The summit will take place on Wednesday, 8 March (International Women's Day) at SunBet Arena, Time Square in Pretoria, South Africa.

"We are delighted to announce that Dr Naledi Pandor, South Africa's Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, will open this year's conference," says Renuka Methil, managing editor of FORBES AFRICA.

"With a strong background in science and technology and as a formidable powerhouse in government, she will set the tone for what promises to be a powerful summit," adds Methil.

"She will be joined by other dynamic personalities, including state leaders, representatives from the United Nations and other influential members of the business, financial, health, fashion and non-profit sectors. This is certainly not a summit to be missed," says Methil. 

The 2023 FORBES WOMAN AFRICA Leading Women Summit aims to host conversations on:
  • energy
  • fintech
  • agritech
  • climate resilience, and
  • the new wealth sectors.

The event will be presented by McDonald's, in association with The Macallan and supported by:
  • Coca-Cola
  • Access Bank
  • Avon
  • Lucara Botswana, and
  • The ROOM.

Daniel Padiachy, executive of supply chain, marketing and technology at McDonald's South Africa — the event’s presenting partner — says, "The partnership between McDonald's SA and the FORBES WOMAN AFRICA Leading Women Summit is one that speaks to synergy and the beliefs that both organisations hold when it comes to diversity, equity, inclusion as well as women empowerment."

"McDonald's SA believes in platforms that foster dialogue amongst female leaders to cross-weave their knowledge and drive socio-economic change," adds Padiachy.

Commenting on support for the event, Sugendhree Reddy, CEO of Access Bank Plc, says, "With International Women's Day 2023 approaching, Access Bank is proud to be a financial entity that supports women in every sphere of business."

"From Access Bank's sponsorship of Womenpreneur Pitch-A-Ton South Africa, to creating opportunities for women within our operations, we are proud to participate in the FORBES WOMAN AFRICA Leading Women Summit this year," adds Reddy.

"As one of the more progressive banks in Africa, with our vision of becoming the most trusted bank on the continent, we look forward to seeing the remarkable women from every sector being raised on this public platform and wish all participants a spectacular 2023 International Women's Day," Reddy says.

The speakers for the 2023 summit include:
  • Dr Naledi Pandor, minister of international relations and cooperation
  • Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, 24th president of Liberia
  • Amina J Mohammed, deputy secretary-general of the United Nations and chair of the United Nations Sustainable Development Group
  • Aya Chebbi, Pan-African feminist and Tunisian diplomat 
  • Louisa Mojela, founder and chair of Bophelo Bioscience and Wellness Company (now Bophelo Biomed)
  • Naana Frimpong, partner at DLA Piper's white-collar defence group
  • Hajer Sharief, Libyan peace activist and co-lead of the work of the Together We Build It (TWBI) organisation 
  • Salma Rhadia Mukansanga, Rwandan international football referee listed with FIFA since 2012, and nurse 
  • Nomcebo Zikode, South African singer-songwriter, and
  • Elsa Majimbo, multi-award-winning comedienne and author.

The summit says that after a full day of engaging on critical issues and unlocking new opportunities, the event will culminate in the 2023 FORBES WOMAN AFRICA Awards, a ceremony where the most accomplished leaders and luminaries will be honoured for their impactful work.

Summit information:

The 2023 FORBES WOMAN AFRICA Leading Women Summit:
  • When: Wednesday, 8 March
  • Where: SunBet Arena at Time Square, Pretoria, South Africa
  • Time: 08:15 - 15:30
  • Theme: 'Women 3.0: The Icons and Ideas Shaping Africa'

The 2023 FORBES WOMAN AFRICA Awards:
  • When: Wednesday, 8 March
  • Where: SunBet Arena, Time Square, Pretoria, South Africa
  • Time: 19:00 - 23:00

Ticket prices:
  • Summit: R1 500
  • Dinner: R1 500
  • Full Access: R 3 000
  • Table Bookings: Individuals are encouraged to contact the events team for more information.

How to get involved:
Individuals are encouraged to become a part of the change by registering to attend the summit. They can also come on board as an event sponsor or activation sponsor.

Contact details:

For more information, visit www.leadingwomensummit.co.za. You can also follow the FORBES WOMAN AFRICA Leading Women Summit on Facebook, Twitter or on Instagram.