C O L L E C T I V E Special R

Collective Insight is a collaborative initiative published quarterly by the Financial Mail

The articles included here were selected by an independent Advisory Commi ee to reflect some of the best insights from investment professionals, practitioners, and academics in relation to selected financial challenges

Collective Insight enjoys the support of the Gordon Institute of Business Science’s Responsible Finance Initiative, the CFA Society of South Africa, the Financial Planning Institute, ABSIP and the Actuarial Society of South Africa

Our vision was to create a journal that SA’s broader investment community and its stakeholders could collectively “own”, carrying content totally independent of commercial interests.

For inquiries contact Anne Cabot-Alletzhauser on cabota@gibs co za

Convener:

Anne Cabot-Alletzhauser

Practice director of the Gordon Institute of Business Responsible Finance Initiative

Editorial advisory commi ee:

Kelly de Kock

Chief operating officer at Old Mutual Trust Company

Prof Evan Gilbert

Associate professor at Stellenbosch University and strategist at Momentum Investments

Amanda Khoza

Vice-president and board member of the Institute of Retirement Funds SA

Caretha Laubscher

Manager: Consumer Education Framework, Financial Sector Conduct Authority

Lelane Bezuidenhout

CEO Financial Planning Institute of Southern Africa

Nici McDonald

HOD: Certification and Standards, Financial Planning Institute of Southern Africa

Darius van der Walt

Member of the ASSA investment commi ee, head of product development at M&G Investments

Southern Africa

Nerina Visser, CFA

ETF strategist and financial adviser etfSA

Langa Madonko

Principal for investor relations and capital raising at Summit Africa

Fran Troskie

Manager of research and investment advisory at PPS Investments

WHERE ARE THE WOMEN?

We are very excited to introduce a brand-new format to our Collective Insight edition this quarter As a committee, we are constantly looking at how we stay relevant to our readers and pitch the content at the right level for people to really engage with

We believe we ’ ve come up with a format that will bring the right voices to the forefront and create a platform for meaningful engagement on topical and important issues facing the financial services industry

So, what’ s different about this edition? In a nutshell, we have created a platform between the Gordon Institute of Business Science (Gibs), Collective Insight/FM and the professional bodies that oversee the talent development in our industry, that allows us to:

● Start with the production of high-quality research on issues of urgent concern to South Africa and specifically the financial sector

In this edition, the study was commissioned by EPPF and conducted by Gibs, but in future research may come from any reputable institution or body

● Obtain insights and critique on the study from industry professionals who are attuned to and affected by these issues

● Socialise those insights through a multimedia forum that includes the print and digital format of Collective Insight and the FM

● Debate the issues through in-person and recorded roundtable discussions that are sponsored by professional organisa- tions (CFA Society, Absip and so on) and create implementable collaborative solutions

● Disseminate those solutions through the various professional societies

It was a great privilege to be the first editor of the new-look Collective Insight, and I am really looking forward to our future editions in this format

In particular, the issue of gender parity in asset management is one that is (for obvious reasons) very close to my heart

Reading the study, followed by the views from fellow women in the industry, made it very clear to me that this is an issue that requires us as an industry to dig deep and have honest, uncomfortable conversations about not just male behaviour within asset management firms, but the industry itself and what we are aspiring to and what outcomes we want to achieve for the people of South Africa

If this conversation ends with this issue of Collective Insight, then we have failed in our objective

Once you have read this edition, I urge you to join our roundtable discussions and share your views and ideas, and to carry these conversations to your dining room tables and your office boardrooms, and to shout from the rooftops that more engagement is needed if we are to make any meaningful change in transforming the industry into one that women are excited to be part of, and that has as its objective the advancement of the country as a whole

What do you think of the new format? We would love to engage with you about ideas for future research or if you just want to share your thoughts on this issue or join the roundtable discussions (Dates to be announced shortly )

E-mail us at cabota@gibs co za x