14.08.2026

4th Annual Conference 2026

Governance as a
Digital Catalyst

Steering tech driven innovation

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Welcome

Welcome to the 4th Annual FluidRock Conference 2026. This year we focus on Governance as a Digital Catalyst, how boards can enable innovation and technology-driven growth while strengthening accountability, ethical integrity and strategic clarity.

Across the day’s keynotes, dialogue and panel sessions, we will examine practical board-level governance in a fast-moving digital environment, what directors should ask about AI and digital strategy, and how to build digital literacy, cyber resilience and data stewardship into board and committee agendas.

Through interactive breakaways and a featured debate, we will test assumptions, share lessons from real-world transformation, and explore how to enable innovation without slowing delivery, driving sustainable value. Thank you for joining us, and we look forward to a day of rigorous discussion and meaningful connection.

Programme Highlights

A full day of practical governance insights designed for real boardroom decisions in a fast-moving digital environment:

Registration and networking to start the day.
Welcome and scene-setting: Governance as a Digital Catalyst in Africa.
Opening keynote on information as a strategic asset—governing truth, trust and transparency.
Keynote dialogue on long-term value creation amid technological disruption.

Interactive formats throughout the programme include a panel, a structured debate, and breakaway sessions.

Speaker and panel session: Technology as a growth catalyst in Africa—AI accountability, digital trust, cyber resilience and innovation risk.
Featured debate: “AI should have a formal seat at the Board table.” (with audience participation and live voting).
Afternoon keynote: From AI Acceleration to the Future of Governance—from prediction to autonomy and agentic systems
Breakaway options: King V Principal 10; the right questions to ask about AI and digital strategy; and AI use cases from transforming organisations.
Later session on SA’s AI future and algorithmic sovereignty
Closing keynote on leadership and courage in uncertainty, followed by closing remarks and networking.

Agenda.

From 07:30

Registration and networking

Conference hosts:

Samkele Jack-Pama

Advisory Project Manager,

FluidRock Governance Group

Jeremy Maggs

Journalist, radio host and television presenter

08:30

Welcome and scene setting Governance as a Digital Catalyst in Africa

Ronelle Kleyn

CEO, FluidRock Governance Group

08:45

Information as a strategic asset: Governing truth, trust and transparency

Mandy Weiner

Journalist, Author, Media Specialist

09:30

Keynote Dialogue

Long-term value creation amid technological disruption

Adv. Annamarie van der Merwe

Executive Chair, FluidRock Group

Professor Mervyn King SC

Ansie Ramalho

Chair, King Committee

10:15

Refreshments and networking

11:00

Technology as a growth catalyst in Africa.
How emerging technologies are reshaping business models and board oversight:

Artificial intelligence and board accountability
Blockchain and digital trust
Cyber resilience and director liability
Innovation strategy versus operational risk

Featuring senior governance leaders, technology specialists and experienced NEDS.

Speaker:

Mo Barry

Moderator:

Jeremy Maggs

Journalist, radio host and television presenter

Panel:

Mo Barry

11:45

Featured Debate
“AI should have a formal seat at the Board table.”

A structured, moderated debate exploring whether artificial intelligence should play a direct role in board-level decision-making.

Audience participation and live voting.

Moderator:

Jeremy Maggs

Journalist, radio host and television presenter

12:30

Lunch and networking

13:45

From AI Acceleration to the Future of Governance

A structured, moderated debate exploring whether Exploring how AI is moving rapidly beyond prediction into reasoning, autonomy, and increasingly agentic systems. We are no longer simply talking about productivity tools; we are entering an era where intelligent systems participate in analysis, simulation, decision-support, and potentially governance itself.

Louise Claassen

14:30

Breakaway sessions (Pick one)

Option 1

Unpacking King V's Principal 10:

Governing data, information, and technology to enable, sustain and optimize strategy and objectives

Option 2

The right questions to ask about Al and digital strategy:

Practical oversight guidance for NEDs. Governing Al while enabling innovation and driving sustainable value.

Option 3

Al Use Cases:

Real-world experience from a transforming organisations.

15:30

Refreshments and networking

16:00

SA’s AI future and algorithmic sovereignty

Benjamin Rosman

Professor, School of Computer Science and Applied Mathematics, University of the Witwatersrand

Director: Wits Machine Intelligence and Neural Discovery (MIND) Institute

Director: Robotics, Autonomous Intelligence, and Learning (RAIL) Laboratory

16:35

Closing Keynote
Navigating uncharted waters: Leadership and courage in uncertain terrain

An inspiring close linking disciplined navigation at sea with navigating complexity in governance and leadership.

Captain Londy Ngcobo

"The Black Mermaid"

17:15

Closing remarks and key takeaways

Ronelle Kleyn

CEO, FluidRock Governance Group

17:30

Champagne cocktail and conversations

Why should I attend?

Strengthen your board/committee agenda with what matters now: AI oversight, cyber resilience, data governance, digital trust and ethical technology use.