Carolynn Chalmers

Alison Gillwald presented at the Government Technical Advisory Centre SA (GTAC) Public Economics Conference, which is themed 'Harnessing Technology and Data: Shaping the Future of South African Public Services'. Gillwald shared insights from RIA research, giving a continental perspective on the digital transformation. In her presentation she underscored the necessity of data justice: "Data justice is not only about responsible and ethical data and AI but about redressing inequities that make, largely Africans, invisible on these big global data sets, leading to discrimination or underrepresentation in automated decision-making." #GTACPEC #DataJustice #DigitalTransformation #EthicalAI

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The #SocialMediaSummit4Gov is a game changer not only for Government Communicators but South African citizenry as users of what gets communicated. With this experience, Government Communicators will serve better and smarter. #PublicRelations #SocialMedia #DigitalMarketing #PublicSectorCommunication

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Is Your Leadership Ready to Break the Mold? Today, Prof Tankiso Moloi, FCMA,CGMA shared valuable insights on the digital revolution's impact on developing economies. The discussion highlighted the pressing need for organisations to adapt to a digital-first approach, emphasising the importance of staying ahead of the curve. In this era of digital transformation, breaking down traditional silos within organisations is crucial. Leadership must embrace agility, foresight, and inclusivity to thrive in this rapidly evolving landscape. Change is here! Are we merely observers of the digital revolution, or are we actively shaping it with the right cultural and ethical guidance? #DigitalEthics #OrganizationalCulture #Leadership #DigitalTransformation #goodgovernanceacademy

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The market systems symposium #MSSR in Cape Town provided an excellent platform to share experiences and network with other MSD practitioners. Having participated in the 2023 MSS convening, this one was extra-ordinary! #MSSR2024 provided more space to share practical lessons from different programs. Kudos to Vikāra Institute for the excellent coordination & great insights from Margie Brand Mike Field Rose Mary R. Garcia, PhD  It was a great pleasure to lead group discussions on MSD programming in thin markets  and the essence of collaboration to maximize impact. Some practical take-aways included; ·      Thin markets/fragile contexts may not present ideal/perfect private sector enterprises to engage, whereas continued engagement with established enterprises may simply instill monopoly in the long-run.  Our contracting processes should be flexible to prioritize business acceleration services to “ missing middle SMEs” who, in most cases,  have the incentive to grow but lack capacity and resources. Experience from #FCDO #SHARPE program implemented by DAI in #Ethiopia demonstrated successes of engaging emerging MSMES to deliver inclusive services targeting refugee community ·      We can avoid duplication of efforts and maximize impact  if proper coordination structures are established within our intervention contexts. Structuring #shared value partnerships with other implementers is critical. MSD programs and #private sector engagement in fragile contexts can greatly leverage on foundational systems established by NGOS. In #Somalia, #IRiS program implemented by DT Global has fostered commercial relationships between community-led cooperatives supported by INGOs and the #private sector. We see huge potential of linking #VSLAs established by other humanitarian agencies to #MFIs who are more interested in group lending. ·      Achieving scale is possible. Learning from the #India housing project, we appreciate the value of stakeholder convening/co-creation from the beginning, co-designing interventions with companies with the right will and skill, gathering essential evidence and coherent communication to stimulate crowding-in and at the same time , ensuring government involvement to unlock policy bottlenecks that limit private sector growth and competitiveness.

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Important notice: CDP will be making changes to its corporate disclosure questionnaire.📢📢📢 The three questionnaires Climate, Water Security and Forestry will now be combined in the new integrated questionnaire. For expert assistance contact Brundtland - we specialize in assisting with CDP reporting www.brundtland.co.za #CDP #Disclosure #Climatechange

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As we approach the introduction of the Two-Pot system on September 1st in South Africa, it's crucial to address potential risks and the importance of safeguarding pension funds. Many South Africans aren’t fortunate enough to have a nest egg. If you do have retirement funds, are they safe? Signatures can be faked, identities stolen, and OTPs intercepted. Key Risks: With easier access to high-value investments, the Two-Pot system becomes a prime target for fraudsters. Traditional authentication methods may not suffice against sophisticated cyber threats. Pension funds must shield consumers from unprecedented fraud risks, ensuring robust processes are in place to counter cyber threats effectively. View our latest blog on this topic: https://hubs.li/Q02Jbyln0 #TwoPotSystem #PensionFunds #CyberSecurity #FraudPrevention #iiDENTIFii #eNCA

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As a NED, maintaining the balance between oversight and management is crucial. NEDs must stay informed and provide strategic direction without crossing into day-to-day operations. To avoid this, NEDs should focus on their strategic role, participate in well-structured board meetings and foster open communication with the executive team. By doing so, NEDs can effectively contribute to the organisation’s success while respecting the boundaries of their role. Read the article below. #Governance #Leadership #NED #BoardEffectiveness #CorporateGovernance

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ICT SECTOR B-BBEE CODES: EQUITY EQUIVALENT-RELATED POLICY UNDER REVIEW? https://lnkd.in/dQ6a8hAE #communications #southafrica #bbbee #ict #investment #equity #equivalent #programmes

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HIGHVELD AIR QUALITY: DRAFT REVISED MANAGEMENT PLAN OUT FOR COMMENT https://lnkd.in/eQTbQuzD #environmentallaw #southafrica #air #quality #management #plan #highveld #comments

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Explore the findings from Good Governance Africa's 2024 Governance Performance Index, examining local governance across South Africa's 257 municipalities.

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Today, I had the privilege of delivering the opening keynote at the 12th Annual Edition of the National Public Sector Clean Audit Turnaround Indaba 2024, an event that continues to shape the future of governance and accountability in South Africa. My presentation, "Unpacking The PFMA/MFMA Report 2023-2024," focused on this year's theme, "Auditing Controls as a Measure of Accountability." I shared insights with an audience of government officials, auditors, policymakers, and civil society leaders about the crucial role that robust auditing processes play in fostering transparency and driving ethical public administration. It was an honor to speak alongside some of the most respected professionals in the field and to be part of a platform that serves as a vital forum for knowledge-sharing, capacity-building, and collaboration. I look forward to sharing more insights from the event and continuing the dialogue on how we can collectively ensure clean audits and sustainable governance. Let's connect and exchange ideas to keep the momentum going! #Governance #Accountability #CleanAudits #Leadership #PublicSector #Collaboration

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As 2024 approaches its end, I’ve taken time to reflect on a year rich with engagements across the globe when it comes to Cyber Strategy —whether through consulting with our clients Cyber Dexterity, collaborating with forward-thinking companies, teaching at the GIBS Business School (Gordon Institute of Business Science), or speaking at multiple events. These interactions have revealed four insights that I believe are essential for anyone navigating the intersection of cybersecurity, AI, and business strategy: 1. Cybersecurity as a Business Imperative: Cybersecurity is no longer a back-office function nor a sole responsibility of one function—it’s becoming a core component of business strategy. In the future, your company’s 'Cyber Resilience Index' will influence its market valuation, customer confidence, and supplier relationships. Customers and partners will evaluate companies based on their ability to provide a secure environment for their services and engagements. Being perceived as a “safe business” will be a competitive differentiator, directly impacting your reputation and bottom line. 2. The Gap Between Human Cyber Dexterity and Technological Progression: As technology advances, the gap between its capabilities and our human ability to understand and adapt to it is widening. This isn’t just a technical issue—it’s a people issue. We must prioritize building skills and fostering a mindset that bridges this divide. Cyber literacy should no longer be an afterthought; it's a prerequisite for resilience in the digital age, and a critical foundation for getting the other elements of your overall strategy right. 3. From Compliance-Driven to Culture-Focused Cybersecurity: Cybersecurity efforts are often boxed into compliance checklists and legal obligations. While these are important, they are not enough. A culture of cyber resilience must become the norm, embedding awareness, adaptability and proactive defence into the fabric of organisations. Resilience isn't about avoiding incidents; it's about surviving and thriving through them. 4. Execution is the Key to Transformation: Many organizations have visionary strategies, but too often, execution falls short. True transformation requires a willingness to change not just what we do, but how we do it. This includes embracing new frameworks, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, and aligning execution with long-term strategic goals. As my students and clients have often heard me say: "The invention of the light bulb did not come from the continuous improvement of candles”. Looking ahead to 2025, I’m excited to continue building these capabilities. Helping organizations bridge the gap between human and technological evolution, embed cybersecurity as a cultural norm, and align execution with ambition. A mission I’m deeply passionate about. Together, we can ensure resilience, trust, and sustainable success in an increasingly complex digital landscape. Reach out and engage.

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Learn how Drakenstein Municipality, Paarl, Western Cape was rated #1 secondary city for good governance in South Africa by the 2024 Good Governance Africa GPI report. They continue to use innovation, automation, and Esri GIS to drive and expand excellence. https://ow.ly/VIpJ30sEEjt

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President Cyril Ramaphosa, in his address at the opening of parliament last night, highlighted South Africa’s ailing local government as a priority area to be fixed. Earlier in the week, newly appointed Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta), Velenkosini Hlabisa, also expressed his concern about the state of local government. This is a challenge that we at African Ideas understand very well. Fixing local government (and government in general) is a priority for us, and it is something that keeps us awake at night. Interestingly, we do not believe that more compliance, controls, monitoring or even skills development intervetions alone are what is needed to fix local government. We must rebuild the state's capacity to deliver, and to do this, we need to align people, processes, and technology. These elements must be aligned and integrated. And then we must actually deliver services and ensure that these services ARE delivered. Our approach is to build systems (technology) that move work through defined processes (ensuring performance management and auditability) and ensure that people are skilled to use these systems and have the necessary tools. We prioritise getting the actual work done. Given the state of infrastructure decay in our country, we have partnered with Microsoft to deliver these services via cloud-based technology – so all that is really needed is an internet connection. By aligning people, processes, and technology – and using this to drive actual service delivery, we believe we can fix local government in South Africa. https://lnkd.in/dFd4Ztkr

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Ayabulela Pinzie (MPA) Project and Programme Management Specialist, an expert in Public Administration and Project Management, is one of the many former student leaders who raised their hands when they heard that the people book 📕is still available on the Pre-Order promotional price that includes a free door to door courier/delivery. #UntilWeWin #winnerscontent #leadershipcontent #inspiringcontent

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Advancing Sustainable Smart Cities and Sustainable Smart Rural Communities

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