All set for women accountants leadership conference
ROBIN PHIRI
Preparations for the much-anticipated Zimbabwe Forum for Women in Accounting (ZIFWA) conference are at an advanced stage.
The event is scheduled for 18 September 2025, at the Golden Conifer, in the capital Harare.
Running under the bold theme “ElevateHER: Leading with Purpose and Power – Reimagining Leadership, Redefining Impact, and Rising Together”, the conference promises a landmark gathering for women in accounting, auditing, tax, and finance.
Building on the resounding success of the inaugural 2024 conference, this year’s event aims to deepen conversations around women’s leadership, influence, and participation in the profession.
Despite women comprising nearly half of entry-level accounting roles, they remain underrepresented in senior leadership, partnership, and board positions.
The conference seeks to change this narrative by encouraging women professionals to upskill, network, and rise confidently to positions of influence.
Among the distinguished guests expected is Prem Govender, Vice President of the Pan African Federation of Accountants (PAFA), who will attend as Guest of Honour. Her presence underscores the growing importance of regional collaboration in advancing gender parity in accounting across Africa.
The 2025 edition will feature keynote addresses, expert-led panel discussions, and interactive breakout sessions, covering pressing topics such as sustainability, artificial intelligence, governance, and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) reporting. Sessions will also focus on preparing women for leadership and board roles, building resilience in uncertain times, and embracing entrepreneurship within and beyond the profession.
Manyara Chigunduru, ZIFWA President, said the conference is more than an event; it is a movement to empower and elevate women in the profession.
“We want to inspire women to lead with integrity, courage, and purpose, while creating pathways for the next generation. ElevateHER is not just about individual success but about collective advancement as a profession and as a country.”
Delegates are expected from across Zimbabwe’s professional accounting, auditing, tax, and finance bodies, including ICAZ, ACCA, CIMA, SAAA, ZITA, CGI, ICPAZ, ICTAZ, IIA, and others.
The conference is open to practicing accountants and auditors, finance professionals, internal auditors, forensic auditors, entrepreneurs, students, and allies committed to advancing gender equity in the profession. Women professionals from both public and private sectors, including civil society organisations, are expected to attend.
Registration is now open at US$100 per delegate. Organizations, professional bodies, firms, and corporates are encouraged to partner and support this important event, which offers professional development and visibility opportunities.
The Women Accountants Conference 2025 is not just another gathering, it is a clarion call for women to rise, lead, and redefine their impact in the boardroom, in business, and in society.
