How do we drive a healthy economy during a pandemic? That is one of the questions to come under the spotlight at The Directors Event in 2021, as ‘SA’s biggest board meeting looks at how we reimagine South Africa in a post-Covid-19 era.

Now in its seventh year The Directors Event takes place online on 11 June amid a global pandemic, where co-operation and co-ordination between the public and private sectors will be crucial in the country’s social and economic recoveries. As such, this year’s discussion topics are not only future-focussed, but critical for advancing public-private engagement on current issues like the skills crisis, unemployment, and healthcare –problems that have advanced during the past 12 months of lockdown.

Wandile Sihlobo (Chief Economist, Agricultural Business Chamber of South Africa), Tshifhiwa Tshivhengwa (CEO, Tourism Business Council South Africa), Zwelakhe Gila (Head of Trade and Commerce, African Energy Chamber), and Professor Mills Soko (International Business & Strategy, Wits Business School) will unpack the requisites and considerations for strengthening the economy during a global pandemic. The debate will be moderated by Bruce Whitfield. There is a growing skills and unemployment crisis in South Africa that is exacerbated by the rush towards a 4IR digital economy, where South Africans are not receiving the education needed to be competitive.

Can Tech turn our fortunes around? Seliki Tlhabane(Chief Director MST & Curriculum Enhancement, Dept of Basic Education) will join Riaz Moola(CEO, Hyperion Dev),Ann Bernstein(CEO, Centre for Development and Enterprise South Africa), Vikela Rankin (Founder, Value Ed and Elevate), Hope Lukoto (Chief Human Resource Officer, BCX) and Prof. Jonathan Jansen (Distinguished Professor in Education, Stellenbosch University) in a discussion moderated by Nozipho Tshabalala.

The third and final panel discussion asks: “How can we better manage our Healthcare resources in South Africa?” Dr Memela Makiwane (Chairperson, Council for Medical Schemes), Dr Angelique Coetzee (Chairperson, South African Medical Association), and Simon Hlungwani (President, Democratic Nursing Organisation of South Africa (DENOSA)will be moderated in debate by Andile Khumalo. Featured by BCX and presented in association with the Institute of Directors South Africa (IoDSA), The Directors Event is part of the Sunday Times Top 100 Companies profile. Itis where the business community comes together to unpack major issues affecting the country’s economy. “The IoDSA is proud to continue its support of The Directors Event, now in its seventh year. Now more than ever, with the lingering effects of the pandemic, we need this large-scale dialogue to tackle critical matters affecting our corporations and our country. Through ethical and effective leadership, we can attempt to return to some semblance of growth and prosperity,” says Parmi Natesan, CEO of IoDSA.

For more insight about previous events and to stay informed about panellists and moderators, please visit: www.thedirectorsevent.co.za