FUTURE ECONOMY SHAPERS SUMMIT
The economy we inherit.
The future we shape.
Young thought leaders.
Shaping tomorrow’s economy.
South Africa’s National Gatheringfor Commerce & Economic Studies Students
LEARN.
DEBATE.
CONNECT.
LEAD.
South Africa’s economic future will be shaped by a new generation of economists, entrepreneurs, business leaders, financial professionals, policymakers, researchers and economic decision-makers.
The Future Economy Shapers Summit (#FESS) 2027 brings together commerce and economic sciences students from tertiary institutions across South Africa with leading voices from government, business, finance, academia, organised labour, entrepreneurship and economic development.
Taking place in Johannesburg in November 2027, FESS creates a national platform for students to move beyond the classroom and engage with the real economy — how it works, why it struggles to grow, where the opportunities lie, and what the next generation can do differently.
The question at the heart of FESS
What kind of economy will today’s students inherit — and what will they do differently when they become the people managing it?
JOHANNESBURG • SOUTH AFRICA
SEPTEMBER 2027
FESS IS DESIGNED TO GIVE STUDENTS:
Knowledge
Exposure to contemporary economic thinking beyond the conventional curriculum.
Dialogue
Direct engagement with economists, policymakers, business leaders and practitioners.
Leadership
An opportunity to confront the responsibilities that accompany economic leadership.
Networks
Relationships across universities, disciplines and sectors.
Opportunity
Exposure to employers, professional organisations, mentors and entrepreneurship opportunities.
Action
A platform to develop practical ideas for South Africa’s economic future.
ABOUT FESS
Why FESS?
Students studying economics, commerce, finance, accounting, business management and related disciplines spend years learning about the economy.
But understanding an economy from a textbook is different from understanding how an economy actually works.
- Who makes economic decisions?
- How do fiscal and monetary policy interact?
- Why is economic growth so difficult to accelerate?
- Why does economic growth not automatically translate into jobs?
- How does illicit trade affect legitimate businesses and State revenue?
- What does Africa’s emerging economic integration mean for South African businesses?
- How do global geopolitical shifts affect investment, trade and jobs?
- And what responsibilities will today’s students carry when they become tomorrow’s economic decision-makers?
FESS exists to create a space where these questions can be debated openly, intelligently and constructively.
The Summit connects students with the institutions and individuals who operate across South Africa’s economic landscape, while challenging students to develop their own thinking about the economy they will inherit.
THE FESS DIFFERENCE
From Classroom to Economy
FESS is built around a simple idea:
Students should not only study the economy. They should understand it, question it and prepare to shape it.
The two-day Summit moves participants through three stages:
UNDERSTAND
How does South Africa’s economy actually work?
IMAGINE
What could a different economic future look like?
ACT
What ideas, capabilities and leadership will be required to help shape that future?
This approach is reflected in the proposed two-day programme, with Day 1 — Understand and Day 2 — Imagine & Act.
THE EIGHT FESS PILLARS
Eight Conversations About the Economy We Will Inherit
FESS brings students into some of the most consequential economic conversations facing South Africa.
Managing the South African Economy
How is the economy actually managed? Explore fiscal and monetary policy, macroeconomic stability and the interaction between government, business and financial markets.
The Growth Challenge
Why can’t South Africa’s economy grow faster?
Examine infrastructure, electricity, logistics, investment, productivity, regulation, industrial policy, competition, innovation, SMEs and the informal economy.
The Jobs Crisis
Growth without jobs?
Explore graduate unemployment, the skills mismatch, entrepreneurship, SMEs, artificial intelligence, labour-market reform and the future of work.
The Illicit Economy
The economy we don’t see.
Examine illicit trade, its effects on legitimate business and the fiscus, consumer behaviour, organised crime and the role of technology in enforcement.
Africa's Economic Opportunity
From South African economy to African economy.
Explore the African Continental Free Trade Area, continental markets, trade, logistics, digital commerce, industrialisation and youth-led African business.
Global Geopolitics & The South African Economy
Can South Africa navigate a changing global economy?
Explore US–China competition, BRICS, critical minerals, energy security, supply chains, investment risk, the WTO and South Africa’s position in a changing global order.
Governance, Sustainability & The Cost of Corruption
What does responsible economic leadership require?
Explore ESG, sustainable finance, the Just Energy Transition, institutional integrity, corruption, state capacity and the economic consequences of institutional failure.
The Future Economic Leader
From student to economic decision-maker.
What kind of economist, entrepreneur or business leader will you become? What responsibilities accompany economic power? And how should evidence, inclusion and ethics inform economic leadership?
JOHANNESBURG • SOUTH AFRICA
SEPTEMBER 2027
THE FESS EXPERIENCE
Two Days.
One National Conversation.
DAY 1 — UNDERSTAND
The first day takes students inside the workings of the South African economy. The programme includes:
- Opening ceremony
- Student economic leadership keynote
- “How South Africa’s Economy Works” plenary
- “Who Manages the Economy and How?” high-level panel
- Parallel sessions exploring growth, jobs, illicit trade, Africa/AfCFTA, global geopolitics, and governance and sustainability
DAY 2 — IMAGINE & ACT
Day 2 puts students at the centre of the conversation.
Youth Economic Leaders Forum
“If we were in charge of the South African economy, what would we change?”
Student teams engage with different perspectives representing government, the Reserve Bank, business, labour, civil society and young entrepreneurs.
Economic Leaders of Tomorrow
Hear from younger economists, entrepreneurs, CEOs and policymakers about pathways into:
- Treasury
- Central banking
- Development finance
- Research
- Entrepreneurship
- Public policy
- Corporate leadership
The 2035 Challenge
Student teams develop and pitch a three-minute response to the challenge:
How do we create a faster-growing, more inclusive and globally competitive South African economy?
Young Economic Leaders Declaration
The Summit concludes with the adoption of a student-authored Young Economic Leaders Declaration, setting out ten student-identified priorities for South Africa’s economic future.
WHO SHOULD ATTEND?
Are You Studying the Economy?
Then FESS is for you.
FESS welcomes students from tertiary institutions across the country.
01
Economics & Economic Sciences
Economics • Econometrics • Development Economics
02
Commerce & Finance
Finance • Accounting • Auditing • Taxation • Investment
03
Business & Enterprise
Business Management • Entrepreneurship • International Trade • Business Law
04
Policy & Development
Public Policy • Public Management • Political Economy
05
Emerging Economic Disciplines
Supply Chain Management • Data Science • Business Analytics
THE EIGHT FESS PILLARS
Your Degree Is Only the Beginning
At FESS, you will have an opportunity to:
Understand the real economy
Go beyond theory and engage with how economic institutions, markets, businesses and policymakers actually operate.
Meet the people shaping the economy
Interact with economists, policymakers, business leaders, entrepreneurs, researchers, development practitioners and organised labour.
Challenge your thinking
Engage with difficult questions about growth, jobs, inequality, trade, technology, governance and South Africa’s place in the world.
Connect nationally
Build relationships with students from universities and disciplines across South Africa.
Explore career pathways
Discover opportunities in government, finance, business, professional services, research, development finance, entrepreneurship and policy.
Put your ideas on the table
Participate in debates, student dialogues and the 2035 Challenge.
Connect nationally
Build relationships with students from universities and disciplines across South Africa.
FOR UNIVERSITIES & STUDENT SOCIETIES
Bring Your Campus to the National Economic Conversation
FESS provides universities and student organisations with an opportunity to connect their students to a national platform focused on economics, commerce, business and economic leadership. We invite participation from:
- Economics societies
- Commerce societies
- Finance and investment societies
- Accounting societies
- Entrepreneurship societies
- Student representative councils
- Faculty councils
- Economics and commerce departments
- Career offices
- Academic and professional networks
FOR EMPLOYERS & PROFESSIONAL ORGANISATIONS
Meet the Next Generation of Economic Talent
FESS creates a direct connection between organisations and talented students preparing to enter South Africa’s economy.
The Summit provides opportunities for organisations to:
- Engage with emerging economic talent
- Build relationships with universities
- Showcase career opportunities
- Develop student pipelines
- Participate in economic dialogue
- Support youth economic leadership
- Identify emerging entrepreneurial and analytical talent
FESS will feature an exhibition by employers, professional bodies, financial institutions, research institutions, educational institutions, SETAs and entrepreneurship development organisations.
BECOME A CAREER PARTNER
FOR SPONSORS & STRATEGIC PARTNERS
Invest in the Future of Economic Leadership
FESS offers organisations an opportunity to contribute to a national platform focused on the development of South Africa’s next generation of economists, business leaders, entrepreneurs and economic decision-makers.
Potential strategic partners include institutions across:
- Government & Public Institutions
- Financial & Professional Services
- Economic Research & Policy
- Development Finance & Continental Institutions
- Technology & Data
- Academic Institutions
THE BIG QUESTION
What Economy Will You Inherit?
South Africa’s economic challenges are complex:
Growth. Jobs. Infrastructure. Energy. Trade. Technology. Skills. Illicit economies. Governance. Sustainability. Geopolitics.
But so are the opportunities.
Africa’s expanding markets. Digital transformation. Entrepreneurship. New technologies. Continental trade. Green industries. New business models. A new generation of economic thinkers.
FESS brings these questions together in one national student conversation.
Because the future economy will not simply happen to today’s students.
They will inherit it.
And eventually, they will shape it.
- Who makes economic decisions?
- How do fiscal and monetary policy interact?
- Why is economic growth so difficult to accelerate?
- Why does economic growth not automatically translate into jobs?
- How does illicit trade affect legitimate businesses and State revenue?
- What does Africa’s emerging economic integration mean for South African businesses?
- How do global geopolitical shifts affect investment, trade and jobs?
- And what responsibilities will today’s students carry when they become tomorrow’s economic decision-makers?
FESS exists to create a space where these questions can be debated openly, intelligently and constructively.
The Summit connects students with the institutions and individuals who operate across South Africa’s economic landscape, while challenging students to develop their own thinking about the economy they will inherit.
A CALL TO ACTION
Don’t Just Study the Economy.
LEARN.
Understand how the economy works.
DEBATE.
Question assumptions. Test ideas. Engage different perspectives.
CONNECT.
Meet the people and organisations shaping South Africa’s economy.
LEAD.
Start preparing for the decisions you will one day make.
Are you ready to shape tomorrow's economy?
Join commerce and economic sciences students from across South Africa at the inaugural Future Economy Shapers Summit 2027 in Johannesburg.