Building Ethical Leadership for Transformative Learning

The Leadership Conference 2025 brought together a diverse community of scholars, practitioners, policymakers, and community stakeholders to reflect on and reimagine the role of ethical leadership in shaping transformative learning environments.

Hosted virtually from 10–11 September 2025, the conference highlighted the importance of leading with integrity, particularly within the African context where values of Ubuntu, indigenous knowledge systems, and decolonial approaches inform new ways of thinking about education and leadership.

Key Reflections

Over two days, participants engaged deeply with four interrelated sub-themes that framed the dialogue:

• Equity, Justice, and Inclusion in Leadership: Advancing fairness and ensuring all learners have access to quality education.
• Sustainability and Ethical Stewardship: Embedding ecological responsibility and long-term resilience in education.
• Community Engagement, Indigenous Knowledge, and Participatory Leadership: strengthening collaboration with communities through culturally grounded practices.
• Digital Ethics and Leadership in the Age of AI: Navigating ethical challenges in technology, data, and AI for human-centred education.

The conversations underscored the need for leadership that is both ethical and transformative, capable of addressing the complex realities of today while building a just and inclusive future.

If you missed the conference the recordings of the two days are below with the profile of the speakers with their presentations.

Day 1

1. Dr Sizwe Nxasana – Keynote

Dr Sizwe Nxasana is a South African business leader and education innovator. He holds a PhD in Education from Aalborg University and is a Chartered Accountant (CA). He was CEO of Telkom SA and FirstRand Banking Group, and founded Sizwe & Co and SNG Grant Thornton. He leads the Sifiso Learning Group and chairs NECT and ISFAP to support education and students. He received honorary doctorates from five universities for his contributions to education and business.

2. Cynthia Schoeman

Cynthia Schoeman is the founder and Managing Director of Ethics Monitoring & Management Services. She chairs the Ethics Practitioners’ Association and serves on various ethics committees. Cynthia has written books and guides on workplace ethics and governance. She lectures at top business schools and speaks at conferences. She holds a BA, MBA, and MPhil in Applied Ethics (cum laude).

3. Dr Sibonelo Blose

Sibonelo Blose is a Senior Lecturer at the University of Pretoria. He started teaching in 2007 and became a Deputy Principal before joining higher education in 2016. His research focuses on school leadership, middle and district leadership, and narrative inquiry. He joined the University of Pretoria in 2022.

4. Mr Marks Baloyi

Marks Baloyi is a Master’s student at the University of Pretoria, specializing in Education Management, Law, and Policy. He qualified as a teacher in 1994 and was appointed by the Department of Basic Education as a teacher in 1995. In January 2006, he assumed the position of principal at Nkhavi Primary School. In 2014, the Department of Basic Education appointed him as the caretaker principal of school that was newly established, John Xikundu Primary School. Two years later, he was officially appointed as principal of the school, a position he continues to hold to this day.

5. Prof Kat Yassim

Kat Yassim is an Associate Professor and education leader with a deep interest in innovation, ethics, and the future of learning. She teaches on the Advanced Diploma in School Leadership and Management (ADSLM) and other postgraduate programmes at the University of Johannesburg, where she is currently pioneering the use of AI as a reflective tool for leadership development. Her work brings together themes of ethical decision-making, global engagement, and the Africanization of education. Kat is passionate about equipping school leaders to navigate complexity with integrity, agility, and vision in a rapidly changing world.

Day 2 Speakers

6. Prof Nadine Peterson – Keynote (recorded)

Professor Nadine Petersen is the Executive Dean of the Faculty of Education at the University of Johannesburg. She holds a doctoral degree and is an NRF C2-rated researcher. Her work focuses on teaching, engagement, and service learning in teacher education. She received an international award from IARSLCE in 2019. Nadine also serves on several boards and contributes to educational policy and media discussions.

7. Prof Bonang Mohale

Professor Bonang Mohale is the Chancellor of the University of the Free State and a Professor of Practice at Johannesburg Business School. He chairs several companies including Bidvest Group and ArcelorMittal. He is a member of the World Economic Forum and author of two best-selling books. Bonang has received multiple awards for leadership and ethics, including the African Union’s Lifetime Achievement Award.  He was listed among the 100 Most Reputable Africans in 2023.

8. Prof Vitallis Chikoko

Professor Vitallis Chikoko teaches Educational Leadership at the University of KwaZulu-Natal. He has taught in Zimbabwe, Botswana, and South Africa. He has supervised 26 PhDs and 51 Master’s students. Vitallis has edited several books on education and leadership. His research focuses on school leadership, education financing, and sustainable development.

9. Dr Tony Shabangu

Tony Shabangu is a Lecturer at the University of Johannesburg in the Department of Philosophy. He works on moral philosophy, especially Ubuntu and ethics. His PhD focused on Ubuntu and prison reform. Tony has also worked as a Research Writing Consultant and Coordinator at the Postgraduate School.