Speaker

Roelof Botha, Adjunct Faculty Member – GIBS (University of Pretoria)

Roelof Botha

Adjunct Faculty Member – GIBS (University of Pretoria)

Roelof Botha received his early schooling in Stockholm (Sweden), Cologne (Germany), The Hague (The Netherlands), Christiana (North West), Cape Town and Pretoria.

His father (also Roelof) was the 2nd longest-serving Minister of Foreign Affairs in the world & also served in the late Nelson Mandela’s first democratic cabinet. His eldest son (another Roelof) is the senior partner at Sequoia Venture Capital in Silicon Valley, where he co-founded PayPal & engineered the YouTube/Google acquisition. Roelof obtained Honours and Master’s degrees in economics (cum laude) at the University of Pretoria, whilst the Doctorate was completed at the University of Johannesburg. He has followed a diversified career in management accounting; financial journalism; lecturing; consulting; and economic research. He is a regular commentator & columnist on topical macroeconomic issues (in the national media) and has authored more than 500 articles, research papers & books. In 2005, he received the prestigious Finmedia Economist of the Year award, based on the accuracy of forecasts of key economic indicators. Roelof has been an economic advisor to PricewaterhouseCoopers for the past 27 years and teaches economics (part-time) at the Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS), University of Pretoria. Over the past three decades, more than 400 companies & employer organisations have utilised his services in providing forecasts of economic indicators, mostly for purposes of strategic planning. His research is focussed on analysing sector-specific supply chains (including mining), macroeconomic impact assessments, the investment potential of the subSaharan African (SSA) region and the strategic importance of agriculture. He is a keen sportsman and has participated in competitive soccer (also as a coach), cricket and sport parachuting & is a member of the Gideons.

As a seasoned veteran of the public speaking circuit in Southern Africa, Dr Botha has managed to captivate audiences with his unique style of blending the serious matters of economics and politics with the lighter side of life. His presentations are regarded as broadly motivational, in terms of highlighting research that confirms numerous positive structural changes in SSA.

Roelof Botha will be speaking on the following topic:

08:40
KEYNOTE: The True State of the Nation

South Africa is in the midst of socio-economic uncertainty in its post-democratic era. This is evidenced by the obvious trends such as: volatile exchange rate; huge losses reported from our SOE's; high interest rates, waning business confidence and a lengthy commodity price cycle downturn. Policy uncertainty and the mismanagement of public funds amplify the situation.

  • Dr Roelof Botha renowned economist, management accountant of a listed industrial company, financial editor of a daily newspaper and economic policy advisor in the Department of Finance will journey through the current socio-economic situation facing our country and how this adversely affects and is affected by policy, governance and compliance-related decisions being made on an ongoing basis.

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