Conference Speakers International

Clem Sunter was born in Suffolk, England on 8 August 1944 and was educated at Winchester College. Clem Sunter went to Oxford where he read Politics, Philosophy and Economics before joining Charter Consolidated as a management trainee in 1966. In 1971, Clem Sunter moved to Lusaka in Zambia to work for Anglo American Corporation Central Africa. Clem Sunter was transferred in 1973 to the Head Office of Anglo American Corporation of South Africa in Johannesburg. Clem was Chairman of the Gold and Uranium Division from 1990 to 1996. Clem Sunter is probably best known for his "High Road/Low Road" scenarios from South Africa in the Mid 1980's. Clem Sunter is now Chairman of Corporate Affairs and Chairman of the Anglo American Chairman’s Fund. In early 2001 "The Mind of a Fox" co-authored with Chantel Ilbury, was released. The book anticipated a major terrorist attack on a western city before the September 11th tragedy in New York. The book has sold over 40000 copies.In 2007, Clem Sunter’s new book, “Socrates and the Fox: A strategic dialogue”, co-authored with Chantel Ilbury, was released. By its very nature Socratic dialogue transforms the strategic conversation from the normal, dreary type of superficial analysis that companies go through nowadays to a full-blooded, back-to-basics debate. Clem and Chantell have developed a unique and independently crafted methodology which integrates scenario planning into the mainstream process of strategic planning and decision-making. Their version of the Socratic method has come about through rigorous application, re-evaluation and fine-tuning in the course of facilitating countless sessions with a diverse portfolio of companies throughout the world – from giant multinationals to family-run businesses.Clem Sunter continues to be one of the country's favourite speakers ... his presentation style is both thought provoking and entertaining. Other presentations are: Games Foxes PlayBusiness is a game. Americans are natural hedgehogs and South Africans are natural foxes. “We like foxes”, says Clem Sunter, but we don’t like hedgehogs or rimless wagon wheels, we do prefer circles and we do like games. The 'we' is Clem Sunter and Chantell Ilbury, and Sunter is talking about their latest book, 'Games Foxes Play — Planning for Extraordinary Times'. The Mind of a Fox The book is a follow-up and a fine-tuning of the authors' number-one bestseller 'The Mind of Fox', published in June 2001. 'The Mind of a Fox' put scenario planning back on the map and in the boardroom. 'Games Foxes Play' has taken the basic principles further, challenging the American hedgehog view that only leaders with a fixed, central vision can achieve greatness. Sunter and Ilbury favour foxes, leaders with a balanced set of beliefs and the ability to adapt to change. George W. Bush is a hedgehog. Nelson Mandela is a fox. No confusing business jargon One of the most appealing aspects of this business book is that it doesn't read like a business book. You don't get lost in confusing business jargon, which allows you to concentrate and enjoy the message of the book. The premise is simple: Business is a game and just like any other game, the point is to win. First you need to decide what type of game (business) you’re playing, where the game is being played (the geographical footprint of the business) and who you’re playing against. Next, you need to understand the rules of the game. For example, a premier rule in the South African business game, is black economic empowerment. "Life changes at 80" What about some key uncertainties of the future? How pricey is oil going to get? Sunter says with a dry laugh: "Life changes at 80" — 80 dollars a barrel of oil that is. This, in a very simplified form is the first phase — defining the game. Next comes playing the game, where you discuss what you're going to do and how you're going to go about it in order to achieve success. The book takes you through defining the game and playing the game step by step and is based on a five-hour strategic conversation model, preferably around a round table. Circles are good, affirms Sunter. It's humorous, witty, easy to understand and decidedly relevant to all of us, whether you’re Anglo American’s chairperson, the owner of a small business, a student, or simply looking for a read that challenges conventions. AIDS – The Challenge for South AfricaOn the issue of HIV/AIDS, the majority of the South Africans can be divided into two broad categories: those who bury their heads in the sand and deny that the epidemic exists, and those that believe that it exists but they cannot do anything about it. In this presentation, Clem Sunter offers a third view which is shared by a small number of people active in the HIV/AIDS field: there is an epidemic but there are plenty of things we can do to prevent it spreading further and to ameliorate the impact of increasing sickness and death among those already infected. The presentation covers the likely origin of HIV/AIDS; the current situation in the world and in Africa; why it has hit us so badly in South Africa; and the possible demographic, economic and social consequences for our society over the next twenty years. Along the way, Clem Sunter disposes of many myths associated with the epidemic. Finally, rather than proposing a grand, monolithic plan, he recommends a grassroots approach made up of many small initiatives, pursued on as wide a front as possible, to overcome the epidemic and soften its impact. The message of the talk is that we can beat HIV/AIDS but we must all in our own way take appropriate action now.