Responsible leadership, innovation and sustainability was the key focus of this global gathering of international and local academics, consultants, business leaders and public sector representatives at the Spier Wine Estate outside Stellenbosch. The conference organisers set out to put together a summit with a difference, allowing delegates to partake in adapting the conference programme. In the spirit of being responsible, especially to the environment, the conference was also paperless and delegates were encouraged to make use of the online app that provided them with all the information related to the various sessions.

Further to this, the summit hosted the gathering of the GRLI Young Ambassadors. A total of 65 students from all over the world gathered at the Sustainability Institute of the University of Stellenbosch, where they worked on their personal leadership development and engaged in various dialogues. Another key innovative element of this conference was the inclusion of ‘learning journeys’, consisting of short visits by delegates to various sites selected to demonstrate innovation, community-based initiatives and sustainable leadership. To both organisers and delegates alike the success of the conference was evident and many saw this as the beginning of similar innovative initiatives.

"Africa Leads created an environment where collective interest in the well-being of the continent and the world was a clear and very important binding element. A gathering such as this sets in motion good intent, energy and passion, let alone intellectual capital and willpower, harvesting the best possible solutions to develop responsible leadership for Africa and the world. I am grateful to have been part of this memorable event", said Prof Derick de Jongh, Director of the Albert Luthuli Centre for Responsible Leadership and a speaker at the conference.