The Global CIO Forum successfully hosted the World CIO 200 Summit 2025 – South Africa Edition at The Venue Melrose Arch, gathering the region’s most influential technology leaders, visionaries, and change-makers for an evening of collaboration, insights, and recognition.
The summit commenced with an engaging registration and networking session, providing attendees and partners a chance to connect, exchange ideas, and capture memorable moments at the dedicated photo booth.
The event officially opened with a powerful welcome address by Abdul Kader Baba, Chief Technology and Information Officer, Infrastructure South Africa, who delivered the Country Ambassador Speech, setting the tone for a high-impact agenda focused on leadership in Africa’s digital decade.
Delivering the keynote on “CIO Statesmanship in the African Digital Decade”, John Bosco Arends, Chairperson, Chartered CIO Council, emphasized the strategic and transformative role of CIOs as catalysts of progress in a rapidly evolving tech landscape.
A compelling vendor keynote followed by Diego Han, VP of Eco-System Development, Huawei Cloud Sub-Saharan Africa, highlighted the expanding role of cloud and ecosystem partnerships in shaping Africa’s digital future.
The first panel discussion titled “The Next Decade of IT Leadership” brought together a diverse set of IT leaders to explore what defines the bold and unstoppable CIOs of tomorrow. Moderated by Abdul Kader Baba, the panel featured:
- Omeshnee Naidoo, CIO Programmed Leader, Deloitte
- Mohammed Dawood, CIO, Bayport Financial Services
- Peter Robb, CIO, Omnia Holdings
- Dr. Tom Tshitangano, CIO, The National Consumer Commission
Attendees enjoyed a coffee break and networking session, coupled with tech demos and sponsor interactions at the exhibit booths.
Following the break, Rajeev Dutt, General Manager – Middle East Africa and Asia Pacific, Swiss GRC, presented an insightful vendor keynote, focusing on governance, risk, and compliance in the digital era.
The second panel discussion, “Key Technologies Driving CIO Priorities”, featured thought-provoking conversations around AI, cloud, automation, and ethical technology leadership. Moderated by Henny Schlebusch, Regional CIO: EMEA, Rhenus Logistics, the panel included:
- Warren Hero, Architecture and Product Strategy, JSE
- Dr. Denisha Jairam-Owthar, Group CIO, Council for Medical Schemes
- Sharl Venter, Head of Technical Support, Vumacam
- Khaya Mbanga, Chief Information & Digital Officer, BDO South Africa
- Graham Oates, Director, Rhenus Express
The highlight of the evening was the prestigious CIO 200 Awards Ceremony – South Africa Edition, where top CIOs were honored across four categories: Next-Gen, Leader, Master, and Legend for their outstanding contributions and leadership in technology.
The event concluded with a high-level Executive Dinner, during which Henny Schlebusch delivered the Concluding Remarks on behalf of the Country Ambassadors, reflecting on key takeaways and the summit’s impact in accelerating digital leadership across South Africa.
