Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr hosts Future Leaders Network debate

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The debate, entitled Quo vadis for project financiers - after REIPPP and the implementation of the NDP, is open to interested parties in the project finance sector and is free of charge, on a first-come, first-served basis.

"The IPFA Future Leaders Network is specifically targeted at the next generation of leaders in the project finance and infrastructure industries and aims to provide a platform to learn and network with other representatives in the industry. The event will also enable participants to leverage experience from inspirational leaders and discuss their roles in shaping the country's infrastructure landscape," says Bridgett Majola, senior associate in the Finance and Banking Practice at Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr.

"The panel will discuss the practical steps involved in rolling out the infrastructural aspects of the National Development Plan (NDP). Also under discussion will be on whether it is the government's plan to focus only on power, or if there are programmes planned that are similar to Renewable Energy Independent Power Producers Programme (REIPPP) for other infrastructural needs," Majola notes.

Infrastructure outlook

The panel will also provide details on the NDP outlook until 2030. In this regard, some critical items under discussion will be rail infrastructure, water infrastructure, transport infrastructure, schools, hospitals, information and communications infrastructure. The panel will also discuss the skill sets currently being developed in the country, and whether they are going to allow for the planned delivery in the next 16 years. Also included in the debate will be whether industries crucial for the identified infrastructure rollout are developing sufficiently to be able to deliver on the planned rollouts.

Panellists include Elias Masilela, the CEO of the PIC and a commissioner on the National Development Planning Commission; Mike Peo, the head of Infrastructure at Nedbank; Sheila Galloway, the group CEO of Utho Capital; Karen Breytenbach, the head of the PPP unit in the South African government; and Kieran Whyte, director and national practice head of the Projects and Infrastructure Practice at Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr.

Interested parties should register via the Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr website, by completing the Online Booking Form. This event is free of charge for IPFA members and those organisations who are non-members and haven't attended an IPFA event previously. The public sector is also welcome to attend free of charge.