Successful inaugural women's financial conference

The conference was endorsed by Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) and New Faces New Voices Network and presented by WIF, in association with Nolwazi Africa and SibandaMuller Financial Services.

Nomsa Daniels, a founding member of Graça Machel's New Faces New Voices Network, which aims to spur change in business and finance by harnessing the potential of woman in Africa, welcomed the delegates.

The speakers

• Changing Role of the Financial Profession - Nicholas Van Wyk, ACCA
  
• Women Leadership in a Diverse Economy - Shirley Lue Arnold
  
• Integrated Sustainability Reporting - Reana Rossouw, Next Generation Consultants
  
• Leading in a financial crisis - Shirley Machaba, PwC
• Driving Organisational Strategy through Governance, Ethics and Corporate Values - Thobeka Mashego, Metropolitan
  
• Determining How Finance Can Lead Gender Diversity and Promote Transformation - Janine Hicks, Commission for Gender Equality
  
• Impact of IFRS on Creating Shareholder Value - Greg Dalton, Unisa
  
• The Companies Act - Ewald Müller, SAICA
  
• Looking At Our Current Economic Position and the Impact It Has On Our Finance Departments - Dr Sheshi Kaniki, Momentum
  
• Strategic Tax Risk Management - Kerry Watkin, Tax Talk
  
• Role of the Financial Professional in Strategic Risk Management - Annelie Schnaar-Campbell, Standard Bank
  
• Managing Investor Relations in Challenging Times - Sharron L McPherson, Tanaka Investments
  
• Identifying Profitable Growth Strategies - Allon Raiz, Raizcorp
  
• Role of Banks in Economic Transformation - Sim Tshabalala, Standard Bank
  
• Finance Professionals Leadership Role When Dealing With Change, Turbulence, Competition, Innovation And Globalisation - Raj Mahabeer, The Auditor-General South Africa
  
• Strategic Role Of The Accountant - Leading, Driving And Building Financial Management Capacity - Nosiku Munyati, SibandaMuller Financial Services
  
• Strategic Planning and Anticipating Change in a Continuously Changing Business Environment - Venete Klein, Absa

WIF dinner attracts top hosts

The first day ended with the highly successful Hot Tables format of WIF, where various top line business entrepreneurs hosted a table. The diners moved from table to table during the three-course meal and interacted with various corporate and business people. Justin Cohen was the MC for the evening and Edith Venter, patron of WIF, welcomed guests.

The keynote speaker, and host at a table, was internationally renowned leadership, impact and personal brand coach, Louise Mowbray of Mowbray by Design in London. Her overview of the drivers of personal branding and the process required gave listeners a taste of the workshop they can expect to see in Johannesburg on 2 February 2011, when she returns to run a morning workshop.

The other Hot Table hosts were Alison Gitelson of CanBeeDone, Cindy Bell of Directions, Cindy Parvess of ACCA SA, Ewald Muller of SAICA, Gwen Watkins of Freelancers, Helen Nicholson of Helen Nicholson & Assoc, Karen Muuren of Santam, Michael Jackson, Minx Avrabos of Absolute Media, Robin Wheeler, Tina Eboka and Vic van Vuuren of ILO.

"With this inaugural conference, we certainly met our organisation's aim to enable individuals and companies to maximise their growth and profits in these uncertain economic times," comments Colleen Larsen, CEO of WIF. "The delegates, from SMEs and entrepreneurs to large scale corporate companies, gained immense value from the conference and we will definitely repeat this next year," she concludes.

For more go to www.womeninfinance.co.za.