by Alvyn Ulrish Shad Savrimuthu
Absa Group is proud to announce the renewal of its sponsorship of the BEN-Africa (Business Ethics Network of Africa) Conference, taking place from 6 to 7 November 2025 at Middlesex University in Mauritius. The renewal marks a continued commitment by Absa to champion ethical governance and inclusive business practices across the continent.
Now in its 24th year, the BEN-Africa Conference is a premier international platform that brings together academics, business leaders, policymakers, and civil society to engage on the pressing ethical challenges facing African businesses. The 2025 conference theme, “Innovative Technologies, Friend or Foe? Reflecting on Governance and Ethics,” invites critical reflection on the role of emerging technologies in shaping ethical business conduct and governance frameworks.
Absa’s sponsorship underscores its dedication to contributing to the development of principled, transparent, and inclusive business ecosystems by reinforcing governance and business practices through meaningful dialogue and collaboration.
“As a purpose-led organisation, Absa is committed to advancing ethical leadership and governance across the continent. Our continued partnership with BEN-Africa reflects our belief that sustainable progress in Africa depends on strong ethical foundations and collaborative action,” said Akash Singh, Group Chief Compliance Officer at Absa Group.
“Indeed, this belief is in keeping with our commitment to being an Active Force for Good in Africa – where we take seriously our role as an enabler of economic growth and progress,” he added.
According to Singh, this year’s theme resonates with Absa, which regards innovation as a key enabler of sustainable value creation and growth.
“However, with the advent of new technologies that have the potential to accelerate economic development, there is an increased responsibility to ensure we have the governance processes in place to guarantee the ethical soundness of these technologies,” Singh said.
President of the Business Ethics Network of Africa, Dr Bryan Robinson, said he was looking forward to deeper collaboration with Absa in this year’s conference and beyond. “This collaboration highlights the importance of partnerships in promoting moral integrity in all our business dealings in Africa. We are proud to offer a platform that enables us, as Africans, to remove the obstacles that stand in the way of ethical governance on the continent,” Dr Robinson said.
Building on this vision, Prof. Mari Jansen Van Rensburg, Pro Vice-Chancellor and Director at Middlesex University Mauritius, stated: “We are proud to collaborate with Absa and BEN-Africa to host the conference on our campus, bringing together international stakeholders to address the challenges of conducting inclusive and principled business in Africa. This event reflects our commitment to fostering global dialogue grounded in shared values, rigorous inquiry, and practical solutions that support sustainable development across the region.”
The conference will feature keynote addresses, panel discussions, and workshops exploring the intersection of technology, ethics, and governance, with a focus on practical solutions for African contexts. Absa invites stakeholders from across sectors to join the conversation and help shape a future where innovation and integrity go hand in hand.
It is fitting that this conversation will take place in Mauritius, where Absa Mauritius continues to lead by example in governance and ethical standards. The bank has successfully achieved the ISO 37001 anti-bribery management system recertification, reaffirming its position as the first and only local bank to hold this internationally recognised certification. The recertification, achieved with zero non-conformities, validates Absa Mauritius’ robust anti-bribery controls and commitment to transparency, integrity, and ethical conduct across all operations.
Said Yoshinee Parasuraman, Head of Compliance at Absa Mauritius: “We are honoured that Absa Group has chosen Mauritius to host this prestigious platform in collaboration with BEN-Africa. This recognition reflects Absa Mauritius’ unwavering commitment to ethics and good governance. As the only bank in Mauritius to hold ISO 37001 certification on anti-bribery and corruption processes, our recent recertification further strengthens our dedication to transparency, integrity, and trust — values that are deeply embedded in the way we operate.”
For more information about the BEN-Africa Conference, please visit: https://www.benafrica.org/
Platform Africa spoke with Yoshinee Parasuraman, Head of Compliance at Absa Mauritius, following the press conference announcing the renewal of Absa Group’s sponsorship of the BEN-Africa Conference.
“Today’s press conference is a testament to our commitment to ethical leadership and development across the continent,” said Parasuraman. “We are extremely proud that Mauritius has been chosen to host this year’s BEN-Africa Conference on ethics, which places our vibrant nation at the centre of regional and continental discussions on leadership.”
Reflecting on this year’s theme, ‘Innovative Technologies, Friend or Foe?’, she noted: “The focus on innovative technologies is particularly timely given the dynamic world we live in. At Absa, our commitment to ethics is demonstrated through our pursuit and maintenance of the ISO 37001 certification, which reflects our ongoing dedication to the highest standards of integrity.”
She concluded with a call for public participation: “We encourage everyone to join us in this moment of reflection and learning as we explore how best to advance this vital conversation on ethics and governance.”
About Absa Group Limited
Absa Group Limited (Absa Group) is listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange and is one of Africa’s largest diversified financial services groups. Absa Group offers an integrated set of products and services across personal and business banking, corporate and investment banking, wealth and investment management, and insurance.
Absa Group owns majority stakes in banks in Botswana, Ghana, Kenya, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, South Africa, Tanzania (Absa Bank Tanzania and National Bank of Commerce), Uganda, and Zambia. It also has insurance operations in Kenya and South Africa. Absa has offices in the People’s Republic of China, Namibia, Nigeria, and the United States, as well as securities entities in the United Kingdom and the United States, along with technology support teams in the Czech Republic. For further information, visit www.absa.africa.
About Absa Mauritius
Absa Bank (Mauritius) Limited is one of the leading financial institutions in Mauritius, operating since 1919. It offers a full range of business and investment banking products and services, wealth management, corporate banking with solutions for SMEs, and retail banking. Absa Mauritius is part of Absa Group Limited, one of the largest financial services groups in Africa, present in 12 African countries. Absa also has representative offices in China and the United States, securities entities in the United Kingdom and the United States, and an IT services office in the Czech Republic. For more information, visit www.absabank.mu.
About the Business Ethics Network Africa (BEN-Africa)
Founded in 1999, BEN-Africa brings together Africans with an interest in business ethics to expand ethical awareness and practice across the continent. The organisation connects professionals through formal and informal networks, facilitates dialogue through forums and conferences, and publishes research on business ethics in Africa.
BEN-Africa’s flagship annual conference, seminars, and partner events serve as platforms for sharing insights and building ethical capacity. Its open-access African Journal of Business Ethics (AJOBE) and other publications are available at https://ajobe.journals.ac.za and https://www.benafrica.org.
