Steuart Pennington

Keynote speaker Steuart Pennington’s “passion” is promoting SA Good News and Africa – The Good News. He believes that: “Facts speak for themselves …. rumours, criticism and skinner speak to each other”, and “That the truth is in understanding the good and the bad”.

In 2002 Steuart and his wife walked out of dinner party because the entire conversation was one of running the country down. He was angry that friends could spend an entire evening in negative conversation but he was much angrier with himself. He realised that he knew very little about the truth of the country he was living in. For example: the size of the SA economy in global terms; SA’s global competitiveness; the number of Government departments – those performing poorly and those performing well; the number of hospitals, clinics and schools in the country; what services had been delivered in the areas of housing, electricity and water and what was still outstanding; the SA crime statistics – getting worse or getting better?

He resolved the next day to write a book entitled “South Africa – the Good News”. Since then he has written nine books on South African related topics which have reached over 70 000 people. He has also delivered more than 500 talks on South Africa’s global competitiveness to more than 50 000 people. His talk, a combination of storytelling, video clips and facts and figures truly meets the criteria of being entertaining, memorable and relevant. He will share with you his personal journey of discovery in this extraordinary country post-1994. He will shatter the conventional wisdoms that abound. He will provide you with insights, reassurance and confidence seldom portrayed in our daily media. He will encourage you to celebrate the good while confronting the bad. This is a unique presentation, perfect as a scene setter for strategic, business and sales conferences. The presentation will encourage participants to confront their own personal reality, the challenges facing their business and the truthful context of the South African environment.

Steuart is co-editor and publisher of 10 books on South Africa and Africa:

1.    “SOUTH AFRICA – The Good News” (2002);
2.    “SOUTH AFRICA – MORE Good News” (2003);
3.    “SA 2014 – The Story of our Future” (2004);
4.    “Miracles that are Changing a Nation” (2005);
5.    “Employee Volunteering in South Africa” (2007);
6.    “2010: Africa’s Time has Come” (2007);
7.    “Action for a Safe South Africa” (2008)
8.    “Africa – The Good News” (2008);
9.    Promise of Leadership (2009) – published for the Nelson Mandela Foundation
10.  South Africa @ 20: For Better or for Worse?  Due to be published November 2013

Current Work

Steuart’s “passion” is the South African and African narrative. He researches and presents the facts ‘behind the story’ which are often excluded from media reports.

“You don’t describe the future you see, you see the future you describe” is Steuart’s personal mantra.

He believes that:

“The facts speak for themselves ….rumours, conventional wisdom madness and journalists speak for each other.”

In addition:
·         He has worked in underprivileged schools to encourage corporates to “benchmark” the impact of their interventions.

·         In 2004 he adopted a Crèche in Soweto which looks after 150 small and vulnerable children.

·         In 2007 Steuart was awarded the “Public Service Entrepreneur of the Year Award – 2007” by the African Heritage Society.

·         In 2008 he was one of nine finalists for the Johnnie Walker Striding Man Award for exceptional social entrepreneurship.

·         In 2012 he was awarded the Distinguished Rhodes Alumni Award for his contribution to the geo-branding of South Africa.

·         In 2012 he appeared on TEDxRhodesU with a 10 minute talk on “Good news is no news”.

He holds a B.A. (Honours) degree from Rhodes University, a PDM from Wits Business School and a Certificate in Management from Oxford.

He lives in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands with his wife and two daughters, is an active sportsman and lover of adventure.