SARA Conference 2025

Conference
Sponsorship
Exhibition
Speakers
Sponsors
Programme
Accommodation

SARA CONFERENCE 2025 – REGISTRATION FEES

One of SARA’s main goals is to keep delivering more value to our members.

This year, we’ve looked at practical ways to boost that value, especially when it comes to our annual conference. Our approach? Increase the benefits you get rather than any increase in conference fees. But to make sure you get even more out of it; we’ve decided to absorb inflation-related costs and keep fees the same as last year.

Our focus is on maximizing your return on investment—offering better networking and engagement opportunities, greater access to knowledge and professional development, and fresh insights and innovative ideas. We’re committed to giving you more while keeping costs steady.

CONFERENCE REGISTRATION

This package includes the AGM and SARA Conference (30 – 31 October 2025) and a ticket for you and your partner to the Reward Awards Banquet (1 November 2025)

PHYSICAL ATTENDANCE

Online registration is now closed, should you still wish to attend the conference please come to the registration desk at the conference and complete a late registration form.

EARLY BIRD REGISTRATION

Register before 1 August

LATE REGISTRATION

Register from 2 August

SARA Professionally Designated Members

R7 250

R8 150

Paid up SARA Members

R8 150

R9 150

Non-Members

R10 000

R11 500

VIRTUAL ATTENDANCE

Excluding the Reward Awards Banquet as this event will be physical

Online registration for virtual attendance of the SARA Conference is now closed, should you still wish to attend kindly contact saraservices@vdw.co.za

REGISTRATION

SARA Professionally Designated Members

R3 000

Paid up SARA Members

R3 400

Non-Members

R4 700

CONFERENCE REGISTRATION – TEAM SPECIAL (per person)

This applies to 4 or more participants from the same organisation to attend the physical conference.

This package includes the AGM and SARA Conference (30 – 31 October 2025) and a ticket for you and your partner to the Reward Awards Banquet (1 November 2025)

PHYSICAL ATTENDANCE

Online registration is now closed, should you still wish to attend the conference please come to the registration desk at the conference and complete a late registration form.

EARLY BIRD REGISTRATION

Register before 1 August

LATE REGISTRATION

Register from 2 August

SARA Professionally Designated Members

R6 900

R7 700

Paid up SARA Members

R7 800

R8 700

Non-Members

N/A

PHYSICAL REWARD AWARDS BANQUET ONLY (1 November 2025)

Purchase additional tickets for the banquet (per person) The Reward Awards will only be held physically

* No shows on the evening will be charged the full fee if not cancelled 7 working days prior to the event

Online registration is now closed

REGISTRATION

SARA Professionally Designated Members

R800

Paid up SARA Members

R850

Non-Members

R1 050

REWARD AWARDS BANQUET – CORPORATE TABLE (1 November 2025)

To book a corporate table where you can invite clients or other company representatives to be seated at your table, please contact eileen@vdw.co.za with your request and names of those delegates.

SARA Corporate Members

R7 600

Terms and Conditions

To get member discount you must use the email address associated with your regular SARA account.
If you use a new email address a new account will be opened for you, unless you ask the secretariat to update your old account details.
Member discount is only offered to paid-up members.
You and the billing contact of your organisation will receive invoices a few minutes after you have registered.
If you see a red notice on the screen about unpaid invoices please contact the secretariat on saraservices@vdw.co.za to resolve.
No swopping between physical and virtual attendance will be allowed after 17 October 2025. Should you wish to change your registration from physical to virtual you will be liable for the physical registration fee, this is due to the final numbers that need to be provided to the venue and the costs incurred.
Should you wish to cancel your registration altogether, please do so in writing to saraservices@vdw.co.za by no later than 1 October 2025. Any cancellations not made or if the delegate is a NO-SHOW at the conference (physical or virtual) the FULL registration will be payable.
For companies who follow the SOE National Treasury regulations kindly contact eileen@vdw.co.za to discuss how SARA can assist you with your registration fees.

Collaborative ventures between SARA and its member companies play a crucial role in enhancing the conference experience. We have curated excellent sponsorship packages designed specifically for this purpose.

Thank you for all the support, exhibition spots are sold out!
SARA Conference 2025 – Exhibition Information

SARA is pleased to invite you to exhibit at the 2025 SARA Conference taking place on 30 – 31 October 2025 at The Wanderers Club, Illovo. This event brings together HR professionals from a variety of corporates and consultancies, offering an excellent opportunity for your organisation to showcase its products, services, and innovations.

Exhibition package includes:

- 3m x 3m Shell scheme with carpet, two spot lamps, facia board with company name (all names will be in a standard size and font), a single 15 Amp electrical power point, a table and 2 chairs.

- 2 exhibitors to man the stand (not permitted to attend the conference proceedings)

Please note all exhibitors must bring their own extensions and furniture, alternatively these can also be hired from the stand builder.

As an exhibitor, you will have the chance to:

- Connect with approximately 280 attendees.

- Gain visibility among key decision-makers and influencers.

- Demonstrate your offerings to a highly engaged audience.

- Network with industry professionals and potential clients.

Exhibition stand costs:

Paid up SARA Member: R14 200 per stand

Non-Member: R20 100 per stand

Exhibitors manning the stands (after the 2 free delegates) will be charged R2 500 each. All exhibitors manning the stand must be registered and collect a name tag.

Conditions of Exhibition:

- Stands must be setup and dismantled strictly as per the details provided.

- Full payment must be made prior to allocation of the exhibition stand.

- Exhibition stands will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis, with the best positions allocated first.
Diamond and Platinum sponsors will be given first preference. Note that space is limited.

Only one company per stand, no sharing will be permitted.

- Companies who wish to cancel need to do so before 20 September 2025, should the cancellation not be done before 20 September 2025, or be a no show at the conference, companies will be held liable for the full exhibition fee.

- All refreshments and lunches will be served in the exhibition area as well as the cocktail event on 30 October.

- An exhibitor’s manual will be sent to you, please ensure all your information is correct. You will also be able to order furniture and other items from this manual.

- Under no circumstances will SARA allow any marketing material from organisations to be displayed in any other areas of the venue other than your exhibition stand.

• Marketing of your organisation or product is limited to your stand space. Under no circumstances will SARA allow any marketing material from organisations on the premises of the conference venue. This includes, but is not limited to, banners set up at the conference venue; flyers in public spaces; stickers on cars; or promotional gifts placed in and around venues.

• Any activity, competition, promotion or event hosted by exhibitors are the responsibility of the exhibitor. SARA and its contracted suppliers are not in a position to get involved with such events taking place at any point during the SARA conference.

• SARA would like to highlight that public lucky draws are limited to the closing session of the event (end of the last day), due to the time constraints on the event.

If you have any questions or would like to discuss exhibition or sponsorship opportunities, feel free to reach out.

We look forward to your participation in making the SARA Conference a success!

To book your exhibition stand click here

Meet the Speakers – SARA Conference 2025

Explore this year’s lineup of industry leaders and specialists. Ordered alphabetically by surname.

Fernando Baz

Reward Strategist

From Strategy to Reward: Aligning employees with the Strategy

International reward strategist focused on aligning performance and pay to business strategy, with practical frameworks for execution across complex organisations.

Topic: Reward Strategy • Focus: Strategy Alignment

Doré Burger

Compensation & Benefits Manager, BMW South Africa

SARA Project of the Year 2nd Place 2024: Total Rewards Statement (Case study)

Compensation leader with global experience across 13 jurisdictions in mining, consulting and automotive. Integrates core HR with specialised reward to deliver simple, effective solutions.

Topic: Case Study • Focus: Total Rewards

Dr Mark Bussin

Board Chair • Professor • WorldatWork Tutor

Trends: 2026 and beyond

Author and governance expert with deep reward and boardroom insight. Fellow of IoDSA & IPM, member of the King Committee, advising on future-focused reward trends.

Topic: Future Trends • Focus: Governance

Ronel Camacho

Business Advisor • Master Reward Specialist (SARA)

The retention illusion – What if best practice becomes business impossible?

Advisor to C-suites and boards across the HC value chain. Specialist in Reward & Talent with a master’s in Industrial & Organisational Psychology and GRP certification.

Topic: Retention • Focus: Reward & Talent

Dr Scott Cawood

CEO, WorldatWork

KEYNOTE: Our Moment for Rewards Optimisation

Global leader in organisational effectiveness and employee engagement. Former senior roles at W.L. Gore & Associates and Revlon; passionate about workplace excellence.

Topic: Keynote • Focus: Total Rewards Optimisation

Thembi Chagonda

Joint CEO, Global Business Solutions • Employment Equity Commissioner

Beyond Compliance: Strategic Transformation in the Wake of EEA Amendments and Sector Targets

Leading advisor on Employment Equity and BBBEE with Labour Law and executive leadership credentials. Guides multinationals on policy, strategy and transformation.

Topic: Employment Equity • Focus: Strategy & Compliance

Brigitte Da Gama

Executive & Rewards Leader

Panel: Benefits Reimagined: Meeting the needs of today’s workforce

Experienced HR and rewards executive contributing practical insights to benefits design that meet the needs of a modern, diverse workforce.

Topic: Benefits • Format: Panel

André Daniels

Group Compensation & Reward, Nedbank

Panel: The Reward Professional of the future: Skills, Strategies and Impact

Multi-sector reward professional focusing on RemCo, disclosure, reporting and strategy. Background in analytics, planning and compensation operations.

Topic: Reward Careers • Format: Panel

Peter Davison-Lancaster

Master Reward Specialist • Coach & Mentor

Panel: Benefits Reimagined: Meeting the needs of today’s workforce

20+ years in rewards across logistics, mining, petroleum, property, finance and retail. Longstanding SARA Cape Town committee leader and mentor to the profession.

Topic: Benefits • Format: Panel

Alison Godenir

Trend Specialist & Strategist

Achieving Relevance through Generational Connection

Works with leaders and teams to shift paradigms, grow engagement and productivity, and translate trends into relevant, human-centred strategies.

Topic: Generational Trends • Focus: Engagement

Anusuya Govender

Chief People Officer, Old Mutual • SARA Master Reward Specialist

Panel: Benefits Reimagined: Meeting the needs of today’s workforce

Executive leader with 20+ years across the HC value chain. Designs and implements enterprise-scale reward strategies and transformation programmes.

Topic: Benefits • Format: Panel

Tyrone Jansen

Executive Compensation & Reward Consulting, Deloitte Africa

Global pay transparency and fair pay practices/trends

Advises RemCos, ExCos and boards across EMEA on executive compensation and fair pay, with broad sector experience.

Topic: Pay Transparency • Focus: Executive Reward

Kevin Lings

Chief Economist, STANLIB

Economic Outlook: Latest trends locally and internationally

34+ years in financial services, including JPMorgan. Analyses SA and global macro trends to inform markets and asset allocation.

Topic: Economics • Focus: Markets & Outlook

Norma Mazibuko

Master Reward Specialist (SARA) • Board & RemCo Advisor

Panel facilitator: The Reward Professional of the future: Skills, Strategies and Impact

Specialist in total reward strategy, governance and incentive design (MCom, GRP). Advises management and boards across public and private sectors.

Topic: Reward Careers • Format: Panel Facilitator

Palesa Moeketsane

Associate Director, WTW (Employee Experience, Work & Careers, HR M&A)

Wellness – Trends, strategies, and impact on Employee Experience

Consultant and speaker with cross-regional experience (Africa, ME, US, Europe) in OD, talent assessment, engagement and HR transformation.

Topic: Wellness • Focus: Employee Experience

Mushambi Mutuma

Speaker • Author • Innovation & Tech Leader

Scaling Value: Amplifying the impact of reward strategies using innovation and tech

18+ years building brands across Africa & the US. Makes complex tech accessible, equipping leaders with tools for innovation and measurable growth.

Topic: Innovation • Focus: Tech & Rewards

Dr Ronél Nienaber

SVP Global Reward & HCM Solutions, Sasol

What’s new and on the horizon in South African Reward Governance

Industrial Psychologist with 25+ years in reward across finance, energy and mining. Board member, guest speaker and lecturer with a behavioural-economics lens.

Topic: Governance • Focus: Reward Management

Mpho Nkeli

RemCo Chair & Executive Search Leader

KEYNOTE ADDRESS: At the Helm — A RemCo chair’s view on Ethical Pay, Governance & Inclusive Rewards

Former Group HR Director (AForbes, Vodacom); chaired RemCos at Sasol, Implats and AGSA. Brings a rounded view of executive pay dynamics and governance.

Topic: Keynote • Focus: Executive Pay & Governance

Morag Phillips

Senior Reward Professional, Avbob • SARA Master Reward Specialist

Panel: The Reward Professional of the future: Skills, Strategies and Impact

Seasoned consultant turned corporate reward leader. Brings practical, multi-industry perspectives to complex reward challenges.

Topic: Reward Careers • Format: Panel

Lindiwe Sebesho

Managing Director, Old Mutual Remchannel • Former SARA President

Panel facilitator: Benefits Reimagined: Meeting the needs of today’s workforce

Human capital thought leader in remuneration, incentives and performance management. Leads insight-driven, market-relevant reward advisory.

Topic: Benefits • Format: Panel Facilitator

Deon Smit

Group Remuneration Manager, Pepkor Holdings • SARA Master Reward Specialist

Panel: The Reward Professional of the future: Skills, Strategies and Impact

18+ years across reward, payroll, benefits, HRIS and analytics. Leads group-wide reward initiatives and RemCo reporting in complex structures.

Topic: Reward Careers • Format: Panel

Diamond Sponsors – SARA Conference 2025

Platinum Sponsors – SARA Conference 2025

Silver Sponsors – SARA Conference 2025

The Gautrain Bus stops right outside the Protea by Marriott Hotel Johannesburg Wanderers, for easy access for those travelling on the Gautrain to the Rosebank station, it is a short 500m walk from the Protea by Marriott Hotel Johannesburg Wanderers.

Should you wish to book accommodation that is a short walk from the conference venue the Protea by Marriott Hotel Johannesburg Wanderers has offered SARA delegates an exclusive offer of R2025 per single room per night.

Book your group rate for SA Reward Association