GOSA Symposium 2026
Diaz Hotel, Mossel Bay

PROGRAMME: DAY 1

A new grain generation in the making

Tuesday, 24 March 2026

09:00 Registration REGISTRATION AREA
11:00 Light lunch BAHIA BLEU

SESSION I

11:45 – 12:00

Chairperson: Ferdi Meyer

 PERO DIAS
12:00 – 12:15 Opening:
Dr Richard van Wyk
12:15 – 12:30 Welcoming: Johan van Rensburg (President)  
12:30 – 13:30 Motivational speaker:
Jannie Putter
Are you a victim of reality or can you live as a master of it?
13:30 – 13:35 PLATINUM SPONSOR: 5-MINUTE VIDEO/SLIDE SHOW  
13:40 – 14:25 Lizelle Jacobs
Life and Business Coach (Mind Alive)
Integrity and loyalty in the workplace – fact or fiction?
14:25 – 14:45 Coffee/tea REGISTRATION AREA
14:45 – 14:50 PLATINUM SPONSOR: 5-MINUTE VIDEO/SLIDE SHOW  
14:50 – 15:05 Sponsored speaker session: Stargate (15 minutes)  
15:10 – 15:50 Francois Sieberhagen
Executive Head: Human Capital VKB Group
A new era of leadership in the grain industry
15:50 – 15:55 PLATINUM SPONSOR: 5-MINUTE VIDEO/SLIDE SHOW  
16:00 – 16:30 PANEL DISCUSSION: Lizelle Jacobs (panel leader),
Jerry Maritz (Agbiz Grain), Francois Sieberhagen (VKB) and
Dr Sierk Ybema (SYGS)
17:00 Annual General Meeting – GOSA members only CHEF’S EMPORIUM
19:00 Welcoming evening: A piece of Karoo at the sea
Dress code is casual, and the theme is Karoo
(if you would like to dress accordingly)		 WHITE TENT

PROGRAMME: DAY 2

Wednesday, 25 March 2026

SESSION II

Chairperson: Japie Snyman

 PERO DIAS
08:30 – 08:45 Opening: Dr Richard van Wyk  
08:45 – 08:55 PLATINUM SPONSOR: 5-MINUTE VIDEO/SLIDE SHOW  
09:00 – 10:00 Pieter Geldenhuys
Futurist and innovation strategist
Digital transformation: The new harvest in the grain value chain
10:00 – 10:15 Sponsored speaker session: Alvan Blanch (15 minutes)  
10:15 – 11:00 Coffee/tea REGISTRATION AREA
11:00 – 11:15 Sponsored speaker session: Ronin (15 minutes)  
11:30 – 12:30 Dr Mariëtte Geyser
Agricultural Economist and Financial Management Expert (NWU)
Smart risks, smart future: Growth opportunities and knowledge development
for team members in the grain trading environment
12:30 – 12:45 Sponsored speaker session: Perry Engineering (15 minutes)  
12:45 – 13:00 Main sponsor speaker session: AGI (10 minutes)  
13:00 – 14:00 Lunch BAHIA BLEU
 

SESSION III

Chairperson: Althea Emslie

 PERO DIAS
14:00 – 14:45 Dr Tobias Doyer
CEO: Grain SA
The next decade of grain in SA: Policy, people and productivity
14:45 – 14:50 PLATINUM SPONSOR: 5-MINUTE VIDEO/SLIDE SHOW  
14:50 – 15:20 PANEL DISCUSSION: Dr Tobias Doyer (panel leader),
Johan van Rensburg (GOSA President), (Grain SA),
Tom Terblanche (Grain Carriers), Anina Hunter (AFMA)		  
15:20 – 15:40 Coffee/tea REGISTRATION AREA
15:40 – 16:40 Dr Theuns Eloff
Political analyst
The current status of SA and the way forward
16:40 – 16:45 PLATINUM SPONSOR: 5-MINUTE VIDEO/SLIDE SHOW  
16:45 – 17:00 Closing: Ferdi Meyer
17:00 – 19:30 “SIESTA”: When life intentionally slows down, nap or simply escape the heat. It’s not laziness – it’s practical wisdom before the party.
19:30 Evening function: A Taverna – Greek restaurant
Entertainment/Band: Dr Victor and the Rasta Rebels
Dress code is casual, and the theme is Greek
(if you would like to dress accordingly)		 WHITE TENT