Uniting the finance and business community to achieve the UN's Sustainable Development Goals by 2030

Photo credit: Theana Breugem

The invitation-only event provided a platform for young leaders across industries to learn from senior stakeholders, forge collaborations and address the key challenges and opportunities related to climate action, reducing inequalities, creating decent work and economic growth, and providing quality education. The launch event saw 100 young chartered accountants [CA(SA)], OYW ambassadors and a selected group of SAICA trainees and students put together plans on how to tackle the abovementioned four SDGs within the South African context.

As a profession that prides itself on being a critical player in creating value, the members of the chartered accountancy profession in South Africa have always contributed their time, and other resources, to projects focused on making South Africa and the world better. This very notion is entrenched in not only country’s constitution but also in that of our profession. Indeed, SAICA’s stated purpose of ‘trust leadership’ acts as a continuous challenge for SAICA members to understand that our work has an impact that extends beyond business. This work directly contributes towards the goals of the United Nations’ SDGs.

Speakers at the event included Kate Robertson, the Co-Founder of OYW; Ruth Hidalgo, Head of Operations at CAW; Tanya Dos Santos, Head of Sustainability at Investec; Tracey Davies, Executive Director at Just Share; Shirley Machaba, CEO of PwC South Africa; Sizwe Nxasana, Founder of Future Nation Schools; Lyle Malander, Director at Malander Group, who is a OYW Ambassador and part of the FinBiz2030 UK Task Force; and Chantyl Mulder, Executive Director: Nation Building at SAICA. The event was hosted by Andile Khumalo, CEO of Kumalo.co.

Following the launch event, a task force of committed individuals who can develop and implement an action plan will be formed. Having launched FinBiz2030 in Johannesburg, marked the start of a movement towards a finance and business community that is more active and engaged in addressing these core issues mentioned above.

The summary of discussions will be shared with delegates soon and this will form the basis of an action plan that will be taken forward by the FinBiz2030 task force.

A highlights video of the launch event can be watched here and more information on SAICA’s involvement in UN’s Sustainable Development Goals can be found on SAICA’s website.

“If ever there was a compelling need for responsible leadership in South Africa it is now. South Africa needs to grow its economy to meet the needs of her people. Such growth, however, should not be at the expense of future generations. It is thus appropriate for SAICA in partnership with OYW and CAW to host the launch of FinBiz2030. The telling feature of this engagement is that it brings together young South Africans to deliberate on the SDGs and chart the way forward. Amongst these SDGs, the focus for FinBiz2030 in South Africa is climate change, reducing inequality, decent work and economic growth, as well as quality education. We are grateful to Investec for sponsoring the event,” said Freeman Nomvalo, SAICA CEO.

Michael Izza, Chairman of CAW, said: “The world is changing and the global financial and business community has a great opportunity to play a major role in meeting the economic and social needs of future generations. Following the successful launch of FinBiz2030 in London last year, I am delighted that CAW, in partnership with the inspirational One Young World and one of our key member institutes, SAICA, hosted an inaugural FinBiz2030 event in Johannesburg that aimed to harness the brightest minds and talents in our industry to drive forward the initiatives to tackle the priorities for South Africa. It is our responsibility to ensure changes are made now to secure the future for generations to come.”

Kate Robertson, co-founder of OYW, adds: “The socioeconomic climate in South Africa demands that an initiative like FinBiz2030 exist. Together with CAW and SAICA, we are expanding this movement beyond London to ensure the world’s most influential institutions are doing their part in addressing the biggest challenges of today. It is clear they can only do so with the drive and energy young leaders bring to the table. The inaugural FinBiz2030 event in Johannesburg undoubtedly marked the start of tangible actions that will shape a better future in my home country.”

More about FinBiz2030

FinBiz 2030 is a joint initiative between OYW and CAW to establish an active and engaged finance and business community globally to drive positive change. CAW is a global family of 14 Chartered Accountancy bodies representing over 1.8 million members and students in 190 countries. OYW is the global forum for young leaders which identifies, promotes and connects the world’s most impactful young leaders to create a better world, with more responsible, more effective leadership. The FinBiz2030 launch in South Africa is supported by SAICA.

About SAICA

The South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA), South Africa’s pre-eminent accountancy body, is widely recognised as one of the world’s leading accounting institutes. The Institute provides a wide range of support services to more than 46,000 members and associates who are chartered accountants [CAs(SA)], as well as associate general accountants (AGAs(SA)) and accounting technicians (ATs(SA)), who hold positions as CEOs, MDs, board directors, business owners, chief financial officers, auditors and leaders in every sphere of commerce and industry, and who play a significant role in the nation’s highly dynamic business sector and economic development.

SAICA Media Contacts

Kulani Chauke
Communication Coordinator: Corporate
SAICA Brand Division
011 479 0698
az.oc.acias@cinaluk