South Africa’s human resources leaders are set to gather in Johannesburg on 16 September 2026 for the 5th Edition of the HR World Summit South Africa, as organisations navigate the growing impact of artificial intelligence, automation, changing workforce expectations and evolving business priorities.
Organised by Exito Media Concepts, the summit will take place at Focus Rooms – Universe and is expected to bring together more than 200 CHROs, HR directors, People & Culture leaders, talent acquisition heads, learning and development executives, employee experience specialists, business leaders and HR solution providers.
The summit comes at a time when HR is increasingly moving beyond traditional personnel management to become a strategic function responsible for workforce planning, leadership development, employee experience, skills transformation and organisational capability.
Artificial intelligence and automation are among the technologies reshaping how organisations operate and manage their workforces. The summit will examine how businesses can integrate these technologies while developing the skills, leadership models and workplace cultures needed for a rapidly changing digital economy.
Key discussions will focus on the role of AI in HR and workforce planning, employee wellbeing and engagement, talent attraction and retention, continuous learning, skills development, inclusive workplaces, leadership and change management.
The programme will also explore how organisations can prepare employees for an evolving world of work through practical case studies, industry discussions and real-world examples.
Among the HR leaders listed to participate are Tebogo Maenetja, Chief Human Resources Officer at MTN; Michele Seroke, Chief Human Resources Officer at Mediclinic; Nomsa Lewisa, CIO Group Human Technology at FirstRand; Mikateko Nkuna-Valoyi, Managing Executive: Talent & Culture at Vodacom; and Lerato Thelejane, Executive: People Change Readiness and Enablement at Absa Group.
Beyond the conference sessions, the summit will provide opportunities for delegates to network with peers, engage solution providers and exchange practical insights on workforce transformation, HR technology adoption, leadership development and people strategy.
For South African businesses, the event highlights the growing connection between technology, people and organisational performance. As AI adoption accelerates, HR departments are increasingly expected to help organisations understand how technology will affect jobs, skills, leadership and employee experience.
The HR World Summit South Africa 2026 will run from 9am to 5pm on 16 September at Focus Rooms – Universe in Johannesburg.
Exito Media Concepts, the organiser, has more than 16 years of experience delivering business conferences across sectors including technology, cybersecurity, digital transformation, healthcare, finance and human resources.
