greeff Bosman & Steyn in Stellenbosch for one year and transferred to BDO Spencer Steward in Cape Town for three years to complete her traineeship, where she received a good grounding in both small and large audits. She passed the final qualifying examination in 2001. Emma is a Chartered Accountant (SA) and a member of the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants. She is also a Registered Auditor and a member of the Independent Regulatory Board of Auditors

Summary

Globally, South Africa is one of the most sophisticated, diverse and promising emerging markets. Its location at the tip of the African continent makes it a key investment location, both for opportunities within the borders of the Republic, but also as a gateway to the rest of the continent – a potential market of approximately one billion people. The World Bank Annual Ratings ranks South Africa at number 82 among 190 economies in the ease of doing business. During this presentation we will look at the various styles of companies, taxes, government incentives and more available to investors.

The Future of the Profession - SAICA CA2025 Project

Christiaan Vorster, Regional Executive, SAICA

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Biography

Christiaan Vorster is the Regional Executive (Southern Region) of the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA) responsible for, among other things, setting and implementing SAICA’s regional strategy, member engagement and stakeholder relations (government, NGOs and business community). He is a registered Chartered Accountant with more than 15 years’ experience in corporate financial management and facilitation in South Africa, Africa, the Middle East, Europe and Malaysia. Specialties include Business Valuations and Capital Investment Appraisals. In addition, he is also an accredited mediator (UCT@law).

Summary

SAICA is currently undertaking research into the competencies (knowledge, skills, attributes and ethical values) that accountants of the future will be required to develop and demonstrate in order to remain relevant. Given the rapidly changing world around us (technological, political, environmental, regulatory), which is specifically influenced by the “Fourth Industrial Revolution”, the impact of technology and the exponential rate of change, employers are now requiring a different skill set of accountants. The outcome of the research will inform both the qualification process for Chartered Accountants (and other levels of accounting designations) in South Africa as well as identify areas where our members need to upskills themselves.

The Cape Economy: A snapshot of key opportunities

James Milne, Head of Investment Promotion, WESGRO

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Biography :

James Milne is the Head of Wesgro’s Investment Promotion unit. In the past 5-years the Unit has supported the facilitation of more than R11 billion (~$900 million) into the Western Cape economy, supporting the creation of more than 6,000 new direct jobs. James has more than 7 years of experience in strategic business support across multiple sectors including: Tech; Manufacturing; Infrastructure; Real Estate and Agribusiness. Prior to joining Wesgro James spent three years working for management consulting and research firm Frost & Sullivan.
In his personal capacity James is a Director of local community driven non-profit initiative Silicon Cape, which acts as a key stakeholder in the growth and development of the local tech enabled start-up ecosystem. Silicon Cape is the largest member driven organisation of this nature on the African continent, with more than 8,000 members.
James is currently in the process of completing a Masters in Development Finance at the University of Cape Town’s Graduate School of Business, to complement an undergraduate Honours obtained in Finance.
James is a keen explorer of the outdoors, avid sports fan and has a great passion for the growth and development of the African continent.

Summary :

The presentation is aimed at providing attendees with an initial snapshot of the South African economy, before taking a deeper dive into the components of the Western Cape economy and what is currently making the Province tick. This includes understanding top exports products; import products; investment opportunity sectors and special initiatives being undertaken to support the growth and development of the local economy.

Do you have clients that are considering investing in Africa / South Africa / the Western Cape? Follow this link to get a whealth of information: https://www.investcape.com/

The state of the world: Volatility or Stability - South Africa New Dawn - Is it Sustainable ?

Daniel Silke, Director, Political Futures Consultancy

Download the presentation here / Part 2

Biography :

Daniel Silke is recognized as one of South Africa’s leading political economy analysts, futurists and most passionate keynote speakers. His success lies in blending both economic and political trends in highly accessible yet insightful presentations. As Director of the Political Futures Consultancy based in Cape Town, Silke serves a host of major global blue-chip companies with outstanding keynotes and workshops aimed at the convention, conference and events industries. He has over 15 years’ experience in delivering flagship presentations on Global, African and South African political and economic trends. Silke holds a Master’s degree from the University of Cape Town in South African and International Politics and was attached to the university’s Institute for the Study of Public Policy where he tutored within the broader Department of Political Studies.
Silke then served in public office as a Member of the Western Cape Provincial Parliament and City Councillor in the City of Cape Town holding positions of whip for his party as well as portfolio committee chair for economic development. Since launching his consultancy, Silke has become a familiar name on the corporate speaking circuit and in the media - both within his native South Africa and overseas. Silke’s client list client now includes Marriott International, Oracle, CISCO, PwC, Investec, MTN, KPMG, PPC, Actemium, FirstRand, Grant Thornton, Deloittes, Old Mutual, Momentum, Sanlam, Estee Lauder, FNB, BMW, Barclays and ABSA amongst many others.
Silke speaks globally having recently addressed major conferences in Dubai, Amsterdam and Istanbul. He lectures regularly to university audiences in the United States with contracts recently at the Robert Morris University in Pittsburgh PA and Lynn University in Boca Raton Florida. He is also a global political trend/risk consultant for GLG based in New York City and is on Duke Corporate Education panel of speakers.
Silke recently spoke at the prestigious World Affairs Council in Washington DC on African issues. He has appeared on Newsmax TV, Sky Australia, the BBC, Australian Broadcasting Company, France 24 and TRT Turkey. He also appears on and contributes to CNBC Africa, ENCA, SABC, Bloomberg, Reuters, AFP, Deutsche Welle, Cape Talk 567, 702, Classic FM and Business Day TV. Silke is the author of the book Tracking the Future: Top trends that will shape South Africa and the World and regularly writes columns for Fin24/News24 and Business Day Online.

Summary :

The state of the world: Volatility or Stability
Political Economy Analyst Daniel Silke analyses some of the core economic and political trends currently disrupting the world. The keynote will look at the effects of the Trump Presidency, Brexit as well as the fortuned for Emerging Markets including China and African growth prospects. A comprehensive overview of core issues to affect the world now and into the next year.
South Africa New Dawn - Is it Sustainable ?
South Africa has faced a year of dramatic political change. And this is not likely to end soon. THis keynote analysis both the economic, social and political challenges facing the country as it seeks to provide growth opportunities and better governance into the future.