GET TICKET
PLAY TRAILER
WOMEN LEADERS IN HIGHER EDUCATION SUMMIT 2025
2025/09/24
TheKerzner@UJ
Johannesburg, ZA
GET TICKETS
24 - 25 September, 2025
EMPOWERING WOMEN | TRANSFORMING LEADERSHIP | SHAPING THE FUTURE
ABOUT THE EVENT

Sustaining Leadership Excellence: Women Shaping the Future of Higher Education.

The WLHE Summit is a premier event uniting academic leaders, policymakers, and scholars to drive inclusivity, mentorship, and leadership excellence in higher education.

GET TICKETS
Get Involved
Join us in empowering women in higher education! Whether you want to collaborate, contribute, or support our initiatives, there’s a place for you. Get involved today and make an impact!
Get Involved
WHAT TO EXPECT
2025/09/24
Insights from Women Leaders in Higher Education
Gain valuable insights from renowned women leaders, policymakers, and academic pioneers as they share their experiences, challenges, and strategies for advancing women in higher education. Our keynote sessions aim to inspire, challenge, and empower the next generation of women leaders.
Breaking Barriers & Building Leadership Pathways
Join thought-provoking panel discussions featuring experienced educators, researchers, and industry professionals. These sessions will tackle key issues such as gender equity, leadership progression, and policy reform in academia, providing actionable insights for emerging and established leaders.
Empowering the Next Generation of Women in Academia
Build meaningful mentor-mentee relationships and expand your professional network. These interactive sessions provide personalized guidance, career development strategies, and peer-to-peer connections, creating opportunities for growth, collaboration, and leadership advancement.
Honoring Women’s Achievements in Higher Education
Celebrate the achievements and contributions of women in academia at our exclusive formal dinner. This elegant evening will feature keynote speeches, cultural performances, and networking opportunities, providing a space to reflect on progress and inspire future generations.
Inspiring Keynotes
Engaging Panels
Mentorship & Networking
Exclusive Formal Dinner

Learn from the best

H.E. Prof. Sarah Anyang Agbor
Keynote Speaker

Former Commissioner for Human Resources, Science and Technology, African Union
Prof. Lisa-Dionne Morris
Keynote Speaker

Public & Industry Understanding of Capability Driven Design Professor, University of Leeds, United Kingdom
Prof. Bolanle Akeredolu-Ale
Keynote Speaker

Vice Rector, Pan African University, Yaounde, Cameroon
Prof. Refilwe Phaswana-Mafuya
Keynote Speaker

Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research & Innovation, University of Johannesburg, South Africa
Prof. Tara Sabo-Attwood
Keynote Speaker

Dean, Arnold School of Public Health, Henry Savage Jr. Professor in Environmental Quality and Global Health, United States of America
Prof. Mamokgethi Phakeng
Keynote Speaker

Businesswoman & Tenth Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cape Town
H.E. Mrs Abigail Marshall-Katung
Plenary Speaker

Lord Mayor of Leeds, United Kingdom
Prof Ntebogeng Mokgalaka-Fleischmann
Plenary Speaker

Executive Dean: Faculty of Science, Tshwane University of Technology, South Africa
Prof. Esther Titilayo Akinlabi
Plenary Speaker

Deputy Faculty Pro Vice Chancellor (Research & Knowledge Exchange), Northumbria University, UK
Prof. Frances Separovic
Panelist

Foreign Secretary, The Australian Academy of Science
Prof. Bernadine Idowu
Panelist

Professor of Biomedical Sciences, University of West London
Dr. Palesa Mothapo
Panelist

Director: Research Support Management, Nelson Mandela University
VIEW ALL SPEAKERS

Endorsements

TESTIMONIALS
BFAN
Black Female Academics' Network
British Council
Dr. Norah Clarke
AFRALEAD

By fostering a culture of belonging and addressing institutional barriers, this conference can harness the full potential of diverse academic discourse and ensuring equity in higher education

Empowering women in higher education is key to building sustainable and innovative futures. We are pleased to endorse the WLHE Summit 2025 and support its mission to drive meaningful change in leadership, entrepreneurship, and training for sustainable development.

We have seen the increased appointment of female executive leaders in South African universities, which is encouraging, yet women in leadership remain underrepresented. We are excited about this summit and its potential value as a platform for better understanding the issues women in academia need to navigate to advance in their careers. We especially welcome the summit's emphasis on entrepreneurship and innovation, given the BANI (Brittle, Anxious, Non-linear, Incomprehensible) context women leaders need to perform in.

Sign Up To Our Newsletter



    PRICING TABLE

    Get Ticket Now

    EARLY BIRD PASS

    R5000

    Limited-time Discount
    Keynotes & Plenaries
    Mentorship Sessions
    Networking Events
    GET TICKET

    PANELIST PASS

    R5000

    Share expertise
    Engage in high-impact discussions
    Full Access to Sessions
    Exclusive Recognition in Promotional Material
    GET TICKET

    INDIVIDUAL DELEGATE PASS

    R6000

    Standard Pricing
    Keynotes & Plenaries
    Mentorship Sessions
    Networking Events
    GET TICKET
    Find Us
    InnoHive, 547 Voortrekker Rd, Maitland, Cape Town, 7404 (Innospace)