The morning will also include three speakers who are professionals in their fields, as well as one ‘soon to be revealed’ keynote speaker. This will be followed by a panel discussion, facilitated by Gordon Cook.

Cook is one of 'The Most Influential Advertising Practitioners' in South Africa, co-editor of the book Integrated Marketing Communications, co-author of the Healthy Brand Concept, a member of the Brand Museum Council, and co-founder and school navigator for Vega School of brand leadership.

Moreover, he is involved on various judging panels, including Business Arts South Africa and the Loeries. The three speakers are Crag B Pheiffer, Ailsa Wingfield, and Robyn Lewis.

Craig B Pheiffer

Pheiffer is the chief investment strategist, Absa Stockbrokers and Portfolio Management. Pheiffer holds several degrees from the University of Witwatersrand and Unisa, including a BSc computer science, BCom – economics, BCom honours – economics, and MCom (cum laude) – economics.

He is also a chartered financial analyst (CFA) and a member of the Investment Analysts Society of South Africa and the CFA Institute. His master’s dissertation won the Economic Society of South Africa’s Founders medal for the best dissertation in 2000.

Pheiffer representative on the SPM Financial Services Provider licence, as well as an exco member of Wealth Management and a director of Fradey Nominees, SPM’s nominee holding company.

Ailsa Wingfield

Wingfield is the head of thought leadership for Nielsen Holdings across its global emerging markets, aiming to help companies 'future-proof' their businesses through strategic foresight, knowledge creation, and thought leadership curatorship.

She has also produced and published multiple content features, including the bi-annual Africa Prospects indicator (APi), Navigating the Africa Retail Distribution Labyrinth, Media and Mobile Strategies in Africa, and Tapping into Africa: Turning Opportunity into Possibility.

Robyn Lewis

Lewis is a strategy director at Yellowwood Future Architects. Lewis has 15 years’ worth of experience as a marketer in both brand building and brand development, primarily within the FMCG environment.

During the course of her vocation, she has worked on many of South Africa’s brands across food, beverages, snacks, and personal care categories, which afforded her experience across multiple marketing disciplines.

The discussions will aim to set the scene for the business and branding community about the reality of doing business and surviving, as brands in a junk economy and sharing insights into how some of the most successful brands have carved out and held onto their success during an ever-weakening economy.

Additionally, delegates will explore whether or not businesses see the function of marketing and communications as critical to surviving in a junk economy, what this means from a budget perspective, if there are other strategic survival tactics, and what the impact on the current economic state has been and will be on businesses.

There are also opportunities for partners to get involved through sponsorship opportunities, including naming rights to the event, naming sub-sections, co-branding marketing opportunities, and more. The exposure from the available sponsorship packages aims to foster relationships and boost crucial awareness.

Conference details:

  • Tuesday, 7 November;
  • 08:30 to 13:00; 
  • The Venue, Greenpark, Sandton; and
  • Cost: Brand Council members – R850. Non-members – R950. 

You can purchase tickets here. 

For more information, visit www.brandcouncilsa.org. Alternatively, connect with them on Facebook or on Twitter.