Fisa Conference 2026 returns to Sandton next week

The Fiduciary Institute of Southern Africa (Fisa) will hold its annual conference on 9 September at the Sandton Convention Centre, bringing together trustees, attorneys, tax specialists and regulators for a full day of sessions on the pressures and opportunities facing the fiduciary sector.

The Fiduciary Gazette has received the full programme, and this year's line-up ranges across trust compliance, exchange control, artificial intelligence and estate planning, alongside a regulatory update from the Office of the Chief Master.

Proceedings open at 07:15 with registration and morning coffee, sponsored by Shackleton Risk. Opening and logistics follow at 08:00 with the conference MC, before an 08:05 address from main sponsor Hollard Court Bonds. Fisa chairperson Mr Chris Murphy will deliver the welcome address at 08:10.

The morning session includes:

• 08:15 – Forensic shields: fortifying estates and trusts through vigilant practice management – Mr Smartryk Calitz
• 09:00 – Is it still worth providing trust services, given the severe compliance, legal and operational liabilities of trustees and trust service providers? – panel discussion with Ms Phia van der Spuy, Dr Rika van Zyl and Mr Johnny Davis
• 09:45 – Exchange control and the proposed new regulations, including a discussion of Absa Bank Ltd and Another v Commissioner for the South African Revenue Service – joint presentation by Ms Nicole Paulsen and Mr Andrew Wellsted

A tea break sponsored by the University of the Free State's School of Financial Planning Law follows at 10:30, before the conference resumes with:

• 11:00 – AI as a companion, not decision-maker: where automation creates value and risk in fiduciary practice – Mr Azhar Aziz Ismail
• 11:45 – Applying first principles thinking to life policies and estate duty: avoiding economic double taxation where policy ownership and life assured do not align – Mr Errol Gottfied Meyer
• 12:30 – Regulatory update – representative of the Office of the Chief Master

Lunch, sponsored by O'Hagan Attorneys, is scheduled for 13:00.

The afternoon programme includes:

• 13:40 – The Fisa Bursary Scheme Trust – Adv Sankie Morata
• 13:47 – Fisa chairperson's award, presented by Mr Chris Murphy
• 13:55 – Conflicts of interest – threat or opportunity? – Adv Louis van Vuren
• 14:40 – The fiduciary paradox: navigating risk, responsibility and value creation – Ms Chanel Schoeman

The day winds down at 15:25 with lucky draws and competitions, followed at 15:40 by a panel discussion and audience questions with Mr Jan du Plessis and all speakers. Mr du Plessis will deliver the closing remarks at 16:30.

The Gazette will be attending the conference and will bring readers highlights from the day.