PPS Training Academy The PPS Training Academy is internationally recognised for excellence and continues to be a learning institution we are immensely proud of. As you will see in our Human Capital Report on our website, the uptake of the online courses the Academy offers for staff and advisers remains exceptionally positive. Since these were introduced in 2020, our staff have shown exceptional interest in skills and career development, taking advantage of courses in their own skills areas and also more general business disciplines. The digital literacy programme introduced in the same year has also been immensely popular, and in 2022, 32 courses were offered. The programme, made available to advisers as well, is designed to help develop the skills needed to interact effectively in a digitised world. The tremendous value the Academy can provide does not have to stop with staff and advisers. Our next ambition is to also make this value available to members, and we will start focusing on this from 2023 onwards. Ethics and corporate governance PPS has a critical role to play in defending the interests of our members and the broader professional community in South Africa and Namibia. In line with this, we consistently comply with all relevant legislation and regulations, and our corporate governance practices are based on the King IV™ Report of Corporate Governance principles. In terms of King IV™ and the Companies Act, PPS is governed through a unitary structure that includes a main board, subsidiary boards and their subcommittees. All boards and their committees operate within the parameters of approved charters and terms of reference, which are reviewed periodically. A well-resourced company secretariat supports all boards and committees. I am also pleased that PPS and its subsidiaries have achieved a Level 3 Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) company status, which affirms our commitment to the country’s transformation agenda. The improvement in our score results from the management team’s relentless focus on improving key areas of the scorecard, particularly management control, skills development and enterprise and supplier development components. Changes to the Board On the PPS Holdings Trust Board, we bid farewell to Prof Leon Snyman, who stepped down in June. I want to thank him for his valuable contribution. In August, we were excited to welcome Dr Edward Ngwenya, the nominated representative of the South African Medical Association (SAMA), on our Board. Dr Angelique Coetzee, formerly a representative of SAMA, and Dr Boitshoko Ntshabele joined the Board as Independent Trustees. Thank you In closing, I would like to extend the gratitude of my fellow Trustees to our Group CEO, Izak Smit, who, together with our Group executive team, has guided the company through unchartered territory over the past three years, always ensuring that we stay true to our purpose and values as we serve our members. He, the executive and the bigger management teams have shown great insight and exceptional empathy for our members. They also implemented innovative solutions to help them with the unprecedented challenges they have had to face. A sincere word of thanks also goes to our members, who trust us with their financial goals and contribute in such a committed way to our robust community of professionals. Finally, I would like to express my gratitude for the advice and support of my deputy, Dr Mannie Kruger, my fellow PPS Trustees and the Chairman of PPS Insurance Company, Mr Charles Erasmus, who continue to ensure that the Board is such an enduring example of cooperation, innovation and good governance, and who remain unfailingly committed to the financial security and well-being of the PPS community. I must also thank my family, whose support for me and my work is unfailing. Dr Sybil Seoka Chairman 29 March 2023 19 Leadership commentary
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