n less than two weeks, Johannesburg will serve as the host city for the 2015 International Women’s Forum (IWF) World Cornerstone Conference, taking place on May 20-22, with the theme “Legacy & Inheritance: Journey to the future”. There, hundreds of dynamic global leaders from around the world will come together for multi-day discussions and dialogue focused on South Africa’s journey to the future, in addition to the promise a rising continent provides to African people and our world. The conference will include localized events that examine important aspects of South Africa’s culture, including visits to the Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory, Constitutional Court of South Africa, South Africa’s University of the Witwatersrand, and activities in Soweto, Liliesleaf, Newtown and more.

“The IWF is honored to bring the World Cornerstone Conference and more than 400 global leaders together in Johannesburg to examine the rich history and great possibility that exists within South Africa,” said Dr. Vuyo Mahlati, President of IWF South Africa.

“We need to step up, as leaders, men and women, and provide the guidance and direction our societies need. This conference empowers women in our societies, and will tackle issues of identity, legacy, conflict, and renewal through the lens of South Africa’s struggle, liberation and its journey as a new democracy.”

Annually, the IWF World Cornerstone Conferences are held in regions and markets critical to the ever-changing global economy and focus on providing insight to women leaders on topics impacting international progress, business, economics, ecology, enterprise, and the sustainability of human endeavor. Prior to this year’s anticipated events in Johannesburg, World Cornerstone Conference host cities have included Guayaquil, Ecuador; Rome, Italy; Rabat, Morocco, Berlin, Germany and more.

“The IWF conferences are built around the principle that learning is leadership. The IWF brings our members together because we believe an imperative to advancing better leadership is to be on the front lines of thought-provoking, change-inducing, action-oriented dialog,” said IWF Board President, Sein Chew.

“We believe that better leadership produces stronger economies, widens access to opportunity, combats inequalities and builds more equitable policies and practices for all.”

The IWF, founded in 1982, has more than 6,000 members across six continents and represents 33 nations and is committed to advancing better leadership through training, mentoring and connectivity. The organization provides a platform for women leaders of significant and diverse achievement to be inspired, empowered and informed about the key issues shaping the ways in which people work, live and lead.

This year’s conference in Johannesburg, will offer sessions with powerful leaders and experts who
support their broadened professional advancement on a global scale.

The Premiere Speakers of the 2015 World Cornerstone Conference will include:

·         Dr. Joyce Banda, former President of the Republic of Malawi serving from 2012 to 2014, and Malawi’s first female president and Africa’s second
·         Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, South African politician, former anti-apartheid activist, and Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC)
·         Paul Hughes, Senior Advisor for International Security and Peacebuilding at the United States Institute of Peace and former Chief of Staff and Director of the Nonproliferation and Arms Control Program
·         Mark Lamberti, Chief Executive Officer of Imperial Holdings Limited and Founder of Massmart Holdings Limited, and the Director of Business Leadership South Africa
·         Ahmed Naguib is a democracy advocate, Co-Founder of the Trustees Council of the Revolution in Egypt, and Corporate Social Responsibility Director for FINBI

Attendance of the World Cornerstone Conference is reserved for IWF members, presenters and invited members of the press. As a valued media partner, we would like to ensure that you receive your media accreditation.

Due to limited space only accredited media will be granted access to the conference. All media accreditation should be completed prior to the event. To apply for media accreditation, please email your name and the name of the media house you represent to thembisa@vumareputation.com  by Friday, 15 May 2015.