Xpatweb's Global Mobility Conference 2026

South Africa entered a defining moment for global talent, investment, mobility, and regulatory transformation. As the landscape continued to evolve, organisations faced growing pressure to respond with agility, strategic foresight, and confidence.

Designed to address this changing environment, Xpatweb’s 2026 Global Mobility Conference brought together the leaders shaping South Africa’s immigration landscape and the future of global mobility. The conference provided a platform for meaningful discussion on the policies, trends, and opportunities influencing how organisations access international talent, interpret regulatory developments, and strengthen their global competitiveness.

A key highlight of the conference was the Keynote Address by the Honourable Dr Leon Schreiber, Minister of Home Affairs, who provided delegates with direct insight into the policy direction shaping South Africa’s immigration and mobility landscape.

The full day executive programme explored the intersection of immigration policy, global talent, business strategy, regulatory certainty, and economic growth, equipping business leaders with valuable insights to support informed decision-making in an increasingly complex and competitive environment.

Post Event Highlights

Thank you to everyone who contributed to making this event a success. The event highlights are now available, featuring session summaries, photo galleries, and key insights from our keynote speakers. Explore the resources below to revisit the discussions and valuable perspectives shared throughout the event.

"Fixing a problem requires time, focus and dedication."

"The second phase of the Trusted Employer Scheme (TES) shows that mobility reform is not an administrative side issue. It is directly linked to investment and job creation."

"If South Africa is to compete successfully for investment and talent, we must ensure that the qualifications we deliver and bring into the country, is recognised as credible, transparent and in line with our national development goals."

"The Trusted Employer Scheme is not a way to dictate to business, but to create a platform for business to bring skills on board, grow their business and create jobs."

Our Keynote Address

Featuring insights from leading figures across government, business, and industry:

In the Media

Is Home Affairs finally becoming a government department that works?

Home Affairs Expands Trusted Employer Scheme, Winning Business Support for Its Economic Enablement Agenda

Home Affairs @ home Gathers Pace as Smart ID Access Surges 250%, with More Digital Firsts on the Way

Our Keynote Address & Host

Dr. Leon Schreiber
Minister of Home Affairs

Dr Leon Schreiber is the Minister of Home Affairs for the Republic of South Africa and a Member of Parliament for the Democratic Alliance. Prior to his appointment as Minister in June 2024, he served as Shadow Minister of Public Service and Administration, as a Whip in the National Assembly, and as Strategy and Communications Advisor to the Leader of the Opposition.

Before he was first elected to Parliament in May 2019, Minister Schreiber worked as a Senior Research Specialist at Princeton University’s Innovations for Successful Societies programme, where he conducted research in numerous African and Asian countries on how to build and reform government institutions. He earned his Doctorate in Political Science, magna cum laude, from the Free University of Berlin in 2015, after completing Master’s, Honour’s and Bachelor’s degrees in International Studies and Political Science at Stellenbosch University. He matriculated from Paul Roos Gymnasium and grew up in the Namaqualand region of the Northern Cape.

Dr Schreiber has an extensive publication record, including his 2018 book Coalition Country, as well as policy papers, journal publications and press articles.

He has been recognised with multiple awards, including being named one of the Mail & Guardian’s Top 200 Young South Africans in 2017. He was the 2015 runner-up in the St Gallen Wings of Excellence Award for young leaders, and received a European Commission Scholarship Award for his doctoral studies.

David O’Sullivan
Host and MC

David O’Sullivan has been a radio and TV journalist for 40 years. In 2023 he worked with current Springbok Head Coach Rassie Erasmus to write the best-selling memoir “Rassie”. He has also worked on a memoir for a South African business leader.

He worked for a number of prominent radio stations including Capital Radio, 702, and KayaFM. He also worked on TV for SABC Sport and Carte Blanche.

David has won numerous media awards, including two international awards for his coverage of the 1992 Bisho massacre, four SAB Sports Journalist Awards, three MTN Radio Awards and two Liberty Radio Awards.

Nitin Soma
Chief Executive Officer & Founder, Skybolt

Nitin Soma is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Skybolt, a South African technology company specialising in secure digital-document verification. Its flagship platform, SkyQR, uses cryptographically signed QR codes to authenticate documents and has secured more than one billion documents, including solutions implemented by Capitec Bank.

With over 30 years’ experience in banking technology, fintech, cybersecurity and digital trust, Nitin is widely recognised for his expertise in secure digital identity and verification. Prior to founding Skybolt in 2019, he served for 22 years as Group Chief Technology Officer of Net1 UEPS Technologies Inc., where he led technology strategy and large-scale payment infrastructure projects across Africa and beyond.

Nitin brings extensive practical insight into how digital identity, trusted verification and emerging technologies can strengthen global mobility, reduce fraud and simplify cross-border processes for businesses and internationally mobile professionals.

Yusuf Simons
Office of the Director General at the Department of Home Affairs

Mr Yusuf Simons was appointed in the Department of Home Affairs as from 1 July 1998 as a senior manager. Since then, he has occupied different senior leadership roles in the Northern Cape, Eastern Cape, Western Cape and the Departments’ Head office in Pretoria. Mr Simons has therefore acquired vast knowledge and experience in the management and operations of the Department of Home Affairs.

Mr Simons recently performed the role of Acting Deputy Director General: Immigration Services from 2022 until 2023 as well as in 2025.

He is currently appointed in the office of the Director General dealing with Immigration operations.

Besides this position, Mr Simons also serves the Department as Project Leader for the Review of the Visa Regime as part of Operation Vulindlela, which is driven from the Presidency.

Nadia Starr
Chief Executive Officer of the South African Qualifications Authority

Nadia Starr is the Chief Executive Officer of the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA), an Executive Agency of the Ministry of Higher Education and Training.

Nadia is a career civil servant with most of her experience in senior management and non-executive director roles in the public sector, working in education and training policy development, quality assurance and youth skills development. She has previously served as Chief Executive Officer of a high-performing Sector Skills Council.

Nadia holds a Bachelor and a Postgraduate degree in Psychology from the University of Cape Town (UCT) and a Master of Education from the University of Witwatersrand (Wits), along with several occupational certifications.

Nadia currently serves as an Executive Director on the board of the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) and non-executive director on the national boards of the Human Resource Development Council of South Africa (HRDC), National Skills Authority (NSA), Quality Council for Trades and Occupations (QCTO), Council on Higher Education (CHE), Quality Council for General and Further Education and Training (Umalusi).

As well as international leadership roles as President of the African Continental Qualifications Framework (ACQF) Network and non-executive director on the boards of the Groningen Declaration Network (GDN) and United States Qualifications Framework (USQF).

Shimizu Fumio
Honourable Ambassador of Japan to South Africa

His Excellency Ambassador Shimizu Fumio is the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to South Africa, Lesotho and Eswatini. A graduate of the University of Tokyo’s Faculty of Law, he joined Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1989 and has held several senior diplomatic positions across Africa, Asia and Europe.

His previous roles include Ambassador to the African Union, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to China, and Deputy Minister within Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Yubin Yang
Chief Executive Officer of Limen AI Lab

Yubin Yang operates at the intersection of corporate strategy and AI adoption. A former Investment Banker specialising in M&A and international structuring, Yubin understands that technology is useless unless it serves the bottom line. He pivoted from financial engineering to systems engineering to solve a specific problem: how to operationalise AI for real-world business results.

At Limen AI Lab, Yubin moves beyond theory to implement AI automation strategies that streamline workflows and reduce operational friction. He helps professionals transition from manual processes to AI-assisted workflows, ensuring that adoption is practical, scalable, and high-yield. Yubin’s expertise allows him to deconstruct complex business challenges and rebuild them using intelligent systems, proving that AI is not just a tool for IT, but a fundamental driver of modern business efficiency.

Khulekani Mathe
Chief Executive Officer Designate of Business Unity South Africa (BUSA)

Khulekani Mathe is the Chief Executive Officer Designate of Business Unity South Africa (BUSA). He joined BUSA in February 2023, and prior to that, he held the position of head of financial inclusion at the Banking Association South Africa. In this role, his responsibilities included driving transformation in the banking industry, fostering small business development, and promoting financial education.

Mathe is an experienced professional in policy development and has held various positions in the public service. He has served in the Presidency, the National Planning Commission Secretariat, and the Department of Planning, Monitoring, and Evaluation. While working in the National Planning Commission Secretariat, he played a key role in the development of the National Development Plan and served as the head of the Secretariat. Early in his career, Mathe dedicated 15 years to the education sector, focusing on adult education.

During this time, he led the Tembaletu Community Education Centre, which received national and international recognition for its exceptional work, winning two national awards and one international award. In 2007, he was appointed chairman of the Ministerial Committee responsible for reviewing adult education policy in South Africa. Mathe also played a role in the establishment and governance of the Education Training and Development SETA when it was established. Mathe is a certified director and a member of the Institute of Directors of South Africa (IODSA). He holds a Master of Science degree in development finance and a Master of Education degree specializing in adult education.

Additionally, he is a fellow of the African Leadership Initiative (ALI), part of the Aspen Global Leadership Network, an alumnus of the Ford Foundation International Fellowship Programme, and serves on the board of directors of the Ikusasa Student Financial Aid Programme (ISFAP) Foundation and was recently appointed onto the boards of the Human Resources Development Council and the National Education Collaboration Trust. Beyond his professional achievements, Mathe is an avid long-distance athlete and has
completed the Comrades Marathon 10 times

Enrico Brandt
Deputy Head of Mission and Head of Economics and Global Issues at the
Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany

Enrico Brandt is with the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Pretoria/South Africa since July 2022, he is the Deputy Head of Mission and Head of Economics and Global Issues.

Before he has been posted to South Africa, Enrico Brandt was on duty at the German Embassies in Beijing/China, in Washington DC/USA and in Lima/Peru.

In Germany itself, he had several postings at the German Federal Foreign Office as also at the Office of the Federal President of Germany in Berlin.

Enrico Brandt finished legal studies at Berlin and Bologna/Italy, he is fluent in German, Spanish, English, Italian and French.

Tanya Tosen
Tax and Remuneration Specialist

Tanya Tosen has built deep expertise across the Mobility, HRIS, Payroll, Employees Tax, and Benefits space. She is accredited as a Master Mobility Specialist through the South African Reward Association and holds a BCom in Financial Accounting, a Computer Science diploma, and an Advanced Certification in Tax from the University of Pretoria.

Her ability to integrate technical knowledge with real-world practical application has made her a valuable advisor to organisations navigating the complexities of global mobility and reward.