News & Events

We are thrilled to share that the Peninsula School Feeding Association (PSFA) recently represented our community on an international platform. On Friday, 6th March, our director, Petrina Pakoe, was invited to the United Kingdom to participate in the 25th-anniversary flagship conference of the John Madejski Centre for Reputation (JMCR), held at the prestigious Henley Business School, University of Reading.

Building connections in a polarised world

The milestone event, hosted at the beautiful Greenlands Campus in Henley, brought together influential voices from government, academia, business, and the non-profit sector. The theme of the day, “Building connections and reducing polarisation,” resonates deeply with the work we do here in Cape Town, where fostering trust and community relationships is at the heart of our mission.

The JMCR is a world leader in research regarding how reputation and responsible leadership drive sustainable behaviour. Their work helps organisations, from global corporations to local charities, understand how to communicate for meaningful societal change.

Sharing Our Story Alongside Global Leaders

It was a truly momentous occasion for PSFA to be included in a distinguished line-up of speakers. Petrina presented a vital case study on how reputation research has directly supported PSFA in deepening our community relationships and expanding our impact.

Sharing the platform with Petrina were several notable figures, including:

• Baroness Theresa May, former UK Prime Minister, who delivered the keynote address on realigning the values of service and power.
• Sir John Madejski OBE, who shared insights on the importance of building meaningful relationships.
• Professor Tom Oliver, who explored lessons from ecological science for societal cohesion.
• Gary Leboff, a leading performance psychologist, offered guidance on sustaining positive change.

A partnership rooted in impact

Our presence at the conference is the result of a flourishing partnership. Since 2022, PSFA has been involved in a research initiative with Henley Business School. This collaboration has enabled us to apply academic, relationship-based models in our daily operations, ensuring we remain a trusted and resilient pillar for the children and schools we serve.

“PSFA is extremely grateful for the opportunity granted to the organisation to share a platform with such esteemed speakers and to showcase the incredible work being done in South Africa.” Petrina Pakoe, PSFA Director.

We return from the UK inspired by these global perspectives, ready to continue building the connections that ensure no child has to learn on an empty stomach.

Following her successful presentation in the UK, Petrina has been invited to take the stage once again at the Henley Impact Partnership Conference on 27th March at The President Hotel in Cape Town.