People
Culture, leadership, inclusion and the employee experience.
THE PAN-AFRICAN FORUM FOR RETAIL PEOPLE LEADERS
Africa Retail HR Summit & Awards 2027
The Africa Retail HR Summit & Awards 2027 is a two-day retail HR conference bringing together senior HR, People & Culture and retail operations leaders from across Africa and the wider international retail community. Taking place on 27–28 January 2027 at Four Seasons Hotel The Westcliff Johannesburg, this retailer-led summit explores frontline performance, workforce strategy, HR technology, artificial intelligence, leadership and employee experience.
27–28 January 2027 two focused daysFour Seasons Hotel The Westcliff Johannesburg Johannesburg, South AfricaPeople · Performance Technology · Future of Work
CPD ACCREDITED EVENT
Earn up to 18 CPD credits.
The Africa Retail HR Summit & Awards 2027 is accredited by The CPD Group. Delegates can earn CPD credits across the two-day programme, subject to attendance and the applicable CPD requirements.
27 JANUARY 20279 CPD credits28 JANUARY 20279 CPD credits
Accredited Event #600827
THE CASE FOR THIS SUMMIT
Retail's biggest transformation challenge is not technology alone. It is people.
Across African markets, retail leaders are balancing growth, skills shortages, frontline pressure, new technology and changing employee expectations.
This summit creates the senior, practical conversation often missing from broad HR conferences: a focused forum where retail people leaders can compare what is working, challenge assumptions and leave with ideas they can use.
Why this summit matters ↗CONTENT PILLARS
Four priorities.
One connected agenda.
Every session is designed around the decisions retail people leaders are making now.
Performance
Frontline productivity, retention, reward and workforce planning.
Technology
AI, people analytics and HR technology that improves work.
Future of work
Skills, new operating models and the evolving retail workforce.
WHY ATTEND
Useful insight.
Relevant connections.
Built around retail realities
Explore workforce decisions in the context of stores, shifts, service demands, labour pressures and changing customer expectations.
Implementation lessons you can use
Hear what practitioners tried, what changed, what the evidence showed and what they would approach differently.
Two distinct recognition routes
HR50 recognises individual people leaders, while the Awards assess eligible individuals, teams and initiatives against published category criteria.
Clear participation routes
Retail and consumer-brand passes are subject to eligibility verification; solution-provider attendance and sponsorship follow separate published routes.
2027 SPEAKER FACULTY
The people doing
the work.
Confirmed speakers include Nolo Thobejane, Chief People, Culture and Purpose Officer at KFC Africa; Dr. Mamello Masia, Chief People Officer at McDonald’s South Africa; Hannah Karuru, Chief People Officer at Capwell Industries; and Dr. Peter Champion, Group Human Resources Executive at Cashbuild—alongside people leaders from retail, hospitality, FMCG and consumer businesses across Africa.
01
02
03
04
05
06
07
08
09
10
11
12
13
14ORGANISATIONS REPRESENTED AT THE SUMMIT
Confirmed speakers and participants include people from the retail, FMCG, hospitality and consumer-facing organisations shown below. The wider audience the summit is designed to convene is described on the Who You Will Meet page.
Logos identify organisations represented by confirmed participants. Their inclusion does not indicate sponsorship, partnership or corporate endorsement of the event.
CALL FOR SPEAKERS · NOW OPEN
Bring the case study
the industry needs to hear.
We welcome proposals that bring an original case study, credible evidence and honest lessons from implementation. Relevant expertise is considered on the strength of the contribution, its fit with the programme and its value to the audience. Proposals may inform programme development; submission does not guarantee acceptance, a particular format or control of the agenda.
What makes a strong proposal
01A real challenge and a clear point of view
02Evidence, outcomes or lessons from implementation
03Practical value for a senior retail audience
04A topic aligned to one of the four summit pillars
PROGRAMME PREVIEW
Retail people strategy.
Real operating impact.
A retailer-first programme connecting workforce priorities with store performance, customer experience and responsible technology.
DAY ONE
KeynoteAfrica’s Retail Workforce 2027: From People Strategy to Store Performance
DAY ONE
Executive PanelAfter the Peak: Workforce Lessons from the 2026 Festive Trading Season
DAY ONE
Executive PanelThe Store-Manager Capability Gap: Building the Leadership Layer Behind Frontline Performance
DAY TWO
KeynoteResponsible AI on the Shop Floor: Redesigning Work Without Losing the Human Advantage
DAY TWO
HR Technology Buyers’ ForumEvaluating HR Technology Investment: What Retail People Leaders Need—and What They Can Stop Buying
DAY TWO
Executive PanelSkills for Omnichannel Retail: Preparing Employees for Stores, E-Commerce, Fulfilment and New Customer Expectations
WHO BELONGS IN THE ROOM
Built for leaders with
work to do.
01Chief Human Resources Officers02Chief People Officers03HR & People Directors04Talent & Learning Leaders05Retail Operations Executives06Employee Experience Leaders07Reward & Wellbeing Leaders08HR Technology Leaders
AFRICA-FOCUSED · INTERNATIONALLY CONNECTED
An International Retail HR Conference Hosted in Johannesburg
The Africa Retail HR Summit & Awards connects African retail people leaders with relevant international perspectives and global retail HR trends. It provides a dedicated platform for practical discussions on workforce transformation, frontline capability, employee relations, HR analytics, responsible AI and the future of work in retail.
The summit is firmly focused on Africa while welcoming participation from the wider global retail HR community.
Professionals searching for a world retail HR conference can discover an Africa-focused platform connecting regional priorities with global retail HR trends.
Explore the retail HR summit 2027 programme ↗PARTNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
Connect Your Solutions With
Retail Workforce Priorities
Explore partnership opportunities around frontline engagement, workforce planning, recruitment, learning, wellbeing and HR technology.
According to agreed package terms, opportunities may include retail-relevant case studies and discussions, exhibition space and brand visibility, networking opportunities and tailored partner participation.
Sponsorship packages are separate from the Solution Provider Delegate Pass.
Request Sponsorship Details
Publication concept previewNOMINATIONS NOW OPEN
AFRICA RETAIL HR50 2027
50 People Leaders Shaping Africa's Retail and Consumer Workforce
Africa Retail HR50 2027 recognises individual in-house people leaders whose work is improving workforce practices and outcomes across eligible African retail and consumer businesses. The list is presented alphabetically, not ranked, and selection follows the published evidence-led criteria.
Free to nominate. Self-nominations and nominations of others are welcome. Attendance, tickets and sponsorship are not required for consideration.
NOMINATIONS NOW OPEN
Africa Retail HR Awards 2027
Africa Retail HR Awards 2027 recognises eligible individuals, teams and implemented initiatives across eight published categories. Entries are assessed against the relevant category guidance and published criteria, with organisational size and operating context taken into account.
Free to enter · Summit attendance is not required · Event admission is separateSubmit an Awards Entry ↗
Watch the awards introduction · 54 secondsIllustrative campaign visualSUMMIT REGISTRATION
Choose Your Summit Pass
Africa Retail HR Summit & Awards 202727–28 January 2027Four Seasons Hotel The Westcliff Johannesburg
1 delegate
Retail & Consumer Brand Leader Pass
For one eligible in-house delegate from a retail, hospitality or consumer-brand organisation. Not available to vendors, consultants or commercial solution providers.
USD 399
per delegate
Standard rate from 1 November
USD 599 per delegate
Retail registrations are subject to eligibility verification.
Includes 3 delegates
Retail Team Pass
For three eligible in-house delegates from the same retail, hospitality or consumer-brand organisation.
USD 999
total for three delegates
Standard rate from 1 November
USD 1,499 total for three delegates
Retail registrations are subject to eligibility verification.
1 delegate
Solution Provider Delegate Pass
For one delegate from a technology provider, consultancy, recruitment firm, advisory company or other commercial solution provider.
USD 1,999
per delegate
Standard rate from 1 November
USD 2,499 per delegate
Delegate attendance only. Does not include speaking participation, exhibition space, branding, sponsorship benefits or attendee data.
Included with every pass
For each covered delegate:
- Access to both summit days and conference sessions
- Eligible for up to 18 CPD credits across both summit days
- Networking opportunities
- Lunches and refreshments
- Digital event materials
- Admission to the Africa Retail HR Awards & Retail Leaders Reception
Looking for exhibition space, brand visibility or a wider partnership? Explore sponsorship opportunities.
RETAIL HR CONFERENCE FAQ
About the summit
and awards.
What is the Africa Retail HR Summit & Awards?
The Africa Retail HR Summit & Awards 2027 is a retailer-led HR conference and awards programme for senior HR, People & Culture and retail operations leaders. It will take place in Johannesburg on 27–28 January 2027.
Where will the retail HR conference take place?
The retail HR conference will take place at Four Seasons Hotel The Westcliff Johannesburg, South Africa, on 27–28 January 2027.
Is this an international retail HR conference?
Yes. The summit is based in Johannesburg and focuses on the priorities of Africa’s retail workforce while welcoming relevant international professionals, organisations and perspectives.
Is this a global retail HR conference?
The summit is Africa-focused but connects regional leadership priorities with global retail HR trends, technologies and workforce practices. It offers an international conversation grounded in the practical needs of African retailers.
Does the event include retail HR awards?
Yes. The Retail HR Awards Africa programme recognises achievement across eight award categories. Nominations are free, and the awards reception will take place on 27 January 2027.
Who should attend the retail HR summit?
The summit is designed for Chief People Officers, HR directors, People & Culture leaders, talent and learning executives, employee-relations professionals, retail operations leaders and relevant HR solution providers.
ESSENTIAL INFORMATION
Questions,
answered.
The summit is designed for HR, people, talent, learning, reward, wellbeing, employee experience and retail operations leaders working across African retail, ecommerce, hospitality, restaurants, FMCG and consumer-brand organisations. Relevant solution providers may attend through the published Solution Provider Delegate Pass or an agreed sponsorship package.
27–28 JANUARY 2027 · JOHANNESBURG