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Category: Topco Press Release

From representation to influence: Standard Bank Top Women Conference 2026

Top Women

Now in its ninth year, the conference has established itself as one of South Africa’s leading platforms for advancing women in business. More than a conference, it is where influential conversations spark new partnerships, practical ideas become action, and leadership is translated into lasting impact.

The next phase of transformation: Where policy, power and progress collide

Transformation

As South Africa’s transformation landscape continues to evolve, the Nedbank Top Empowerment Conference 2026 returns with a clear intention: to move the conversation beyond compliance and toward measurable, meaningful impact. Taking place this June in commemoration of Youth Day, the conference will once again convene the policymakers, executives, transformation leaders and innovators tasked not only with shaping policy, but with delivering outcomes in an increasingly complex environment. The Nedbank Top Empowerment Conference 2026 is made possible through the support of Nedbank as Platinum Partner, alongside Sanlam and SALGA as Gold Sponsors. Further support is provided by Industrial Development Corporation of South Africa Ltd as Silver Sponsor, Central Energy Fund, MCPM, INSETA, Prescient Investment Management, Mashudu Tinyiko Consulting, Sourceworx, Association of B-BBEE Professionals (ABP) and ASI Financial Services as Bronze Sponsors, as well as Isanti Glass as Bronze Partner. Additional organisations contributing to the programme and conference experience include Greysun as Networking Lounge Sponsor, alongside Showcase Sponsors Dataal Africa, Maribe, 21st Century Funeral Services, Labournet, LEAP + LAB17, Avo Vision, Diversifi, Moore Holding Group, Save the Children, KEI Solutions and Care More Foundation. Afrizan People Intelligence will also participate as an Exhibition partner. Event coverage will be led by SABC, our Platinum Media Partner, alongside strategic and media partners: Glynt, Primedia OOH, Mail & Guardian, Briefly News, Sunday World, BEE Online, Good Governance Africa and BPESA. Our lifestyle partners include: Nespresso, Jenna Clifford Designs, Isanti Glass, GQ Tissues, BICS and Mvula Drops. The 2026 programme reflects a decisive shift in focus. Transformation is no longer viewed purely as a regulatory exercise, but increasingly as an economic imperative tied directly to competitiveness, investment readiness and long-term resilience. Discussions throughout the two-day conference will examine how organisations can recalibrate their strategies by prioritising high-impact interventions, embedding inclusion into decision-making structures, and ensuring that empowerment initiatives deliver measurable value in rapidly evolving economic conditions. Conversations will further interrogate how empowerment financing, infrastructure investment and ESG strategies can be leveraged not only to meet compliance requirements, but to unlock broader participation, industrial growth and sustainable economic opportunity. From supplier development funding to large-scale infrastructure delivery, the emphasis is shifting toward how capital can be structured and deployed to support measurable transformation outcomes at scale. A strong focus will also be placed on collaboration as a driver of economic inclusion. With youth unemployment remaining one of South Africa’s most urgent challenges, the programme explores how aligned partnerships between the public and private sectors can unlock funding, support entrepreneurship and create pathways into meaningful employment. Set against the backdrop of South Africa’s evolving socio-economic landscape, the 2026 conference represents both a moment of reflection and a call to action. It is a platform designed for leaders who recognise that the next phase of transformation will require sharper execution, deeper collaboration and a renewed focus on measurable outcomes. The conference will also feature the live unveiling of the 25th anniversary edition of Impumelelo: Top Empowerment Companies, marking a significant milestone in documenting  South Africa’s transformation journey while reflecting on the road ahead. For leaders navigating increasing complexity across transformation, ESG, inclusion and economic development, the Nedbank Top Empowerment Conference remains a critical platform where strategy meets accountability and where the future of inclusive growth is actively shaped. For tickets and registration: https://qkt.io/TopEmpowerment2026 For remaining sponsorship opportunities across the conference and publication, contact: marketing@topco.co.za