SAFARI - the Progressive Business Forum website

PBFP R O G R E S S I V EB U S I N E S SF O R U MMessage from theCo-Convenorsof the Progressive Business ForumChief Luthuli House54 Sauer StreetJohannesburg, 2001On 20 August 2012, theProgressive Business Forum(PBF) hosted its first AnnualProgressive Women in BusinessSummit, which was well supportedand enthusiastically attended. Thesummit emphasised the need forthe now well-established dialogueprovided via the PBF platformbetween the business community andthe political leadership of our country.What was also specifically needed wasfocused dialogue between women inbusiness and the political leadershipof the country. Whilst much progresshas been achieved over the last decadein mainstreaming women in business,much more needs to be done to createequality between men and women inthe workplace.Women remain underrepresentedat all levels of business; inflexibilityremains a stumbling block for fullintegration, and participation andconditions of service between thegenders remain skewed.The PBF has come out in supportof developing, as part of its offering,a focused programme for progressivewomen in business. This programmewill include a series of dialogueevents, the annual summit and thisnew Progressive Women in Businessmagazine.This launch issue has as its focusthe people and issues raised at thefirst Annual Progressive Women inBusiness Summit. It also containsa variety of articles important towomen, both in the workplace andin their daily lives. Lifestyle, health,fashion, travel and much more willsupplement the policy and businessarticles, resulting, we trust, in acomprehensive, meaningful andinteresting must-read for our womenparticipants of the ProgressiveBusiness Forum and, indeed, thewider business community (alsoprogressive men who believe in trueequality between the genders).Enjoy the read!Daryl Swanepoel & Renier SchoemanCo-convenorsCo-Editors:Daryl Swanepoel andRenier SchoemanContent Editor:Londiwe LuthuliContributors:Toni Muir, Dr Liz Pretorius,Mzawandile JacksPhoto credits:Cover pic & Peggy-Sue Khumalointerview – © Destiny MagazineOther photos: shutterstock.com andGCIS, individual companies and theProgressive Business ForumPublisher:VDS Design StudioPO Box 2477, Wilropark 1731www.vdsdesign.co.zaArt Director:Liesel van der SchyfAdvertising Sales:Saki Mabhelesaki@sakiprint.co.zaPrinted by:Paarl MediaProgressive Women in Business ispublished by VDS Design Studio.Opinions expressed in ProgressiveWomen in Business are not necessarilythose of the publisher or the ProgressiveBusiness Forum. No responsibilitycan be accepted for errors, as allinformation is believed to be correct atthe time of going to print. Copyrightsubsists in all content and layout ofthis magazine. Any reproduction oradaptation, in whole or in part, withoutwritten permission of the publishersis strictly prohibited and is an act ofcopyright infringement, which may,in certain circumstances constitute acriminal offence.6 I S S U E 1