Join Us at the Forefront of Academic Administration
7th AAA Conference & AGM 2026 - Day 1
Speaker Details
Mr Ashmind Daniels
Deputy Registrar: Centre for Academic Administration (Stellenbosch and Belville Park Campuses)
To view his resume
Mr Luthando Jack
Deputy Vice-Chancellor for People and Operations at Nelson Mandela University
To view his resume
Ms Linda van Heerden
Administrative Officer in the Biodiversity and Conservation Biology Department at the University of the Western Cape
To view her resume
Conference Schedule
Day 1
13 May 2026
Welcome Address
09:50 - 10:10
Welcome by the Acting Chairperson of the Board, Mr Ashmind Daniels, Stellenbosch University
Opening Address: Mr Luthando Jack, DVC: People and Operations, NMU.
10:10 - 11:00
Session chair: Mr Peet du Plessis – AAA GM
Morning Tea Break 11:00 – 11:30
Keynote Address: Honourable Dr Mimmy Gondwe, Deputy Minister of Higher Education and Training.
11:30 - 12:30
Session chair: Mr Ashmind Daniels, Deputy Chairperson of the Board
Lunch 12:45 – 14:00
Break-away Sessions: Institutional Goals
14:10 - 15:20
Break-away Group A: Plenary Room – “AI, Biometric ID and Identity” – Advanced Secure Technologies
Facilitator: Mr Ashmind Daniels (AAA Board)
Break-away Group B: Room C1 – Guardians of Authenticity: Rethinking Qualifications Verification in the Age of AI. Discussion leader: Ms Kgaugelo Ntini – Verifications Officer, UP.
Facilitators: Mr Preggy Reddy and Ms Ncamisile Thwala (AAA Board Members)
Break-away Group C: Room C2 – Proactive, People-Centred, and Plugged-In: A Multi-Phase Model for Student Advising and Quality Assurance. Discussion leader: Ms Shameega Couert, Administrative Officer: Undergraduate, UWC
Facilitators: Ms Ranitha Ramdeyal (AAA Board Member) & Mr Peet du Plessis (GM)
Afternoon Tea Break 15:20 – 15:45
Break-away Sessions Continued
15:45 - 16:45
Break-away Group A: Plenary Room – Enhancing Academic Administration Through Artificial Intelligence. Discussion leader: Ms Linda van Heerden, Administrative Officer, UWC
Facilitator: Mr Ashmind Daniels (AAA Board)
Break-away Group B: Room C1 – Should administrators use AI to help streamline work processes? Discussion leader: Mr Vernon Johannes – Projects Officer, UWC
Facilitators: Mr Preggy Reddy and Ms Ncamisile Thwala (AAA Board Members)
Break-away Group C: Room C2 – Professionalising RPL Administrators in Higher Education: A Policy-Aligned Framework for Practitioner Development in SA. Discussion leader: Mr Beltus Sirathaza, Directorate of Learning, Teaching and Student Success, UWC
Facilitators: Ms Ranitha Ramdeyal (AAA Board Member) & Mr Peet du Plessis (GM)
Team Building Session: Quiz Night
18:30 - 22:00
Light buffet dinner served from 19:00 to 20:00 whereafter the quiz will commence. All delegates will be allocated to a team of 10 person per table to compete in the quiz. The teams will be displayed on the entrance door.
Exciting prizes to be won!
Cash bar service – delegates’ own accounts
+27 82 651 6364
For any enquiries regarding the conference, please call.
peet.duplessis@assocacadadmin.co.za
Feel free to email for more information or assistance.
The Boardwalk International Convention Centre, Marine Drive, Summerstrand, Ggeberha, Eastern Cape
Visit the conference venue for any on-site queries.
https://www.suninternational.com/boardwalk/