Hosted by the Chartered Governance Institute of Southern Africa (CGISA), the conference took place on 16–17 September 2026 at NH Johannesburg Sandton. BoardPAC joined as a sponsor, with Philip Boshoff, Chrishan Fernando, Imraan Seema, Lebohang Mosia and Curtleigh Wangra representing the team and welcoming visitors to its stand.
Under the theme “Fault lines and futures: Corporate governance at the crossroads,” the two-day gathering explored the choices facing organisations across Southern Africa. The programme brought together questions of leadership, public-sector governance and accountability, alongside the growing role of AI.
For Lebohang Mosia, a representative at BoardPAC, the pace of change was one of the things that stood out.
“I left the conference thinking about how quickly things are changing in governance, and how much technology is becoming part of that. But what really stuck with me was that, at the end of the day, it still comes down to people, good judgement, accountability, and making sure the right people are in the room when decisions need to be made”
That relationship between people and technology also featured in the conference programme. Ramani Naidoo and Lionel Moyal addressed leadership in the age of AI, while Tristan Marot explored AI governance in 2026. Other sessions considered King V, the role of company secretaries and the media’s part in defending governance.
The different responses to AI caught the attention of Philip Boshoff, a representative at BoardPAC. There was enthusiasm for its possibilities, he observed, as well as caution about the responsibilities surrounding its use.
“AI was definitely an overarching theme throughout the conference. Some people were really open to embracing it, while others were more cautious about what it means for governance and accountability,” he said.
“I think what made the conversations interesting was that it wasn’t really about whether AI is coming, that almost feels inevitable, but more about how we use it responsibly while still keeping people accountable for the decisions being made.”
Alongside these wider discussions, meeting governance professionals offered the team an opportunity to better understand the organisations they work with. For Curtleigh Wangra, a representative at BoardPAC, the differences between those organisations were particularly valuable to consider.
“For me, the biggest takeaway was that governance can look very different from one organisation to another. Everyone has their own way of working, and understanding that is really important from a customer success point of view.”
This observation brought the discussion closer to the everyday work of supporting customers. Understanding how an organisation operates, and the people involved in its governance processes, provides context for the support it needs.
For Imraan Seema, a representative at BoardPAC, spending time together also offered something that day-to-day online communication could not quite capture. The conference was a chance to get to know people through conversation, while seeing colleagues share their knowledge and learn from those around them.
“I think that’s what made CGISA so valuable: being able to have real conversations that you probably wouldn’t have over email or Teams, while also seeing the team outside of our usual environment, engaging with people, learning from each other and really bringing BoardPAC to life.”
BoardPAC extends its thanks to CGISA for bringing the governance community together, and to everyone who visited its stand. The conversations gave the team much to take back to their work, particularly a closer understanding of the people and organisations they support.
