Financial sustainability: Green Variability

Welcome to our very first podcast episode, where we had the privilege of engaging in a captivating conversation with Brett, the esteemed CEO and Founder of SearchKings Africa. Brett reflects on his time at BDO and the learnings that he gained from other professionals at one of the largest auditing firms in the country and around the world. If you're thinking of a career in accounting or want to become an entrepreneur, this first episode is packed with gems that are meant especially for you!

The current economic climate has posed many threats and challenges to business owners, with many of them having to make changes to their businesses to avoid insolvency. Christopher Rey, Business Restructuring Specialist within BDO Advisory, talks about how the resilient spirit of entrepreneurship can help such business owners save their businesses.

The rise in technological advancements across have given way for increased cases of cybersecurity breaches. While you may assume this is a problem reserved by large corporates, small and medium enterprises are also falling victim by not having the proper processes in place. Gilchrist Mushwana, Director at BDO Advisory and Head of Cybersecurity, discusses how these businesses can best equip themselves against cybersecurity violations.

Adapting to Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) risks is not new to mining. For mining companies, the need to meet new benchmarks for their ESG considerations has become crucial in the eyes of investors, the public and other key stakeholders. As a result, Boards, Senior Management, and Site Teams need to be taking these issues seriously and gain an understanding of how to address these risks. A robust understanding of and action plan for ESG governance gives companies a competitive advantage, when it comes to complying with new and evolving legislation around their environmental impact and social licences to operate, dealing with investors and accessing debt. In this episode, the BDO Sustainability and Audit team and Digby Wells Environmental team of experts share their knowledge and engage on this important topic.

The topic of ESG has been on every good company's agenda recently, and with that, has come the concept of Green Variability. Joining me today to give us some clarity on this topic, is Shehnaaz Suleman, Director within BDO's Financial Services Technical sector. 

When it comes to the concept of people, planet and profit, are we putting enough focus on people and planet?  Environmental, Social and Corporate governance, or ESG has become a large global focus in the realm of sustainability.  Today I am joined by Carla Clamp and Richard Walker, Risk Advisory Directors within BDO’s Real-estate and construction sector, and we will be discussing the role ESG plays in the REC industry.

Having joined the global trend to move towards clean energy use, is South Africa ready to embrace renewable energy? Nato Oosthuizen, Audit Partner within BDO's Natural Resources Sector, gives us some clarity. 

The field of Telematics has grown from strength to strength and is steadily becoming an essential part of various other industries.  Discussing this further with me today is Carl Bosma, Director within BDO's IT Advisory and TMT Sector. 

In the period of innovation, technological progression has become a vital need for each business in order to meet the developing consumer desires and keep up with advanced change.  Chatting to us today about the world of Insurance and InsurTech as it relates to innovation is Justin Roberts, Associate Director within BDO's Financial Services Technology Sector, and Tatenda Mapurisa, Senior Analyst within BDO's Financial Services Technology Sector. 

Welcome to a special edition of BDO’s Frankly Speaking Podcast. Today, we will be bringing you some clarity to South Africa’s 2021 budget speech, delivered on the 24th of February. We have key BDO experts and friends of BDO who have keenly painted us a picture of what the country’s fiscal future holds. They include: Anthony Pillay, Associate Director within BDO’s Public Sector Kevin Lings, Chief Economist at Stanlib Marcus Botha, Tax Director at BDO Yugen Pillay, Partner within BDO’s Public Sector Cobie van Antwerpen, Advisory Director within BDO’s Public Sector Chiedza Madzima, Head of South Africa Research and Operational Risk at Fitch Solutions Professor David Warneke, Head of Technical Tax at BDO