All Conferences
Transforming Business to Realise Value
Dates
2–3 Oct
2018
Venue
The Hilton
Sandton, Johannesburg
Speakers
40+
across all sessions
Tracks
4
Career Paths · Strategic · Competencies · Disruptors
About the 2018 Conference
The 7th Edition — Transforming Business
The 7th Business Analysis Summit Southern Africa brought together over 40 speakers, practitioners and thought leaders at The Hilton, Sandton, Johannesburg on 2–3 October 2018, with pre-conference workshops on 1 October.
Under the theme Transforming Business to Realise Value, the summit challenged delegates to look beyond disruption and focus on how business analysts can drive tangible, measurable change in the age of the Fourth Industrial Revolution — weaving transformation and value as a golden thread through every track and keynote.
Hosted by IIBA® Southern Africa, the conference featured four specialist tracks, three keynote addresses, six pre-conference workshops, Lean Coffee sessions, lightning talks and a dedicated sponsor programme.
Conference Tracks
Four Tracks · One Journey
Track 01
BA Career Paths
Navigating career decisions, growth strategies and the evolving identity of the business analyst in a changing professional landscape.
Track 02
Strategic Business Analysis
Aligning analysis with organisational strategy — bridging the gap between business goals and analytical practice for maximum impact.
Track 03
Competencies & Techniques
Building practical skills — elicitation, modelling, communication and stakeholder engagement techniques for the modern BA.
Track 04
BA Disruptors
Exploring emerging technologies reshaping the profession — blockchain, AI, RPA and the 4th Industrial Revolution.
Full Programme
Conference Schedule
Morning Workshops — 09:00 to 12:30
The Business Analyst as a Team Lift-Off Facilitator
Problem Analysis for Innovation: Your Practical Toolbox!
Design Thinking for Business Analysis
Lunch
Lunch
Afternoon Workshops — 13:30 to 17:00
Future Sensing: Disruptive Business Models
Crafting Effective User Stories
Learn to PLAY Business Analysis
Opening
Registration & Breakfast
Opening Remarks
The Last Maverick
Morning Tea & Networking
Session Block 1 — 10:30 to 11:20
Business Analysis as a Career of Choice — the Tips You Need to Succeed
Developing a Customer-Centric Approach to New Business Opportunities
Conversational Intelligence — the Neuroscience Behind Conversations
Session Block 2 — 11:30 to 12:20
Campfire BA — Story Thinking as a Strategic Enabler
You Are DOING Agile, But Are You BEING Agile?
RPA (Robotics Process Automation) and the BA Response
Lunch
Lunch & Exhibition
Session Block 3 — 14:00 to 14:50
Why Model? Not to Mention What, When, Where and How
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to Strategic Business Analysis
There’s More Than a Typical Business Analysis Career Path!
Session Block 4 — 15:00 to 15:40
Your IT Project Is Failing — When to Throw in the Towel for the Greater Good
The 4th Industrial Revolution Will Disrupt Everything! Case Study on IoT
Playing Your Cards Right
Afternoon Tea
Afternoon Tea
Session Block 5 — 16:00 to 16:50
The User-Centric Business Analyst
Secrets of Successful and Effective Communication with Stakeholders
Realising Value Through Benefits Management
Lightning Talks — 17:00 to 17:30
Conversations Around the BA Career
Conversations Around the BA Skillset
Conversations Around the Disruptive BA
Evening
Cocktail Evening & Networking
Opening
Registration & Breakfast
Lessons from Uber — How Digital Intelligence Changes the Role of People in Business
Morning Tea
Session Block 1 — 09:30 to 10:20
The Advent of the Distributed Ledger Analyst (DLA)
Upward Analysis — The Courage to Cross the Border
Critical Thinking Skills of Business Analysts Employed by Telcos
Session Block 2 — 10:30 to 11:20
Future Ready Mindsets: Capabilities for the Cyber-Physical Age
The Undercover BA S01E01
The Role of BAs in the Implementation of Robotics Process Automation
Lunch
Lunch
Session Block 3 — 13:20 to 14:10
Blockchain Technology — The Promise of More
“Leading from the Middle”: Influencing and Delivering in Tricky Project Environments
The Time Has Come for the Holistic Business Analyst!
Session Block 4 — 14:20 to 15:00
Strategy in Business Analysis
The Hybrid Business Analyst
Business Analyst Internet of Things
Closing
Exponential Technology — What it Means for Business Analysts
Afternoon Tea
Closing Remarks & Prize Draw
Keynote Speakers
Three Keynotes
Alex Granger
Motivational Speaker & Author
“The Last Maverick”
Monday 2 October · 09:00–10:00
Ryan Falkenberg
Co-CEO, CLEVVA
“Lessons from Uber — How Digital Intelligence Changes the Role of People in Business”
Tuesday 3 October · 08:00–09:00
Gareth Rees
Technology Futurist
“Exponential Technology — What it Means for Business Analysts”
Tuesday 3 October · 14:50–15:50
Conference Sponsors
Thank You to Our Supporters
Gold Sponsors
Bronze Sponsors
Join Us for 2026
16–18 November 2026 · Cape Town
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