With ESG (environment, social, governance) compliance now central to global trade and sustainability targets, it’s critical that road freight operators aren’t left on the sidelines. That’s the thinking behind the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport South Africa (CILTSA)’s upcoming ESG Conference 2025, designed to bring the transport sector into the room – literally and figuratively – to unpack what ESG really means on the ground and how it impacts those moving the wheels of the economy.
Themed “Measuring Impact, Managing Change,” the event takes place on Thursday 24 July 2025 at Focus Rooms, Longmeadow, Johannesburg. Programme Director Aaron Munetsi, CEO of the Airlines Association of Southern Africa, will steer a line-up of senior speakers from EY, Unitrans, Absa, DP World, Transnet, Isuzu and ISB Optimus. Delegates can expect more than lectures – CILTSA is adding interactive “Open Mic” sessions for logistics professionals to share first-hand experiences on sustainability and environmental practices seen in their communities.
Carbon borders and tools for the challenges
The event opens with a session on climate change and sustainability, addressing what CILTSA calls “the urgent need for actionable strategies in transport, logistics and supply chain.” That urgency is backed by UNDP (United Nations Development Programme) figures showing the transport sector contributes 13.7% of global greenhouse gas emissions.
The panel – Duane Newman (Tax Sustainability Partner, EY), Shameela Soobramoney (CEO, National Business Initiative), and Liesl de Wet (head of Accelerated Organisational Sustainability, Unitrans) – will explore how global ESG policies shape Africa’s sustainability trajectory.
The EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), coming into force in 2026, will be a close focus. “South Africa faces particular vulnerability to CBAM regulations,” says the National Business Initiative (NBI), “with the EU accounting for 21% of total national exports in 2022.” That session features Heidi Barends, Head of Sustainable Finance at Absa CIB, who’ll detail financial and regulatory implications.
From the systems side, ISB Optimus COO Brian Mudhokani and Optimus CEO Munyaradzi Husvu will present alongside Alfred Nhira, senior Solutions Consultant for EMEA at Infor, on how to “build ESG intelligence into logistics operations.” The session will show how ESG data tools are reshaping business resilience and operational performance.
Isuzu will speak directly to the commercial vehicle sector. Mpho Nkhumeleni, Executive: Commercial Vehicle Sales at Isuzu, will address “the practical challenges and opportunities in transitioning to sustainable trucking solutions,” a priority as the freight industry faces increasing pressure to cut emissions without sacrificing uptime.
The social side of ESG also gets the spotlight, with a panel featuring Sachin Chanderdhev (manager: Segment Propositions, Relationship Banking at Absa Group), Esha Mansingh (head of Corporate Affairs and Sustainability for Sub-Saharan Africa at DP World), and Khuliso Rasimphi (senior specialist: ESG at Transnet). CILTSA cites Lythouse research showing “85% of companies report positive impacts from social responsibility initiatives on employee satisfaction and retention.”
The event is backed by sponsors including ISB Optimus, Absa, Isuzu, SGS and Tendai Mhlanga Photography.
“This conference represents a pivotal moment for our industry,” says Elvin Harris, President of CILTSA. “We’re bringing together the brightest minds to address the complex ESG challenges facing transport and logistics. The quality of our speaker line-up and the breadth of topics covered demonstrate the sector’s commitment to sustainable transformation.”
If you would like to attend, visit this website where you can register: https://cvlc.co.za/registrations/
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