Day 1 Programme

Summit Programme

Women in Project Management Summit 2026

Friday, 28 August 202609:00 - 16:05Courtyard Hotel Waterfall, Midrand

KeynotePanel DiscussionCase StudyFireside ChatBreak

08:3009:00

Registration & Networking

Break

Arrival, check-in, welcome refreshments and informal networking.

09:0009:05

Opening Note

Event Host / MC

09:0509:10

Welcome Address

Emmanuels Magaya

09:1009:30

Keynote: Leading Digital Transformation When Budgets, Skills, and Buy-In Are Limited

Keynote

Tanya de Villiers

09:3010:00

Panel: Will AI Replace the Project Manager or Reinvent the Role?

Panel Discussion

Moderator: Aamena Abed

Panelists: Sandisiwe Meso, Lucy Paddy, Natasha

10:0010:15

Morning Tea Break

Break

10:1510:50

Keynote: Building a Career That Survives Industry Disruption

Keynote

Elise McGabe

10:5511:30

Panel: Delivering Infrastructure Projects Under Pressure

Panel Discussion

Moderator: Aamena Abed

Panelists: Lynette Berrington, Boitumelo Letsoko, Sabi Manamela

11:3012:00

Case Study: What Actually Happened — A Project That Nearly Failed

Case Study

Darpana Vallabh

12:0012:25

Fireside Chat: Speaking Up, Being Heard, and Influencing Senior Stakeholders

Fireside Chat

Moderator: Mmule Sapula

Panelists: Pauline Sehlabela

12:2512:45

AI Keynote: The Agentic PM — Leveraging AI Workflows & Automation in Project Execution

Keynote

Emmanuels Magaya

12:5013:35

Lunch Break

Break

13:3514:05

Image Consultant Session: Executive Presence — How You Show Up Matters

Keynote

Martie Truter

14:0514:35

Ask A Man: What Men Really Think About Women in Leadership

Panel Discussion

Moderator: Nozizwe Moloko

Panelists: Emmanuels Magaya, Jabu Shabala, Godfrey Maphanga

14:3515:10

Panel: When PMOs Become Bottlenecks Instead of Enablers

Panel Discussion

Panelists: Darpana Vallabh, Charlotte Shabally, Tandi Rouse, Nozizwe Moloko

15:1015:25

Afternoon Tea Break

Break

15:2515:50

Panel: Switching Lanes — Moving Between Industries as a Project Manager

Panel Discussion

Panelists: Darshini, Malebo Lekoape

15:5016:05

Closing Remarks

Break

Evening Programme

The Awards Gala Dinner

A prestigious evening celebrating the women redefining excellence in project delivery across Africa.

Secure Your Spot

Join Africa's most influential female project leaders for a transformative day of insights, networking, and celebration.