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SAGEA 2026 DEVELOPMENT CONFERENCE

About the Conference

SAGEA is delighted to announce our 2026 Development Conference, taking place in-person (with a digital option) on Tuesday 10 and Wednesday 11 November, at the Fairways Hotel, Spa and Golf Resort.

Our overarching theme for 2026 is Enhancing and Sustaining Graduate Development in a Changing World of Work. The world of work is changing faster than most graduate development programmes can evolve - AI is reshaping what graduates need to know, and expectations are shifting on both sides of the employment relationship. This year’s SAGEA Development Conference brings employers, solution providers, career services and foundation colleagues together to explore what it takes to enhance graduate development for a changing world and sustain it well beyond the programme itself.

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Themes & Call for Presenters
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This Year’s Programme

Sessions will explore the following themes:

  • SAGEA's 2026 Development Benchmarking Insights
  • The AI-Augmented Graduate
  • Building Tomorrow’s Workforce: Where Workforce Planning Meets Emerging Talent
  • Strategic Development ROI – Measuring What Matters
  • Wellbeing in the Workplace
  • Graduate Employability and the Expectation Gap
  • The Future of Employability: Bridging the Gap Between Campus and Career
  • SAGEA Employer of Choice Awards for 2026!
Through a combination of keynote presentations, case studies, panel discussions and interactive debates, our day-and-a-half format will examine the topics shaping the development of young talent and the building of future-ready organisations. Delegates will have opportunities for networking and collaboration, connecting with peers and leaders across the early careers’ community.
Attendance Options and Venue Details
Whether you join us in person or online, there’s an attendance option to suit you:
In-person attendance,
with accommodation (see venue details below)
In-person attendance,
without accommodation
Virtual attendance
via livestreaming

Our in-person venue is the The Fairway Hotel Spa & Golf Resort, situated on the Randpark golf course in the lush northwest suburbs of Johannesburg.

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Who should attend?

If you are involved in any aspect of the graduate recruitment and development lifecycle, the SAGEA 2026 Development Conference is for you. This is a space to learn, connect, and leave with ideas and strategies you can apply immediately.

Roles that will benefit include:

  • Graduate Recruitment Consultant
  • Graduate Programme Manager
  • Early Careers Consultant
  • Career Centre Coordinator or Manager
  • Talent Acquisition Specialist or Manager
  • Talent Officer
  • HR Manager, HR Consultant or HR Business Partner
  • Learning and Development Specialist or Facilitator
  • Talent Development Manager
  • Human Capital Manager or Human Capital Partner

Important Dates

Monday 6 July 2026

Conference bookings open

Monday 31 August 2026

Early bird offers expire

Wednesday 30 September 2026

Payment deadline for Early bird bookings

Friday 16 October 2026

Conference bookings close

Tuesday 10 November 2026

Conference, Day One: 11h00-17h00

Wednesday 11 November 2026

Conference, Day Two:  09h00-17h00
Please note: all conference tickets must be paid in full by Friday 30 October 2026. For early bird bookings, payment is required by 30 September 2026 to retain the discounted rate. Failure to meet the applicable payment deadline may result in the cancellation of your booking.
What Delegates Said About Our 2025 Conference
98%
of delegates rated the conference as Excellent or Good
85%
said they would recommend it to colleagues

High-quality, relevant content and speakers

Valuable networking opportunities, enabling meaningful connections, collaboration and practical outcomes

Strong overall satisfaction, with many delegates describing it as one of the best SAGEA events to date

Excellent overall organisation and logistics, including venue, accommodation and time management

Delegates appreciated the strong South African focus, combined with selective global insights

Our 2025 Conference in Numbers
215
Total Attendees
43
Corporate Employers
19
Higher Education Institutions
16
Solution Providers
Sponsorship Opportunities

We invite SAGEA members to consider sponsoring elements of the 2026 Development Conference. Sponsorship offers your organisation a unique opportunity to establish itself as a thought leader and source of best practice, promote your products and services to a targeted audience of talent and career professionals, and build relationships that extend well beyond the conference itself.

Sponsorship packages are available at a range of investment levels — options are flexible, and we welcome a conversation about what works best for you.

For further information, please contact camilla.pennington@sagea.org.za

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Conference Costs

Conference Package
Cost
With Member's Discount

Early Bird: Days One and Two, in person

Cost

R12 300.00

With Member's Discount

R10 300.00

Early Bird: Livestream Attendance Days One and Two

Cost

R6 600.00

With Member's Discount

R5 500.00

Full Cost: Days One and Two, in person

Cost

R14 000.00

With Member's Discount

R11 500.00

Full Cost: Livestream Attendance Days One and Two

Cost

R7 500.00

With Member's Discount

R6 300.00

Accommodation per night, Bed and Breakfast (Luxury room)

Cost

R2 174.76

 

Accommodation, per night, bed and breakfast (Premier room)

Cost

R1 730.36

 

Accommodation, per night, bed and breakfast (Leisure Room)

Cost

R1 952.56

 

Accommodation, per night, bed and breakfast (Villa option)(sharing)

Cost

R1 852.57

 

Dinner, per person

Cost

R550.00

 

Please take note of the following:

  1. Accommodation costs are not included in conference packages and must be added separately at the time of booking. All pricing is exclusive of VAT.

Ready to join us?
Bookings are open. Register now!