CIO Leadership & Innovation Summit 2025

today September 17, 2025my_locationThe Maslow Hotel in Sandton


D H M S
Background

The CIO Leadership & Innovation Summit 2025 is the premier event for Enterprise CIOs, CTOs, Heads of IT, IT Executives, and IT Managers across South Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa, focusing on the unique digital transformation challenges and opportunities across key industries, including:

Financial Services & Banking – Fintech disruption, cybersecurity, digital payments, and AI in fraud detection.
Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) & Retail – E-commerce, supply chain optimization, and AI-driven consumer insights.
Telecommunications – 5G adoption, AI-powered networks, and digital infrastructure expansion.
Healthcare & Pharmaceuticals – Telemedicine, AI diagnostics, and health data security.
Education & EdTech – Digital learning platforms, AI-powered education, and connectivity challenges.
Mining & Manufacturing – IoT, automation, and Industry 4.0 for operational efficiency.
Government & Public Sector – E-Government, smart cities, and digital service delivery.

Key Themes & Focus Areas:

This two-day summit will bring together industry leaders, government policymakers, and technology innovators to tackle pressing enterprise IT challenges, including:
✅ Cybersecurity & Risk Management –
Addressing rising cyber threats, ransomware, and compliance with POPIA, GDPR, and industry-specific regulations.
✅ Cloud & Digital Transformation – Optimizing cloud strategies for African enterprises, balancing on-premise vs. cloud migration, and ensuring IT infrastructure resilience.
✅ AI & Automation in Enterprise IT – Leveraging AI for predictive analytics, automation, and process optimization while addressing ethical and regulatory concerns.
✅ IT Talent Development & Workforce Strategy – Bridging Africa’s IT skills gap, upskilling employees, and fostering local tech talent.
✅ IT Cost Optimization & Financial Sustainability –
Managing IT budgets, optimizing software & infrastructure costs, and driving business growth in challenging economic conditions.

 

Why You Should Attend?

Learn from industry experts – Engage with top CIOs, regulators, and technology leaders driving Africa’s digital future.
Network with key decision-makers – Build partnerships with CIOs, government officials, and tech innovators from across the region.
Gain actionable insights – Discover real-world case studies and solutions tailored to African enterprise challenges.
Explore cutting-edge technology – Hands-on workshops, live demos, and one-on-one advisory sessions with leading IT vendors and consultants.

The summit will conclude a CIO Leadership Roundtable, featuring executive insights from major financial institutions, retailers, telecoms, healthcare providers, and manufacturing leaders, providing a strategic roadmap for IT leaders navigating Africa’s digital transformation.

Here’s the revised agenda for the CIO Leadership & Innovation Summit 2025 – South Africa & Sub-Saharan Africa Edition, ensuring alignment with key industries and regional priorities.


Speakers

Location

The Maslow Hotel
in Sandton, Johannesburg


Past Sponsors


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Program
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08:15 remove 08:30
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Welcome Speech & Event Opening

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Opening Keynote: The Role of the CIO in Africa’s Digital Future

How CIOs can drive digital transformation across African enterprises. Balancing innovation, cost, and security in a volatile economic landscape. Key trends shaping Africa’s IT sector in 2025 and beyond.

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Cybersecurity & Risk Management – Defending Against Growing Threats

Rising cyber threats, ransomware, and AI-powered attacks. Industry-specific security concerns for financial services, healthcare, telecoms, and government. Compliance with POPIA, GDPR, and industry regulations. Best practices in incident response and cyber resilience.

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Coffee/ Tea Break

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Cloud & Infrastructure Modernization – Strategies for African Enterprises

Multi-cloud vs. hybrid cloud strategies for banks, retailers, and manufacturers. Overcoming connectivity and infrastructure challenges in Africa. Cost-efficient cloud adoption and avoiding vendor lock-in. Securing mission-critical enterprise systems in the cloud.

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AI & Automation in Enterprise IT – Driving Business Efficiency

AI-driven fraud detection in banking, predictive analytics in mining, and AI-powered customer service in retail. The role of AI in supply chain automation, manufacturing, and telecom network optimization. Ethical AI governance and regulatory concerns. Real-world case studies from African enterprises implementing AI.

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Networking Lunch Break

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IT Talent & Workforce Transformation – Addressing Africa’s Skills Gap

Strategies to attract, retain, and upskill African tech talent. The rise of remote work and hybrid IT teams. Addressing IT skill shortages in cybersecurity, AI, and cloud engineering. Public-private partnerships in education and tech skills development.

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IT Cost Optimization & Financial Sustainability

Managing IT budgets during economic uncertainty. ROI-driven IT investments: How to align IT spending with business growth. Subscription vs. ownership models: SaaS, IaaS, and FinOps strategies. Cost optimization in telecoms, retail, and public sector IT environments.

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Digital Transformation in Key Industries – Real-World Case Studies

Financial Services & Banking – Fintech, blockchain, and AI-powered fraud prevention. Retail & FMCG – E-commerce innovation, AI-driven personalization, and smart supply chains. Telecoms & Infrastructure – 5G deployment, AI-driven network management, and digital services. Healthcare & Pharmaceuticals – Digital health records, telemedicine, and AI diagnostics. Mining & Manufacturing – IoT, predictive maintenance, and Industry 4.0 transformation.

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AI, Blockchain & Fintech – Disrupting the Financial Sector

AI-powered risk assessment, fraud detection, and credit scoring. Blockchain applications in payments, supply chain transparency, and banking security. The rise of crypto, digital currencies, and decentralized finance (DeFi) in Africa.

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Coffee/ Tea Break

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Smart Infrastructure & IoT – Connecting African Enterprises

Smart cities and e-government initiatives. IoT for manufacturing, logistics, and energy management. Overcoming connectivity challenges in rural and underdeveloped regions.

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Business Continuity & Disaster Recovery – Resilience in an Uncertain World

IT risk management for banks, telecoms, and critical infrastructure. Disaster recovery planning in high-risk markets. Cyber resilience: How to recover from ransomware and data breaches.

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Closing Keynote: Future-Proofing IT Leadership in Africa

The CIO’s evolving role in Africa’s digital economy. The future of cloud, AI, and automation in African enterprises. How CIOs can drive long-term innovation and economic growth.

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Networking Lunch Break


Details
Begin September 17, 2025 H 08:00
End September 18, 2025 H 16:00
Location The Maslow Hotel in Sandton
Address The Maslow Hotel Johannesburg, South Africa
Phone (+27) 011 046 5455

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