ICT skills gaps, the impact of AI on ICT workforces and upskilling for the future of work are among the pressing issues that will come under the spotlight at this month's Institute of Information Technology Professionals South Africa (IITPSA) Workforce Intelligence Conference in Johannesburg.
Set to take place at Emperors Palace in Johannesburg on 30 October, the IITPSA's first major ICT skills conference will release the findings of the 2026 IITPSA ICT Skills Survey and analyse the industry's response to the changing ICT skills environment. For the first time, the survey assessed the impact of AI on skills supply and demand, how employers and ICT practitioners view the technology and whether AI is expected to erode jobs in the ICT sector.
IITPSA President Pearl Pasi says: “As AI brings unprecedented change to business and workforces, the IITPSA Workforce Intelligence Conference offers a timely opportunity for employers and ICT practitioners to assess AI’s likely impacts, how workplaces should adapt, and what new skills ICT professionals will need to succeed in future.”
The full-day conference will begin with research findings on how South African ICT stakeholders feel about AI and how workplaces and ICT practitioners are using the technology. Lehlohonolo Mokenela, Managing Director at Africa Analysis, will offer insights into what the ICT Skills Survey findings mean for South Africa's ICT skills pipeline.
Among the event's keynote addresses will be a presentation on how generative and agentic AI will affect jobs of the future, delivered by Pragashani Reddy, Chief Commercial Officer at Digital Solutions Group (DSG). The keynote will explore which new careers will emerge, which skills may become obsolete and how organisations should prepare for these changes.
Dinielia Pillay, OfferZen Talent Partner, will examine how ICT skills demand and supply have changed over the years, exploring current skills shortages, emerging roles and expected demand over the next five years.
Professor Helena Barnard, Full Professor at the Gordon Institute of Business Science, will deliver a talk on building skills for AI-driven professions. She will explain how employers and employees can develop skills to remain relevant and in demand in the AI era.
Panel discussions throughout the day will address women in the AI revolution, a shared skills agenda to prepare Southern African ICT professionals for the future of work and what ICT professionals need to know to thrive in the AI era. A high-level Pr.CIO discussion will also outline how CIOs are preparing their organisations and workforces for the AI era.
Panel discussion highlights
Participating in the IITPSA Presidents' Panel on Building Southern Africa's AI-Ready ICT Workforce will be members of national ICT professional bodies from five Southern African countries: IITPSA President Pearl Pasi; Dr Clement Siyangwe, President of the ICT Association of Zambia (ICTAZ) and Head of ICT at Chalimbana University; Freddy Ndhlovu, President of the Computer Society of Zimbabwe (CSZ); Tshepho Bathai, President of the Botswana Information Technology Society (BITS); and Clarence Gama, President of the ICT Association of Malawi.
The WIIT Women Leading the AI Revolution panellists will include Prof Noluntu Mpekoa, Associate Professor at the Institute for Sustainability and Corporate Citizenship (ISCC) at the University of South Africa; Denise Mukozho, Chairperson of the IITPSA Women in IT Chapter; and Thenzie Stewart, Senior Manager: Financial Systems at the CSIR.
Pr.CIO panellists will include Louise van der Bank, CIO at AfriSam and 2025 IITPSA President's Awards Visionary CIO Award winner; Dr Sylvia Sathekge, CIO of the NHLS; Terence Govender, IITPSA Pr.CIO and Senior Director, IT GRC & Automation; Catherine Leso, CIO at the Department of Minerals and Petroleum Resources; and Tony van der Linden, CIO and Head of Research and Development at BBD.
In the discussion on 'Life after AI', panellists will include Antony Makins, Group Chief Operations Officer at TForge and Chair of the IITPSA Special Interest Group in AI and Robotics (SIGAIR); Joseph Lumbahe, IITPSA Professional Member and Head of Microsoft AI Practice at Altron Digital Business; Doctor Mafuwafuwane, Executive Head of Cybersecurity at Nexio and Vice Chair of the IITPSA SIGCyber; and Kurai Masocha, Founder and CEO of Tech Oasis Systems and Chairperson of the IITPSA Innovation Special Interest Group.
Conference concludes with IITPSA President's Awards
The conference will conclude with the gala IITPSA President's Awards dinner, where South Africa's leading ICT professionals will be recognised for their achievements. The awards include IT Personality of the Year and Visionary CIO, categories that have been part of the industry awards for decades. This year's President's Awards theme is 'Excellence in ethical digital transformation', aligning with the IITPSA's motto.
Conference tickets include access to the black-tie awards dinner, where delegates will enjoy a three-course meal and network with professionals from South Africa's ICT sector.
For more information, the conference programme and registration, visit IITPSA Workforce Intelligence Conference 2026.
