In the realm of the future, possibilities are boundless, each holding its own unique potential. Rather than a predetermined path, envision an infinite array of potential futures. This keynote, rooted in groundbreaking doctoral research, unveils a transformative concept inspired by the Japanese philosophy of "shiki-sansui" – the "four-season garden." Much like the esteemed aristocratic families of Japan who designed gardens reflective of changing seasons, this presentation introduces the concept of the Four Future Seasons.

In this journey of exploration, we will navigate the permutations of the (un)known (un)known future. By delving into this conceptual landscape, we'll decipher how to strategically navigate today's processes, where emergent forms are required, and how to engage with policymakers in segmented approaches. Drawing inspiration from real-world examples, including the Wayamo initiative and the formulation of self-driving car policies, we'll illuminate the intricacies of crafting effective GRC interventions.

Embrace the analogy of "gardens of future success," where each season represents a unique set of challenges and opportunities. Rooted in principles of harmony, balance, and the transient nature of life, this keynote aims to empower you to cultivate your own vision for success.

ServiceNow is a digital enterprise platform technology that enables organisations to use intelligent workflows combined with other capabilities to deliver operational resilience. During this presentation we will demonstrate how ServiceNow’s technology supports a use case associated with fraud linking it to regulatory and risk management, controls, to deliver operational resilience. 

If 2023 was a watershed year for Artificial Intelligence, marking significant strides and transformations across various sectors, 2024 is poised to be an even more disruptive year, heralding a new era with the rise of Quantum Computing. As we stand at this pivotal juncture, the fields of Governance, Risk Management, and Compliance (GRC) are undergoing a paradigm shift.

Quantum Computing is not just an incremental advancement; it's a revolutionary leap forward, offering unprecedented computational power and possibilities. This talk will explore the profound implications of Quantum Computing on GRC, unravelling how it will redefine our approaches to regulatory challenges, risk assessment, and compliance strategies. We are on the brink of a quantum revolution in GRC, and the time to prepare for this transformative journey is now.

We take you on a journey, touching on the challenges of traditional board / governance meeting management, showcasing the history and some of the features and benefits of using board portal technology, through to what the future might hold in this space.

• Importance of diversity and inclusion in the IT audit profession.
• Challenges faced by historically disadvantaged institutions (HDI) in IT auditing education.
• Collaborative efforts with ABSA iNkanyezi IT Audit Academy.
• Showcase successful training models and methodologies for aspiring IT auditors.
• Insights into overcoming barriers and fostering talent in marginalised groups.
• Call to action for industry support in expanding similar initiatives.

IT in Public Service had for many years been considered as cost centre driven functions and the "necessary" nuisance we need to have. Then comes Covid-19 and lockdown and everything changed. IT Leaders were considered as some of the most important individuals in the world. In a time where mobility, personal interaction and primarily health and well-being was under threat, IT became the "saving grace" to rescue a world that was seeming to fall apart. With the threat of the unknown, many decisions were made in haste and to a degree the flouting of controls and ultimately governance was imminent and evident. Opportunist exacerbated this situation and although becoming the saving grace, the lack of effective governance threatened the rationale. How do we as IT leaders prevent this in future?

• Difference between Sustainability and ESG
• ESG Reporting and Disclosure( best practices for transparent and accurate reporting
• Reporting and assurance
• Governing of ESG and Board Committee roles
• ESG trends/lessons for 2024

In software development, technical debt (also known as design debt or code debt) is the implied cost of future reworking required when choosing an easy but limited solution instead of a better approach that could take more time. Accruing technical debt causes existing problems to get worse over time. The longer debt builds up, the more costly it becomes to rectify. Companies that delay or omit work for the sake of speed accrue technical debt, which they need to pay back later or face consequences. As a result, businesses eventually have to pay with time, money, and resources, typically for choosing speed over quality. Technical debt is the measure of the cost of reworking a solution caused by choosing an easy yet limited solution. The most significant consequence of a complex technical debt is that it hinders a company’s ability to compete and innovate. It robs organisations of resources, time, energy, and the ability to innovate, adapt, and grow.

• Is it an investment issue (competing interests, innovation and exploration a secondary concern)
• Is it a systemic issue (business and systems complexity inflexibility)
• Is it environmental (legacy, architectural and regulatory constraints)
• Is it skills constraints (all innovation reliant on external service providers)
• Is governance throttling innovation