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Nova 1035
Windhoek, 30 July 2026 – The Nedbank Future of Business Conference convened business owners, entrepreneurs, executives and industry leaders at Droombos Estate in Windhoek on Wednesday for a focused discussion on what Namibian businesses need to grow in a changing economy.
Held under the theme “The Resilient Business: Adapt, Innovate and Lead,” the conference brought together voices from banking, economics, technology, brand leadership and enterprise development. Discussions focused on the practical decisions businesses need to make as they grow, from strengthening internal systems and improving access to finance to adopting technology and identifying new market opportunities.
Opening the conference, Nedbank Chief Commercial Officer, JG van Graan, said the theme was relevant to the realities facing businesses across the country. He said resilience today means “adapting to change, embracing innovation and leading with confidence,” while keeping sight of long-term growth.
Van Graan said the conference was created to offer “practical, local, relevant insights” for businesses navigating real challenges. He also pointed to the importance of small businesses and the informal economy, noting that they employ just under 60% of Namibia’s workforce, making their ability to scale and remain sustainable central to economic participation and job creation.
A strong focus of the day was the need for businesses to become more deliberate about how they grow. Speakers explored issues such as finance, leadership, technology, customer trust and the internal discipline required to build businesses that can withstand pressure while still pursuing opportunity.
Left to right: Maggy Kamati, Senior Sector Lead: Public Sector & Financial Services at Nedbank Namibia; Roean Kruger, Head of Beyond Banking at Nedbank Namibia; Tatiana Ndlovu, Executive Head of Marketing and Communications for Nedbank Africa Regions; Dr Sven Thieme, Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Ohlthaver & List Group; Khensani Nobanda, Group Chief Marketing Officer at Nedbank Group; and JG van Graan, Chief Commercial Officer at Nedbank Namibia.
Nedbank Group Chief Marketing Officer, Khensani Nobanda, brought a brand and customer perspective to the discussion. She challenged business owners to be clear about why their businesses exist beyond making money, saying a business without that clarity can become “less trusted, less differentiated and more expensive to scale.”
Nobanda said purpose should be treated as a business tool, not a slogan. “Your why is not a slogan. It is the decision-making centre of your business,” she said. She added that this clarity becomes even more
important when businesses are under pressure, noting that “purpose gives businesses a clear compass when markets become uncertain.”
Other prominent speakers included Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Ohlthaver & List Group, Dr Sven Thieme; Economist at Cirrus Capital, Ida Williams; business growth specialist and Co-Founder of Aurik, Pavlo Phitidis; Futurist, Economist and Business Trends Analyst, Bronwyn Williams; Managing Director of Salt Essential IT, Sonja Coetzer; Senior Sector Lead: Public Sector and Financial Services at Nedbank Namibia, Maggy Kamati; and Head of Beyond Banking at Nedbank Namibia, Roean Kruger.
The conference took place against a backdrop of moderate economic recovery. According to the Bank of Namibia, the domestic economy is estimated to have grown by 1.7% in 2025, with growth projected at 2.6% in 2026 and 2.9% in 2027. The central bank has also noted that the outlook remains exposed to risks, including weaker performance in some primary industries, continued pressure in diamond mining, commodity price volatility and external market uncertainty.
This economic setting gave the conference a clear business focus: resilience is no longer just about surviving difficult periods. It is becoming a discipline that helps enterprises remain relevant, improve productivity and make better decisions when conditions shift. This also aligns with the Government’s 2026/27 Budget Statement, which describes Namibia’s recovery as moderate but fragile and places emphasis on productivity, fiscal sustainability and a greater role for the private sector in supporting growth.
The Nedbank Future of Business Conference was presented in collaboration with Future Media, Aurik, Droombos, Salt Essential IT, Fly Namibia and Africa Personnel Services.
