14th Annual HR Conference & Expo - 17th September 2025
A sample list of confirmed HR delegates:
| Absa Bank | Manager Learning Design & Multimedia |
| Achievement Awards Group | HR Director |
| Adept Internet | Head of HR |
| Adidas | Senior HR Manager |
| African Marine Solutions Group | HR Manager |
| Afrimat Group Services | People Manager |
| Alexforbes | Senior Disability Consultant Health Management Solutions |
| Anglo American | Talent Management Specialist |
| Atlantis Special Economic Zone | HR Specialist |
| Bergman Ross & Partners Inc | HR Manager |
| Cape Herb & Spice | HR Executive |
| Cape Town Tourism | HR Generalist |
| Carmel Wealth | OD Practitioner |
| Communicare NPC | Human Capital Officer |
| CTICC | GM: Human Resources |
| Coty Beauty South Africa | HR Ops Manager |
| CubeSpace Satellite Systems | Head of People |
| Damen Shipyards | Human Capital Officer |
| Department of Health and Wellness | Senior Administrative Officer |
| Discover Africa Group | Head of People |
| Entersekt | Head of People Operations |
| Exim International | HR Manager |
| Fairheads Benefit Services | HR Director |
| Gliese Software | People & Projects Lead |
| H&I Construction | HR Manager |
| Hertex | HR Director |
| HomeChoice | Head of HR |
| Hotel Verde | HR Manager |
| Hutchinson Centre Research Institute of SA | HR Manager |
| in2food Group | CHRO |
| Intelligent Debt Management Group | Head of People Operations |
| Interfront | HR Manager |
| International School of Cape Town | HR Manager |
| Investec | Head of Employee Experience |
| Jack Hammer Global | Partner |
| Kastelo | People Business Person |
| Klipboard | Talent Attraction Partner |
| Kocho | Senior People Manager |
| Leschago | HR Manager |
| LevelUP HCS | HRBP |
| Martin & East | Group HR Manager |
| Mediclinic | Group CHRO |
| Milpark Education | Head of School |
| Mont Rochelle Hotel | People and Welfare Manager |
| Moore Cape Town | HR Director |
| MTO Forestry | Chief People Officer |
| Nestle | Lead HR Business Partner |
| Nurture Brands | HR Business Partner |
| Origin Wine Stellenbosch | HR Manager |
| Peace Parks Foundation | Chief People Officer |
| Pepkor IT | Head: Human Resources & Communications |
| Pepkor Logistics | HR Manager |
| PetPeterson and Control Union | Global HR Manager |
| Pepsico | People Business Partner |
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Rheinmetall Laingsdale |
HR Executive |
| Roadsmart Asphalting | Training & Development Officer |
| Robertson and Caine | HR Business Partners |
| SAWIS | HR Practitioner |
| SKEG | Head of HR |
| The African Climate Foundation | HR Manager |
| Titan Wealth | HR Director |
| Trade Ocean Shared Services | Group HR Manager |
| Tripco | HR Manager |
| Tuffy Promotions | HR Manager |
| Ucademy | General Manager |
| University of Cape Town | Director: Employee Relations |
| Umsebe Healthcare | HR Executive |
| UPL | Head HR - Africa |
| Viadex Global | Head of People Operations |
| Watchmaker Genomics | HR Director |
| ZaPOP | HR Manager |
Last year’s HR Conference & Expo was an great success - packed with insightful sessions, top-tier speakers, and valuable networking opportunities. This year, we’re bringing you another powerful lineup, and we’d love to see you there!
📍 Johannesburg | The Leonardo Hotel, Sandton
📅 12 May 2026 | 9:00 – 16:30
💰 Ticket Price: R2999
🍹 Social Networking from 16:00
Our confirmed speakers include industry leaders:
✅ Dr. Mark Bussin – Group Lead Advisory Director, 21st Century
✅ Jonathan Goldberg – CEO, Global Business Solutions
✅ Thato Mxo – Head of HR, KFC Franchise
✅ Dr. Mavis Mazhura – Leadership Psychologist, Leadership Management International Inc
✅ Dan Stillerman – Founder, Excel Academy
✅ Nomfundo Vilakazi - People & Culture Director, Dis-chem Pharmacies
🎯 Register now: https://www.hrworks.co.za/hrworks-events/hrworks-conferences/hr-conference-jhb/book-here
Please send enquiries to
Send enquiry to:
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Modern HR Leadership in Action
📍 Cape Town | D'Aria Wine Estate, Durbanville
📅 8 October 2026 | 09:00 – 16:00
🎟️ Tickets: R3,299 per delegate
🤝 NEW! Interactive HR Round Table Sessions
🍹 Networking Sundowners
🔗 Register here: https://www.hrworks.co.za/hrworks-events/hrworks-conferences/book-here?category_id=2
Enquiries to
As organisations continue to navigate economic uncertainty, changing workforce expectations and an increasingly complex business environment, the role of HR has never been more influential. This year's conference, Modern HR Leadership in Action, focuses on equipping HR leaders with practical strategies to build resilient organisations, develop exceptional leaders, foster high-performing cultures and drive business success.
Our distinguished lineup of speakers brings together some of South Africa's most respected HR thought leaders. Dr Mark Bussin returns to unpack the latest global remuneration and reward trends shaping the future of work. Johnny Goldberg will provide his highly anticipated Employment Law and Case Law Update, ensuring HR professionals remain informed of the latest legal developments impacting the workplace. Danny Alexander, Head of People at Heineken, will share practical insights into leading talent in a volatile and disruptive world.
Joining this exceptional lineup, Ruby Motloheloa, Head of Talent & Development at Woolworths, will present "Beyond Succession: Enabling Effective Leadership Transitions: Why Role Integration, Identity Shifts and Followership Matter as Much as Agility and Leadership Capability." Her session will challenge the assumption that succession planning, appointments and leadership development alone are enough to ensure leadership success. Instead, she will explore how organisations can intentionally support the human, relational and systemic aspects of leadership transitions, enabling new leaders to integrate successfully into their roles and create lasting impact.
New for 2026, we're introducing our HR Round Table Sessions - an interactive networking experience designed to move beyond traditional conference discussions. Facilitated by our Gold Sponsors, these practical conversations will give delegates the opportunity to engage directly with experts and fellow HR professionals, discuss current workplace challenges, exchange ideas and explore practical solutions to today's most pressing HR issues. It's a unique opportunity to learn from peers facing similar challenges.
In addition to an exceptional speaker programme, the HR Expo will showcase leading HR service providers. Throughout the day, you'll have ample opportunity to network with senior HR professionals while enjoying the beautiful surroundings of the Durbanville Winelands.
Whether you're looking to strengthen your leadership capability, gain practical workplace insights, discover innovative HR solutions or expand your professional network, the 15th Annual HR Conference & Expo promises a day of valuable learning, meaningful conversations and lasting connections.
Don’t miss this opportunity to stay ahead of the curve and shape the future of HR in your organisation.
Please send enquiries to
Or book here
Join us for one of South Africa’s leading gatherings of HR professionals as we come together to explore the trends, challenges, and innovations shaping the future of work.
For nearly two decades, HRworks has proudly built a vibrant HR community- creating spaces where professionals connect, collaborate, and grow through shared learning and meaningful conversations.
📍 aha Gateway Hotel, Umhlanga, Durban
📅 15 July 2026
⏰ 09:00 – 16:30
🎟️ Tickets: R2400
Dr Mark Bussin
Group Lead Advisory Director, 21st Century
Total Rewards – What is Trending Globally (Fasten Your Seatbelt!)
A dynamic and thought-provoking session unpacking global remuneration and reward trends shaping the future workforce.
✔ What truly retains talent beyond pay (“People Glue”)
✔ The rise of conscious “unbossing”
✔ The loneliness crisis in the workplace
✔ Emerging trends like JOMO, dopamine management & more
Johnny Goldberg
Employment Law Specialist, Global Business Solutions
Employment Law & Case Law Update
Stay ahead of critical legal developments impacting HR today. Johnny will unpack real-world case law and provide practical guidance on navigating workplace risk.
✔ Harassment, discrimination & workplace conduct
✔ Dismissals, retrenchments & incapacity
✔ Latest case law shaping HR practices
✔ Practical compliance tips for HR professionals
Naeem Timol
Group Human Resources Executive, Pedros
From Support Function to Business Driver: Redefining HR in a High-Growth, High-Pressure Environment
In fast-paced, operationally driven environments, HR often risks being positioned as a reactive support function rather than a strategic enabler of performance. In this practical and insight-rich session, Naeem will explore how HR can be repositioned as a true business driver- directly influencing productivity, retention, leadership capability, and culture at scale.
✔ Shift HR accountability from process ownership to measurable business impact
✔ Embed performance, succession, and people planning into daily operations
✔ Manage high-volume employee relations environments while building leadership capability
✔ Use data and structure to move from reactive to proactive HR decision-making
✔ Create alignment between executive leadership and HR for consistent people decisions
Dan Stillerman
Founder, Excel Academy
AI Fluency: What HR Leaders Actually Need to Know
Dan brings practical, accessible insight into how AI is changing the workplace and what HR professionals need to understand right now. His session will explore how HR can use AI more confidently, creatively, and strategically.
✔ Practical ways to use AI in HR today
✔ How to save time by automating repetitive tasks
✔ Using AI to support better decision-making
✔ Building confidence for a more tech-enabled HR future
Themba Chakela
Head of People, Culture & Change, e-Motion Consulting
From Fragmentation to Force Multiplier: People & Culture as a System
Strong teams. Smart tools. Good intentions, yet still inconsistent outcomes. The problem isn’t capability, it’s fragmentation.
As AI amplifies how work gets done, People & Culture must evolve from siloed activity to integrated systems. In this session, Themba unpacks how to build a function that delivers clarity, consistency, and real business impact - by design, not by chance.
✔ Moving from siloed HR activity to integrated systems
✔ Creating alignment between people, process, and technology
✔ Designing HR functions for consistency and impact
✔ Leveraging AI to strengthen organisational capability
Shehnaaz Kajee
Head of HR, HBZ Bank
Crafting the Employee Experience (EX)
An informative session that delves into strategies that foster a positive EX and ensures the sustainability of a positive EX in the organisation.
✔ What is EX and why is it important?
✔ Whose responsibility is it?
✔ Strategies to amplify EX
✔ Leadership and EX
✔ Making impactful changes
✔ A systematic approach to EX
Nokukhanya Mkhize – Strategic HR Manager at Kukhanya Energy Services
Purpose-Driven and Servant Leadership: Positioning HR as a Strategic Driver of Culture, Performance and Business Impact
This session will explore how purpose-driven and servant leadership can shape organisational culture, employee performance, leadership development and overall business impact.
The discussion will also touch on the evolving role of HR from a support function to a strategic business partner and how people leaders can intentionally build high-performance cultures through purpose-driven leadership and people development initiatives.
Key areas of discussion will include:
✔ HR as a strategic business driver
✔ Building purpose-driven organisational cultures
✔ The role of servant leadership in employee engagement and people development
✔ Linking leadership, culture and performance outcomes
✔ Developing future leaders and organisational capability
✔ Creating sustainable business impact through people strategy
