The Big Picture Conference 2026: Rethinking Leadership in an Age of Uncertainty
As South Africa navigates a period of economic, social and institutional uncertainty, the need for thoughtful, responsible and forward-looking leadership has never been more relevant.
The Big Picture Conference will bring together thought leaders, academics, business executives and leadership practitioners at the Protea Hotel by Marriott Johannesburg Wanderers for a day of meaningful dialogue, fresh perspectives and practical insights.
Under the theme “Leadership in an Age of Uncertainty: From Reaction to Design,” the conference challenges leaders to move beyond simply responding to change and instead consider how they can intentionally shape the organisations, institutions and communities they serve.
Moving Beyond Reactive Leadership
In an environment where uncertainty has become a constant, leadership requires more than the ability to manage immediate challenges.
The Big Picture Conference creates a platform for exploring the deeper questions facing leadership today. How do we build institutions that endure beyond individual leaders? What role should leadership play in shaping a more stable and sustainable future? And how can leaders balance immediate demands with long-term responsibility?
The conference encourages participants to look beyond their individual industries and organisations to consider the broader systems within which they operate.
Bringing Diverse Leadership Perspectives Together
Convened by Willie Snyman, founder of Master Coaching, the conference brings together a distinguished group of speakers and contributors representing leadership, academia, business and international affairs.
Professor Teboho Lebakeng and Professor Dries Velthuizen contribute as Strategic Conference Advisors and speakers, helping to shape the depth and direction of the conference conversations.
The programme features a keynote address by H.E. Malik Muhammad Farooq on “Leadership in Peace Mediation: The Role of Middle Powers,” bringing an international perspective to leadership, diplomacy and cooperation.
Additional speakers and contributors include Dr Lucky Mathebula, Dr Coetzee Bester, Johann Kotze and Mems Ramaila.
The conference also incorporates masterclasses led by Dr Karma Palmer, exploring “Leading Yourself and Leading Systems,” and Margo Bansda, presenting “Sustaining the Art of Healthy and Conscious Leadership.”
Together, these perspectives create an opportunity for delegates to engage with leadership as a responsibility that extends beyond position, authority or organisational success.
Why This Conversation Matters to Tourism and Hospitality
Leadership in uncertain times is particularly relevant to South Africa’s tourism and hospitality sectors.
As industries that depend on collaboration, service excellence, economic confidence and long-term planning, tourism and hospitality are directly influenced by the quality of leadership across business, government and society.
The Big Picture Conference offers an opportunity for professionals in these sectors to engage with broader leadership thinking, explore the importance of resilient institutions and consider how more intentional leadership can contribute to sustainable growth.
While the conference is not exclusively focused on tourism, its conversations are relevant to leaders across industries, including those responsible for shaping South Africa’s visitor economy.
Tourism News Africa Joins as Official Media Partner
The Big Picture Conference 2026 is pleased to welcome Tourism News Africa as an official media partner.
Through this partnership, the conference aims to extend its leadership conversations to a wider professional audience, including stakeholders across tourism, hospitality and related industries.
The partnership reflects the value of connecting different sectors around shared challenges and the importance of informed leadership in shaping South Africa’s future.
Encouraging a Different Approach to Leadership
The Big Picture Conference is designed to be more than a series of presentations. It is an opportunity to question assumptions, engage with different perspectives and explore ideas that can influence how individuals lead within their own environments.
At its heart, the conference raises a fundamental question: Are leaders simply reacting to an uncertain future, or are they actively taking responsibility for shaping it?
By bringing together diverse voices and experiences, The Big Picture Conference 2026 aims to encourage deeper reflection on what responsible, conscious and forward-looking leadership means for South Africa and beyond.
Conference Details
Event: The Big Picture Conference 2026
Date: Wednesday, 28 October 2026
Time: 08:00–15:00
Venue: Protea Hotel by Marriott Johannesburg Wanderers, Johannesburg
Theme: Leadership in an Age of Uncertainty: From Reaction to Design
Media Enquiries
Celéste Spies
Conference Coordinator
The Big Picture Conference 2026
Master Coaching
www.mastercoaching.co.za
Official Media Partner: Tourism News Africa
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