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Re-imagining Public Servant Leadership in a post-capture, post-pandemic governance landscape.

16 – 18 October 2023

The School of Public Leadership of Stellenbosch University is proud to continue the International Winelands Conference series and tradition with its 17th edition. This 17^th edition of the International Winelands Conference will once again be held in historic Stellenbosch, the university town with scenic oak-lined streets, elegant old architecture, a wonderful climate, magnificent tourist destinations and, of course, the world-famous wine estates, from which the Conference takes its name. The conference, focuses on the theme of re-imagining public servant leadership. With a decade marred by state capture and the COVID-19 pandemic, public service leaders face immense challenges and must adapt to changing needs and interests of local communities. The concept of servant leadership - prioritizing the service of others- is crucial in this post-capture, post-pandemic governance landscape. The conference aims to discuss this dynamic concept of servant leadership through the lenses of complexity, resilience, and adaptation, and has identified four subthemes to deepen the discussion.

The four subthemes related to public servant leadership are: “accountability," “performance management," “governance," and “novel ideas in public administration and governance." The first subtheme emphasizes the importance of accountability for maintaining a trusting relationship between leaders and the public, while the second subtheme highlights the need for effective performance planning, monitoring, evaluation, and reporting. The third subtheme stresses the importance of good governance in decision-making, coordination, and action in response to societal feedback and environmental limitations. The fourth subtheme encourages contributions that offer new ideas and insights for public administration and governance that reimagine the public good, democracy, and economic inclusion.

The conference aims to help servant leaders in the public sector to navigate complex challenges and crises, achieve sectoral and systemic changes, and build (back) trust in the hearts and minds of citizens. The conference tracks aim to explore the various ways in which public service leaders are responding to challenges in their respective contexts. The focus is on understanding the policies, systems, and practices in place to optimize the use of resources. Specifically, the conference seeks to gain insights into how public servant leaders have redefined their roles and purpose post-pandemic, considering additional demands brought about by social and economic changes. The conference aims to facilitate debate among scholars, researchers, and practitioners to develop effective leadership approaches that support public services delivery, effective followership, and the achievement of goals and priorities. Ultimately, the conference aims to construct a new leadership paradigm suitable for the times and the future challenges faced by public services.

Important Dates:​

Abstracts:

Abstracts submissions are now open.

The   Programme   Committee   of   the   17th   Winelands   Conference   entitled “Re-imagining Public Servant Leadership in a post-capture, post-pandemic governance landscape" welcomes  the  submission  of  abstracts  for  presentation as oral communications.​

Submission Procedures

Authors   may   submit   abstracts   online   on   the   conference   website (please click here to access the conference webpage​)  Please direct any questions  to  the  Conference  Secretariat: winelands@spl.sun.ac.za  Please   note   that   only   electronic   submissions will be accepted. 

About the Venue:

The  conference  will  be  hosted  at  the  beautiful  and  picturesque Stellenbosch Institute for Advanced Study (STIAS) situated in the heart of the Winelands in Stellenbosch, Cape Town.

Contact:

Conference Secretariat: 

Mr Pereka Matala – Banda

Tel: +27 21 918 4122

Fax: +27 21 918 4123

Email: winelands@spl.sun.ac.za