The Future HR Summit 2026, taking place 29 July at the Gallagher Convention Centre in Johannesburg, will convene HR decision-makers from Microsoft, Eskom, the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic), Rand Merchant Bank (RMB), Old Mutual Investments, MiWay Insurance, and Takealot. The single-day conference tackles a pressing reality: AI is no longer a future trend but the operational backbone of modern recruitment, learning, and workforce analytics, and HR leaders must separate tools that deliver genuine value from the noise.
South African HR teams are under pressure to hire faster, hold onto scarce talent, improve employee wellbeing, and show measurable business results-often with flat or shrinking budgets. AI-powered recruitment tools can shorten time-to-hire. People analytics flag flight risks before a resignation letter lands. Automation strips out repetitive admin, freeing practitioners to focus on culture and leadership. Yet adoption alone isn't the answer. The harder work is choosing solutions that work in the local context, rolling them out responsibly, and ensuring technology strengthens rather than weakens the human element in HR. The summit's agenda confronts those tensions directly.
Confirmed speakers include Dr Angie Ontong (the dtic), Shaun Tooray (Nedbank CIB), Londeka Nzama-Nxumalo (RMB), Hywel George (Old Mutual Investments), Valisha Naidoo (Eskom), Poloko John Ntshatsha (Microsoft), Andrew McDonald (Discover Africa Group), Ntokozo Bhengu (MiWay Insurance), Doug Strycharczyk (AQR International, UK), and Azaqiqe Mkosana (Takealot). They will lead sessions across a range of operational and strategic topics that reflect what's keeping HR leaders awake right now.
Sessions built for practitioners, not theorists
- AI and the future of work
- Building the business case for HR technology investments
- Employee retention in a rapidly changing workplace
- Digital learning and continuous upskilling
- People analytics and workforce insights
- Employee wellness and burnout prevention
- Hybrid work and employee engagement
- Labour law, compliance and the future of HR
Rather than abstract futurism, the programme is designed for CHROs, HR directors, talent acquisition leads, learning and development specialists, and people analytics professionals who need practical tactics they can implement immediately. Attendees will also get direct exposure to the latest HR technologies from solution providers actively demonstrating their products. For senior leaders looking to deepen their strategic grip on AI, the summit complements the AI Learning Path for CHROs, a structured resource focused on workforce analytics and transformation.
HR technology buyers increasingly want trusted partners, not just products. Sponsors and exhibitors at the summit gain access to senior decision-makers shaping procurement in recruitment, payroll, learning platforms, and workforce analytics. Speaking slots let vendors position themselves as thought leaders, while the exhibition floor creates space for live demos with buyers actively evaluating new systems.
Registration is now open. HR professionals can register for Future HR Summit 2026. Organisations interested in sponsoring can download the sponsorship brochure, and exhibition stand packages are available via the exhibition options page.
Why this matters for Human Resources professionals
The summit is a rare opportunity to move past AI hype and get direct, unfiltered insight from peers who are already implementing these tools inside complex South African organisations. For HR leaders under pressure to do more with less, the day offers a concentrated dose of what works-what slashes time-to-hire, what actually predicts turnover, and what keeps hybrid teams engaged-without sacrificing the relational, judgment-driven core of the profession. Those who attend will leave with a sharper sense of which AI for Human Resources investments are worth making and how to make them stick.
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