Dear Colleagues

As we celebrate the start of a new year, I’m delighted to share some truly remarkable achievements from the ASISA Academy community. From award recognition to graduation ceremonies, from grads passing the rigorous CFA Level 1 exam to new interns beginning their journeys in financial services, this edition captures the spirit of transformation and excellence that defines our work.

The ASISA Academy is privileged to partner with industry members who understand that investing in people is investing in the future of our sector. This month, we shine a spotlight on Aeon Investment Management, a company that exemplifies this commitment through their generous support of our programmes, and their own remarkable story of growth and transformation.

I’m particularly proud of the EBNet Evolutionary Award we received in November last year for the Fezeka Graduate Programme as the Most Promising Women-Led Initiative. Recognition like this reflects not just the ASISA Academy’s efforts, but the collaborative spirit of all our industry partners who make these transformation initiatives possible.

As we look ahead to 2026, we’re preparing for new intakes across our programmes and inviting industry members to join us in building the talent pipeline our sector needs. The success stories you’ll read in this edition demonstrate what’s possible when we invest in young people with potential, provide them with quality education and mentorship, and create pathways to meaningful careers.

Thank you for your continued partnership in this important work.

Warm regards,
Alicia Davids
CEO, ASISA Academy

Paying it forward: how an R800 bursary shaped a R30 billion investment firm.

When Asief Mohamed needed R900 to attend the University of Cape Town decades ago, two bursaries changed his life: R800 from Shell and R100 from the Cape Town municipal workers’ union. Today, as founder and CEO of Aeon Investment Management, he’s repaying that debt in a way that extends far beyond the original amount.

“The reason why we do it – education – is really about paying it forward,” Mohamed says. “Because I benefitted from those bursaries, I’m strongly committed. I still fill up at Shell every time I have to fill up my car. I’ve even pushed the car to their service station past another one.”

That commitment manifests in Aeon’s decade-long partnership with ASISA Academy, where Mohamed initially served as an independent non-executive director for six years. But the firm’s involvement runs deeper than governance. For years, Aeon has sponsored students attending Academy courses and, more significantly, Mohamed and his team have been regular presenters on ESG integration and alternative investments, including private equity.

The firm – which celebrated its 20th anniversary this year – doesn’t just talk about responsible investing; it lives it. As members of the PRI (Principles for Responsible Investment) since 2014, Aeon has been rated exceptionally well for its ESG integration. The company has spent eight years lobbying for pay ratio disclosure in the Companies Act (successfully) and gender pay gap disclosure (disappointingly, not yet successful).

The story of Aeon reads like a masterclass in patience and compound growth. The first decade saw assets creep from zero to R2 billion. The second decade? An explosion from R2 billion to R30 billion under management.

Beyond ASISA Academy, Aeon’s education investment extends to funding bursaries at a high school in Howick, investing in maths coaching through Numeric SA, and supporting Bulungula College, a high school in the Eastern Cape. The firm also subsidises the Academy’s Equity Analyst Short Course for ABSIP (Association for Black Securities and Investment Professionals) members, participates in Fezeka Graduate Programme rotations, and currently hosts one of the Fezeka graduates for her final rotation.

Mohamed, who was the keynote speaker at our Cape Town graduation, calls being fired from Metropolitan Asset Managers 20 years ago “the best thing that could have happened to me” – because it led him to create Aeon. And that R800 Shell bursary has multiplied exponentially – not just in assets under management, but in opportunities created for the next generation of investment professionals.

Asief Mohamed, the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Aeon Investment Management.

We are thrilled to announce that the ASISA Academy received the EBNet Evolutionary Award for the Most Promising Women-Led Initiative for our Fezeka Graduate Programme. This recognition celebrates the programme’s work in increasing the representation of black women in asset management – addressing a critical gap in our industry.

The award, received in December, acknowledges the collaborative commitment of our industry partners, who make this transformation initiative possible.

Zubeida Ebrahim, Course Coordinator for the Fezeka Graduate Programme, proudly holds the award received from EBnet.

The month of January saw graduation ceremonies in both Cape Town and Johannesburg, celebrating the achievements of our delegates across multiple programmes. These ceremonies represent not just the culmination of hard work and dedication, but the beginning of promising careers in financial services. Our key note speakers were Asief Mohamed, founder and CEO of Aeon Investment Management in Cape Town and Nadia Starr, CEO of the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) in Johannesburg. 

Asief Mohamed (above left) and Nadia Starr (above right).

A few pictures captured at the Cape Town graduation ceremony. Click here to view all.

A few pictures captured at the Johannesburg graduation ceremony. Click here to view all.

Independent Financial Advisor (IFA) Internship

January marked the beginning of another year for the IFA Internship. Thirty Black South African graduates gathered in Cape Town and Johannesburg for the intensive two-week Work Readiness Course that launches their 12-month journey into the independent financial advisory sector.

This programme is supported by anchor sponsors Allan Gray, Coronation, Ninety One and M&G Investments. We recruit black South African graduates who desire to work in the financial advisory space. Eligible candidates create two-minute introductory videos, which we share with vetted IFA practices across the country. These practices – all committed to transformation and equipped to provide proper supervision and mentorship – select their own interns from the application pool.

Interns come together for two weeks of intensive preparation. Our programme champions facilitate sessions featuring IFA practice owners sharing insights into daily practice operations, programme alumni discussing their experiences and career progression, industry professionals presenting on financial advice, and mentors developing crucial workplace skills like time management and professionalism.

Following the Work Readiness Programme, interns began working at their host practices on Monday, 2 February 2026, beginning a year-long immersive experience at an independent financial advisory practice.

The programme boasts an exceptional track record: nearly all interns complete the programme successfully, and the vast majority secure employment either at their host practices or elsewhere in the industry.

Cape Town and Durban interns pictured above left and Johannesburg and Pretoria interns pictured above right.

Fezeka Graduate Programme

Building on our EBNet Evolutionary Award recognition, we have more excellent news to celebrate from the Fezeka Graduate Programme. Itumeleng Moseamo from Cohort 1, Mukona Nemunzhele from Cohort 2 and Amahle Vuba from Cohort 3 have passed the challenging CFA Level 1 exam – a significant achievement that demonstrates the calibre of talent in this programme.

The CFA certificate is internationally recognised and notoriously difficult, with low pass rates even among experienced professionals. We’re immensely proud of these young women’s dedication and achievement.

This programme specifically aims to increase representation of black women in asset management, providing not just technical training but industry mentorship, work readiness development and rotations at leading asset management firms. Each participant receives a fellowship and ongoing support throughout their journey. CFA 1 forms part of their programme.

From the left: Itumeleng Moseamo, Mukona Nemunzhele, and Amahle Vuba.

IMACS@TSIBA (Investment Management Administration & Client Servicing)

Our longstanding partnership with the Tertiary School in Business Administration (TSIBA) continues to bear fruit. The class of 2025/26 has successfully progressed from their second year into their third year of the Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) Finance degree.

These students have been studying the IMACS course with us since mid-2025, attending sessions every Friday. Our programme champion delivers this specialist course in investment management administration and client servicing as an integral component of TSIBA’s BBA Finance degree.

From August to November 2026, the students will begin their built-in internship component, working at ASISA member companies across the industry. This four-month work experience provides invaluable practical exposure while giving companies an opportunity to assess potential future employees.

We appeal to ASISA member companies to provide an internship opportunity for them. Please click on the button below and complete the form.

The IMACS@TSIBA class of 2025/26.

Sponsorship opportunity for 2026/27 intake

We are now preparing for the next intake, which begins in July 2026. We invite ASISA members to partner with us by sponsoring students for the 2026/27 programme. The academic component costs R20,500 per student (excluding VAT), and we encourage companies to sponsor a minimum of three students (R61,500 ex VAT).

This investment provides companies with access to well-trained, work-ready talent while supporting transformation in the investment management sector. If you’re interested in sponsoring students, please click on the button below and complete the commitment form.

The IMACS@TSIBA programme falls into Category B on the Learning Programme Matrix, and the ASISA Academy will provide all sponsors with personal details of beneficiaries for verification purposes.

Our Alumni Committee members demonstrated their commitment to financial wellness during the festive season by creating a series of short video clips focused on smart money management. These accessible, engaging videos address practical topics that resonate year-round:

• Setting financial boundaries with family and friends
• Creating a financial vision board
• Managing impulse spending during high-pressure shopping periods
• Six powerful questions about your financial habits

The videos have been shared on LinkedIn, Smart About Money, and our YouTube channel. We’re grateful to our alumni for using their platforms and expertise to provide valuable financial education to young people and the broader community.

In January, the ASISA Academy presented a two-part workshop on Recent Developments in the Retirement Fund Industry to members of the Institute for Retirement Funds Africa (IRFA).

The workshops covered the latest regulatory changes, industry developments and practical implications for retirement fund trustees and attracted exceptional interest, with over 50 delegates participating. This unusually high registration reflects the critical importance of staying current with developments in this rapidly evolving sector.

Presented by experienced industry professionals, the workshops provide trustees with essential knowledge to fulfil their fiduciary responsibilities effectively. The sessions are registered with Batseta for CPD points.

Some of the members of the IRFA who participated in the RFTE workshop on Recent Developments within the Retirement Fund Industry.

Ninety One Investment Sprints

This month, we delivered three two-hour Investment Sprints for the sales team at Ninety One’s Cape Town offices. These intensive, face-to-face sessions covered:

• Fundamentals of retirement funds and life insurance
• Investment performance overview
• Investment management fees and costs in the context of retirement funds

Investment Sprints are designed to be short, punchy sessions that address specific topics. They provide teams with focused learning that can be immediately applied in their roles.

By regularly partnering with the ASISA Academy, companies like Ninety One make it easy for us to provide tailored training that meets their specific needs – aligning perfectly with our vision to be the training partner of choice for ASISA members and the broader financial services industry.

Sales Managers from Ninety One who attended the Investment Sprints.

As we move further into 2026, we’re preparing for new intakes, developing new course offerings, and strengthening partnerships across the industry. Whether you’re interested in sponsoring students, hosting interns, providing pro bono presentations, or discussing your company’s training needs, we’d love to hear from you.

For companies planning their 2026 skills development initiatives, now is the ideal time to connect with us about how we can support your goals while contributing to industry transformation.

For a complete overview of learning opportunities, please visit the 2026 ASISA Academy Learning Calendar.

Contact us:

• General enquiries: learn@asisaacademy.org.za
• CEO: adavids@asisaacademy.org.za

ASISA Academy – Building the talent pipeline for South Africa’s savings and investment industry