Chairperson 
Co - Chairperson 
Co - Chairperson It is with great honor and optimism that I welcome you to this important gathering held under the theme “Nursing the Future: Workforce, Wellbeing, Sustainability.” This theme speaks directly to the heart of nursing in Africa today and to the responsibility we share in shaping a resilient, empowered, and future-ready nursing workforce.
Nurses form the backbone of our health systems. Across Africa, they are often the first point of contact, the constant presence in care delivery, and the driving force behind community health outcomes. Yet, the challenges facing the profession — workforce shortages, migration, burnout, and underinvestment — demand bold, coordinated, and forward-thinking action.
Our first subtheme, Empowering and Retaining Africa’s Nurses, calls for renewed commitment to creating supportive work environments, strengthening professional development, and recognizing the value of nurses not only as caregivers but as leaders and innovators. Retention is not simply about keeping nurses in the system; it is about enabling them to thrive, grow, and find purpose within it.
Through Investing in Nurses, we acknowledge that sustainable health systems cannot exist without strategic investment in education, skills development, fair remuneration, and safe working conditions. Investment in nursing is an investment in population health, economic growth, and social stability.
The subtheme Shaping Nursing Policy for a Sustainable Future challenges us to ensure that nurses have a strong voice in policy formulation and decision-making. Evidence-informed policies, aligned with local realities and global commitments, are essential to building health systems that are equitable, resilient, and responsive to future needs.
Finally, Leading Change: Policy, Practice, and Healthcare of the Future emphasizes the critical role of nurses as change agents. As healthcare evolves, nurses must be supported to lead innovations in practice, influence policy, and embrace new models of care that prioritize quality, equity, and sustainability.
As Chair, I encourage all participants to engage openly, share experiences, and collaborate across disciplines and borders. The discussions, partnerships, and ideas that emerge from this forum have the potential to shape the future of nursing and healthcare across our continent.
Together, let us commit to nursing the future — by strengthening the workforce, safeguarding wellbeing, and building sustainable systems that serve generations to come
Dr Vasuthevan has been employed by the Life Healthcare Group since 2010 as the Nursing & Quality Executive Group. She is also an external supervisor and examiner for Master’s and PhD candidates at private higher educational institutions and holds multiples professional registrations in addition to her PhD in Nursing.
In addition, Dr Vasuthevan has been successfully written grant proposals, been published in the “Nurse Educator’s Guide to Management – Chapter 2”, “A new Approach to Professional Practice – Chapters 2, 7 & 9” and many others as well as presenting her papers at local, national and international conferences and symposia.
With a vast experience in the areas of Management & Leadership, Quality of Healthcare, Nursing Education, Nursing Practice and Regulation of Nursing, Dr Vasuthevan has also held multiple roles of prestige in leadership such as being elected by the Minister of Health to the 41st and 42nd South African Nursing Council and being reelected for a second term of office as the Chairperson of the Nursing Education Association.
Dr. Tracey De Klerk is a dedicated Deputy Director within the Gauteng Department of Health, working in the Chief Directorate Nursing, specifically in Nursing Compliance and Research. Her academic and professional journey reflects her unwavering commitment to excellence in healthcare.
Her passion for Ethos and Professionalism led her to earn a master’s degree with distinction, recognized by the Chancellor’s Gold Medal Award for her outstanding research and academic contributions. She continued to excel, achieving a doctoral degree in the same field, solidifying her as an authority in Ethos and Professionalism.
Dr. De Klerk’s extensive experience spans clinical practice, preceptorship, curriculum development, and leadership. She has also dedicated over a decade to Continuing Professional Development, significantly enhancing healthcare standards and practices.
In her professional endeavours, Dr. De Klerk remains resolutely committed to advancing the ethos of professionalism within the healthcare domain, striving tirelessly to uphold the highest standards of integrity, competence, and compassion.
Her aspirational pursuits are entrenched in the ethos of continuous improvement, wherein she endeavours to leverage her expertise and influence for the betterment of healthcare provision, ensuring the delivery of optimal care to all those entrusted to her charge. Driven by a commitment to professionalism, integrity, and compassion, Dr. De Klerk continually strives to improve healthcare delivery, demonstrating her dedication to the betterment of healthcare provision.