The Batseta Winter Conference 2025, held on 09-10 June at Emperors Palace in Kempton Park, was a remarkable event. Themed "Protect, Preserve, Prosper," it brought together key stakeholders in the pension and investment industry, organized by the Batseta Council of Retirement Funds for South Africa.
The conference theme reflected our dedication to protecting the interests of retirement fund members and their accumulated savings. We discussed how we had been mitigating risks, ensuring compliance, and implementing robust governance frameworks to shield members' funds against potential threats like market volatility, inflation, and economic downturns. Protecting the integrity of the retirement system itself was also a priority topic.
In terms of preservation, we emphasized strategies for maintaining the value of members' savings over time. These strategies involved adapting to changes in the economic and regulatory environment and promoting resilience against unforeseen disruptions.
Prosperity was another focal point, with discussions centered on enabling retirement fund members to achieve financial security and dignity in retirement. We explored how we could foster growth and innovation within the retirement fund space to ensure members could retire comfortably and promote equitable outcomes for all stakeholders.
The conference also provided several highlights. It served as an essential platform for networking, allowing attendees to connect with fund trustees, industry leaders, policymakers, and service providers.
Educational sessions were abundant, offering participants the chance to partake in keynote speeches, panel discussions, and workshops focusing on governance, regulatory changes, investment strategies, and sustainable finance.
Experts shared invaluable insights and tools designed to drive better outcomes for retirement fund members, leaving all attendees equipped with knowledge and inspiration. Overall, the Batseta Winter Conference 2025 was a productive and enlightening experience for everyone involved.