Trusts, AI and fiduciary practice in the spotlight at FISA Conference

A wide-ranging programme of discussions on trusts, estates, artificial intelligence, regulation and fiduciary practice will form part of the upcoming FISA Conference.

The programme will begin at 07:15 with registration and morning coffee, sponsored by Shackleton Risk, followed by the official opening and logistics briefing at 08:00 by the conference MC.

Hollard Court Bonds will deliver the main sponsor’s address at 08:05, before Chris Murphy, FISA chairperson, gives the welcome address at 08:10.

The morning programme will include a presentation by Sramtryk Calitz on “Forensic Shields: Fortifying Estates & Trusts Through Vigilant Practise Management”.

At 09:00, Phia van der Spuy, Dr Rika van Zyl and Johnny Davis will participate in a panel discussion examining whether trust service providers should comply with the same severe compliance, legal and operational liabilities faced by trustees.

A joint presentation at 09:45 by Nicole Paulsen an Andrew Wellsted will focus on exchange control and proposed new regulations, as well as a discussion on the Absa Ltd and Another v Commissioner for the South African Revenue Service matter.

The conference will then pause for tea at 10:30, sponsored by the University of the Free State’s School of Financial Planning Law.

At 11:00, Azhar Aziz Ismail will present a session entitled “AI as a Companion, Not Decision-Maker: Where Automation Creates Value and Risk in Fiduciary Practice”.

Errol Gottfried Meyer will follow at 11:45 with a presentation on applying first principles thinking to life policies and estate duty, focusing on avoiding economic double taxation where policy ownership and the life assured do not align.

A regulatory update by Kalayvani Pillay, acting chief master, is scheduled for 12:30, before the lunch break at 13:00, sponsored by O’Hagan Attorneys.

The afternoon programme will resume at 13:40 with advocate Sankie Morata discussing the FISA Bursary Scheme Trust. Chris Murphy will then present the FISA Chairperson’s Award at 13:47.

At 13:55, advocate Louis van Vuren will examine the question: “Conflicts of Interest – threat or opportunity?”

Chanel Schoeman will take the stage at 14:40 to discuss “The Fiduciary Paradox: Navigating Risk, Responsibility and Value Creation”.

The day will conclude with a session on lucky draws and competitions at 15:25, involving the conference MC, sponsors and exhibitors, followed by a panel discussion and questions at 15:40, led by Mr Jan du Plessis and all speakers.

Mr du Plessis will formally close the conference at 16:30.

The programme brings together a broad range of legal, financial and fiduciary specialists to examine some of the profession’s most pressing issues, from regulatory compliance and estate planning to the growing role of artificial intelligence in professional practice.