Speakers 2025

Minister Solly Malatsi

Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies

Solly Malatsi is the current South African Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies, a position that highlights his extensive leadership and strategic expertise. With a background as a seasoned communications specialist, he has served in various high-profile government roles, including as the Parliamentary Counselor to the Leader of the Official Opposition.

Minister Malatsi’s career in public service is marked by his exceptional ability to guide and implement communication strategies across multiple government levels, ensuring effective message delivery and organizational cohesion.

His leadership extends to his tenure as a Member of Parliament, where he has contributed to portfolios such as Sports and Recreation, Human Settlements, and Communications and Digital Technologies.

Notably, he completed a full term as a whip for the parliamentary caucus, demonstrating his leadership in managing party discipline and legislative processes. His previous roles also include serving as the spokesperson for the Western Cape MEC of Transport and Public Works, as well as for the Mayor of Cape Town, reflecting his versatility and ability to communicate across diverse political contexts.

Prior to his appointment as Minister, Malatsi was the national spokesperson for the Democratic Alliance (DA), where his skills in public communication were pivotal in shaping the party’s public image and outreach.
He continues to hold key leadership positions within the DA, including serving as Provincial Deputy Chairperson in Limpopo and as the elected Deputy Federal Chairperson since 2023.

Minister Malatsi’s educational background includes a Bachelor of Administration from the University of Limpopo and an Honours Degree in Political Studies from the University of the Witwatersrand. His academic credentials complement his leadership roles, underlining his commitment to both governance and policy-making at the highest levels of government.

With a career defined by strong leadership, strategic communication, and a deep understanding of digital technologies, Solly Malatsi remains a key figure in shaping South Africa’s future in the digital age.

DONOVAN GOLIATH

Comedian, Content Creator and Former Adman

Donovan Goliath is an award-winning content creator, sought after MC, television presenter and celebrated stand-up comedian. This will be Donovan’s third consecutive year hosting the Nedbank IMC.

Lyn Bird

Corporate Vice President for Industry Solutions Delivery (ISD) at Microsoft

As Corporate Vice President for Industry Solutions Delivery (ISD) at Microsoft, Lyn leads a team focused on accelerating AI adoption and helping enterprise industry customers realize business value through our technology. With a team of world-class architects, consultants, and delivery experts, she works with some of the most influential businesses around the world to build transformative solutions that help them compete, differentiate and achieve more.
Lyn has been helping customers unlock their full potential through advanced technology for the past 25 years. Prior to joining Microsoft in 2021, she held several global leadership roles at Accenture and worked with customers across several industries, including oil and gas, retail, and financial services. Having lived and worked in South Africa, London, Holland, USA (Texas and Pacific Northwest), Canada, Switzerland, and Hungary, Lyn understands and appreciates diverse customer business needs.
As a leader, Lyn cares deeply about building safe and collaborative environments that enable her teams to perform their best. She is a purpose-driven human amplifier and finds fulfillment in fostering collaboration across a rich ecosystem of teams and partners. Lyn is passionate about uplifting women, prioritising sustainability, and democratizing access to AI to empower organizations to create a more equitable and inclusive future for all.

Charl Bassil

Chief Brand Officer, BBC

Charl Bassil is a marketing professional with a passion for building meaningful connections between brands and their audiences. Originally from South Africa and of Lebanese descent, Charl’s diverse background has shaped his approach to storytelling and cultural integration.

His career journey has taken him through roles at SABMiller, where he worked on beloved brands like Castle Lager and Carling Black Label, to leading global marketing efforts for Absolut Vodka at Pernod Ricard. Through these experiences, Charl has focused on fostering inclusivity, celebrating diversity, and creating campaigns that resonate with communities worldwide.

In 2024, Charl joined the BBC as its first Chief Brand Officer, where he is dedicated to reimagining and strengthening one of the world’s most iconic brands in an ever-changing media landscape. Guided by curiosity and a collaborative spirit, Charl is committed to making a positive impact through his work.

Charl now lives in Surrey with his wife Dominique, their children Daniel Jordan, Pier Luke and Ella Gia, and their dog Cola.

ZUBAIR TIMOL

Partner and Global Vice President, Culture at Meltwater.

With his experience focusing on SAAS, global strategy and expansion, Zubair has a pedigree for developing leadership talent and high-performance teams across markets.

Specializing in the sports and luxury sector, he has been involved in developing esports, specifically, chess to an award-winning level.

Based in Dubai, his commitment towards inclusivity has enabled various social and community initiatives, namely executive allyship for female leadership.

Having extensively developed commercial operations across Europe, Middle East, Africa, India, China, Japan and South-East Asia, his passion is emerging markets and their interplay with innovation.

He has a degree in European Law and Master’s in medical law. Given his thirst for education, he has a Post Grad in Global Business from the University of Oxford.

Zubair is a published contributor for Forbes and Campaign Magazine, he continues to be an active commentator for web3, inclusivity in sport and culture.

Bryony Rose

Director, Yext Enterprise International Business.

Bryony Rose is the Director for Yext’s Enterprise International business with over 10 years of SAAS Technology experience, in the AI, Martech and Social spaces.

She has worked across Europe, North America, South Africa, Australia and the Middle East, bringing deep industry expertise and strategic insights; helping Enterprise businesses control their organic digital presence and improve their customer journeys to maximise revenue.

She specialises in working with businesses in the financial, hospitality and retail sectors; consulting on topics such as reputation management and organic search/SEO best practices.

Based in London, she is a regular speaker on AI related topics; recently voted Best Speaker at a London Masterclass event.

Bryony is passionate about growth in female leadership and mentors at the University Women’s Club in Mayfair, London. She studied at the University of Durham with a BA in History and an MA in Medieval History and Latin.

When not on stage discussing AI, Bryony is a professionally trained actress and performer, having studied at RADA, the LSDA and Trinity Laban, specialising in Shakespeare, Classical Theatre and Film.

Dr. Gillian Hammah

Chief Marketing Officer, Aya Data

Gillian is a seasoned marketing executive with almost 30 years’ experience across Ghana and Canada. As Chief Marketing Officer at Aya Data, she leverages her extensive background in strategic planning, brand management, and digital innovation to drive the company’s AI solutions and market presence.

Prior to joining Aya Data, Gillian served as Group Chief Marketing Officer at Databank Financial Services for 10 years, where she led a team of 130+ professionals across 20 locations. Passionate about making an impact and creating positive change, she chairs the Education and Research working group of the World Bank-funded Capital Markets Master Plan and contributes to the Ghana Securities Industry Association’s Education and Training Committee.

Gillian’s international journey includes a notable 15-year tenure at Invesco Canada, showcasing her expertise in crafting award-winning marketing campaigns. A sought-after speaker on investing, leadership, and strategy, she also imparts knowledge as a guest lecturer at the University of Ghana Business School and an adjunct faculty member at NIBS University in Ghana.

Gillian holds a PhD in Business Administration from NIBS University and is also a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Leadership and Governance (FCILG). Recognized as one of Ghana’s 50 most influential CMOs in 2019, Gillian’s journey exemplifies her unwavering commitment to leadership, strategy and continuous learning, making her a valuable partner in helping to drive Aya Data’s mission of transforming businesses through AI innovation.

Jason Quinn

Chief Executive: Nedbank Group Limited

Jason Quinn is the Chief Executive of Nedbank Group Limited. He was previously the Interim Group Chief Executive and Group Financial Director of Absa Group Limited. Prior to that he was a Partner at EY.

Brief Career History
Jason’s career started directly from school with EY, where he studied part-time to become a CA (SA), earning his Bachelor of Accounting Science from Unisa and Post Graduate Diploma in Accounting from the University of Natal. After completing his Advanced Diploma in Auditing at RAU, Jason qualified as a Chartered Accountant with SAICA.

In 2005, Jason returned from three years with EY USA as a Senior Manager in the Financial Services practice of the San Francisco office. He was then appointed as a partner at EY South Africa in the Financial Services practice, becoming the youngest partner in the firm’s history at the time. His 15-year career with EY features many highlights across various disciplines in Johannesburg, London and San Francisco, including advising on Investec Limited’s London listing and transformation into a Plc.

Jason left EY to join Absa Group Limited as Group Financial Controller in 2008 and held various senior roles before being appointed as Group Financial Director and an Executive Director of the Group in 2016. He led the Separation negotiations with Barclays, culminating in a $1 billion contribution to Absa and providing leadership oversight to the successful operational separation over a four-year period.

Other highlights include the successful corporate action to create Barclays Africa Group Limited in 2013 through the acquisition and integration of Barclays businesses across the continent by Absa Group. This R18 billion transaction has yielded significant strategic benefits as well as strong portfolio diversification.

Following a strategic review of the business, Jason led the process of creating South Africa’s largest black-owned asset manager with funds under management of more than R1 trillion through the merger of Absa and Sanlam’s investment management business with African Rainbow Capital. The key highlight remains the recent R12 billion BEE transaction which gained significant stakeholder support and placed the Group on a sustainable Level 1 footing. This will make a real difference to the lives of colleagues and communities and was led by Jason from end to end.

During a period of organisational change, Jason provided leadership to the firm’s Digital, Information and Technology team. Improvements were noted in technology resilience and the cybersecurity control environment, and the focus moved towards reshaping the bank’s digitisation strategy.

Jason was the Interim Group CEO of Absa Group Limited and Absa Bank Limited from April 2021 to March 2022, when he resumed his role of Group Financial Director. As Interim CEO he played a key leadership role in delivering record earnings for the business, refreshing and re-anchoring the corporate strategy with renewed focus on ESG and turning around the performance of the South African consumer franchise. On the ESG front, a successful milestone was the creation of African Rainbow Energy and Power, a black-owned leading investor in the renewables space with a R500 million equity investment and a renewables portfolio in excess of R5 billion.

Jason is a past Chairperson of the CFO Forum of SAICA and a past National Council member of SAICA. He was named CFO of the Year in 2020, also winning in the categories of Strategic Execution and Moving into Africa. For 10 consecutive years, Jason and his Investor Relations Team were recognised as Best at Investor Relations for all listed companies on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange, including large cap financials.
Nedbank Ltd

Khensani Nobanda

Group Executive: Group Marketing and Corporate Affairs, Nedbank Group Limited

Khensani Nobanda is the Group Executive for Marketing and Corporate Affairs at Nedbank Group. As both the executive in charge of marketing, and a member of the Nedbank Group executive leadership, she ensures the cohesive and consistent alignment between marketing messaging, brand positioning and business objectives across the group, while also providing strategic input into various Nedbank structures, committees, and partnerships. Her portfolio also includes leading the social impact agenda for Nedbank through overseeing the bank’s CSI and Transformation programs.

Khensani has a BCom from the University of the Witwatersrand, an MBA from GIBS and Advanced Management Program from Harvard Business School, where she was voted as class speaker for that cohort. She is a member of the board of Effie Awards South Africa, sits on the board of Loeries, is part of the UN Global Compact CMO Forum on sustainability and has recently been appointed as a board member of the IAA’s Global Board of Directors.

Kensi has amassed several accolades in recognition of her contribution to the industry, including top honours as winner of the Loeries 2021 “Marketing Leadership & Innovation” award the “Marketing Industry Leader of the Year” by AdFocus for 2021 and 2024, the 2022 and 2024 “Most admired Marketer in South Africa” award by Marklives.com. and the 2023 Scopen Most admired marketer.

Mukona-Zwonaka Ligege

Student, AAA School of Advertising.

Mukona-Zwonaka Ligege is a dynamic digital marketing innovator driven by a passion for authentic storytelling and a vision to elevate African talent on the global stage. As a junior Search Engine Optimisation Specialist at Accenture Song, she empowers both local and international brands to thrive online-excelling in on-page, technical, and off-page SEO, as well as data-driven reporting.
Her journey is fuelled by a relentless curiosity and a belief that digital marketing is the ultimate platform for solving complex challenges and building real connections. She is a proud cum laude graduate of the AAA School of Advertising, where she was named Top Student in both Advertising and Brand Management for 2023, and is currently completing her Honours in Digital Marketing.

Her leadership and collaborative spirit have earned her accolades such as winning the 2023 One Club Creative Bootcamp and selection for the IAB Front Row programme, which spotlights South Africa’s brightest digital minds.

Her driving force is to inspire young marketers to embrace innovation, champion diversity, and use digital platforms to tell stories that matter. As a panelist at the Nedbank IMC Conference, she brings a bold, youthful perspective and a commitment to shaping a more inclusive, impactful marketing industry.

Micaela Wathen

Student, University of Pretoria

Micaela Wathen (she/her) is an Honours Marketing student and the Academic Officer of the UP SRC.

As a dynamic individual, she has pursued activities and held passions in an array of fields, including performance, business, science, and leadership. Marketing, being the intersection of business and psychology, is how she has sought to reconcile her diverse interests to hopefully one day drive societal change.

In her almost four years at the university and prior to that, leadership has always been something she is drawn to. This is evident in her experiences as a group leader of projects, captain of sports teams, Secretary of the Edmund Rice Society, and Head Girl of her high school – CBC Mount Edmund. Her leadership journey continued as an External Culture Officer directing performances, a Section Editor at PDBY (the largest student publication in Africa), the Chairperson of the EMS faculty house, and currently as the Academic Officer of the SRC at the University of Pretoria.

Her desire is to use all her skills, competencies, experience, and passions to build spaces where all people have access and are empowered to pursue their own greatness, so they may in turn inspire others to do the same.

Preetesh Sewraj

CEO, The Loeries

Preetesh Sewraj, CEO of The Loeries, Africa and the Middle East’s premier brand communications awards and creative excellence initiative.

Sewraj is an experienced business leader trusted by organisations across Africa & the Middle East with regards to insights on Business Excellence, Creativity, Branding and Innovation. He is a regular media contributor with hundreds of appearances in the media around the world including CNN, Campaign Middle East, Marketing Edge Nigeria, SABC News, The Sunday Times, Destiny Man and 5FM. He also cohosted Power Soapbox/Power Edge on Power 98.7’s Power Lunch for six years.

His passions include creative innovation that has the ability to move individuals, societies and individuals in a positive direction. He has spoken at a number of high-profile events around the world including at the United Nations (USA), TEDx (South Africa), Cannes Lions (France) and in countries such as Uganda,
Mauritius and Nigeria, amongst others. Sewraj represents The Loeries on the Unstereotype Alliance, convened by UN Women. He is also a board member of the Association for Communication and Advertising South Africa (ACASA), Shift Impact Africa and a councillor at the MAC Charter Council.

Sewraj is also the co-author of “The book every marketer should read,” published by Tracey McDonald Publishers, and spends a significant part of the year travelling around the world to promote innovative brand communication as a tool for societal and economic progress.

MAJOR MANDISA MFEKA

First Black Female Combat Pilot

Major Mandisa Mfeka is well-known for being the first black female combat streamed pilot in the South African Air Force, as well as being a member of the aircrew that flew in the Hawk Formation Flypast during the Inauguration of our current president (Cyril Ramaphosa).

In 2008, Mandisa enlisted in the SAAF with the goal of becoming a pilot. As a result, she has 14 years of experience. She began flying in 2010 and earned her military pilot’s qualification in 2011. In 2018, Mandisa started her career in the Combat Line and was certified as a Hawk Mk120 Commander. This was part of reframing the narrative for women of color, in what is seen as a male-dominated field. As part of her training, Mandisa had the privilege of flying in formation with the Gripens, delivering bombs to ground, training with simulated air targets, and dogfighting. Air intercept exercises, capability demonstrations, prestigious flypasts, tactical navigation training, and air to air firing exposes, to name a few, have all been part of her experience. Mandisa’s interests however, are not limited to the cockpit. In 2019, she was assigned the additional responsibility of Flight Safety Officer at the Squadron, which resulted to her promotion to Aviation Safety Officer in 2021. Currently, she is assigned to Headquarters in the Air Force Command post as an Airshow Planner.

In addition, Mandisa volunteers at an outstanding non-profit that is making a difference in the lives of hundreds of girls
around the country through STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics) programs. This has been an extremely rewarding opportunity since, not only does the girl obtain access to fields that were previously closed to her, but she also forms connections and shares memories with unlikely companions because to the spirit of Esprit Decor.

WELCOME WITBOOI

Inspirational speaker

Welcome is a former gang boss turned human rights defender, inspirational speaker, actor & accountability coach (registered with the ICR: International Coaches Register) specialising in the field of at-risk youth & children in conflict with the law, youth caught in gangs, substance abuse & addiction. He is multi – lingual and excellent in addressing real life issues, such as bullying, Gender Based Violence and challenges facing vulnerable communities.

Welcome is also the Founder & Director of BrightSpark Foundation SA operating in the Western Cape & Gauteng, as well as the Director of ShortCutz Johannesburg.

Welcome specialises in building and developing people, teams and organisations. His unique approach promises success. While he deals primarily with teams in need of a push, an attitude adjustment or a helping hand (bit of extra assistance), he can also assist high performing teams to excel even further & reach their full potential.

Vaughan Croeser

Vice President, Marketing: The South African Breweries (AbInBev)

After completing his Marketing Honors degree, Croeser joined SAB as a sales representative in 2003, holding various roles in sales and trade marketing. He joined the marketing team in 2013 where he has led some of Africa’s most iconic brands. Vaughan has completed senior leadership programs at Henley Business School & London Business School and has been published in the International Retail and Marketing Review.

During his tenure as head of marketing, SAB has won multiple local and international awards, including Kantar Brand Z, Sunday Times Top Brands, Loeries, Bookmarks, Effies Grand Prix, Clio’s and Cannes Lions. In 2023, Croeser was ranked third in the Scopen Agency most admired marketers in South Africa, and ranked first in the MarkLives.com annual survey as marketer of the year.

Croeser maintains a keen interest in arts, sport and education. He has performed as a soloist trumpeter with the Johannesburg Symphony Orchestra, and is a longstanding patron of The Butterfly Foundation and Muriel Brand School. He serves on the SAB SHARP board which spearheads initiatives that aim to reduce alcohol harm in South Africa.

Dean Oelschig

Founder and Managing Partner of Halo

Founder and Managing Partner of Halo, a specialist creativity agency dedicated to “the long of it”— creating standout brands with enduring impact. Halo has partnered with some of South Africa’s most iconic brands, including Pineapple, Peregrine Capital, Auto & General, RMB, Exclusive Books, Yoco, Capital Legacy, and Cars.co.za.

Dean is a regular columnist for MarkLives and a passionate advocate for the power of compound creativity to build lasting brands. Under his leadership, Halo achieved major accolades in 2024, including the prestigious Grand Effie for creative effectiveness, Financial Mail’s AdFocus Small Agency of the Year, and the coveted overall Agency of the Year.”

Bridget Harpur

Head of Marketing, VW Group Africa

Bridget started her career in advertising and has worked in media, strategy, and account management. She has been with the VW Group Africa for 15 years in Brand Marketing, Sales and more recently as Head of Marketing, PR & Motorsport. Bridget is passionate about strategy, marketing integration and creativity.

MBALENHLE BHENGU (MBA)

Founder of Mind Switch and Marketing Lecturer

Mbali Bhengu is a seasoned marketer and lecturer specializing in integrated marketing communications and advertising. Her diverse career portfolio has introduced her to both public and private sector industries, with a special focus on service-related sectors. In 2018, before she became a lecturer and entrepreneur – she was the Head of Marketing for a medical company based in KwaZulu Natal. This role cemented her love for marketing and communications and her entrepreneurial passion resulted in her starting her boutique marketing consulting agency, Mind Switch.

In 2020, Mbali published her 1st book for small business entrepreneurs. In 2025, her 2nd book for marketers titled, ‘The bold marketing questions we should ask Gen Z’ will be launched.
Mbali lectures Marketing, Advertising and Communications to undergraduates and postgraduates at The University of Cape Town as well as Red and Yellow Creative School Of Business.

She has a Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) attained from the Graduate school of business and leadership in KwaZulu Natal and a BA in Media and Communication and is currently pursuing her Doctorate in Marketing education.

Darren Morris

Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Lucky Hustle

Darren Morris is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Lucky Hustle, an agile, digital-first marketing and advertising agency that combines the science and art of effective ads.

He developed a strong work ethic early on, taking on multiple weekend and night jobs and initiating a tuck shop collection and delivery service during his school years just to make ends meet.

After obtaining a diploma in business management, Morris entered the advertising industry in 2009. He began by working without pay at an agency, where he secured a significant deal with a brand, leading to formal paid employment by the agency – The rest was history.
In 2021, leveraging his experience, hard-work and determination, he established Lucky Hustle. Starting as a one-person operation, the agency has grown to employ over 20 permanent staff members, operating in both South Africa and across the globe.

Lucky Hustle serves a diverse clientele, including prominent companies such as MTN, OTT, and Xiaomi. Morris’s journey underscores the power of perseverance, patience and sheer hard work in overcoming early life challenges and achieving entrepreneurial success.

Ryan Sauer

CEO Redwood Analytics

Ryan Sauer co-founded Redwood Analytics, which specializes in unifying and visualising marketing data for
brands and their partners. Redwood delivers performance strategy and marketing analytics systems to some
of South Africa’s largest brands.
Redwood Analytics is at the cutting edge of marketing analytics growth, working to deliver consolidated data
reporting across multi-brand environments.
Ryan lectures on the Masters programs at Wits Business School, he has guest lectured at GIBS and was the
head of Digital marketing at the AAA school of advertising. He has a deep passion for educating and
training CMO, CTO and CIO levels in relevant digital practices.
With a passion for Marketing Data analytics and strategy to enable strong performance marketing, Redwood
is carving a niche focus on data visualisation and automated reporting in the South African and SSA region.

Stacy Jayne Saggers

Commercial Growth Director, Insights Division, Kantar

Stacy leads Kantar’s Business Growth and Commercial team, bringing over 20 years of experience in consumer research across client and agency roles in FMCG, banking, retail, financial services, and telecommunications.

Her expertise lies in driving brand growth across Africa, focusing on consumer behaviour and the evolving media and creative landscapes.

Stacy spearheads Kantar’s Mzansi Barometer and Africa Life studies across SA, Nigeria, Kenya and Senegal. These annual studies track how consumers respond to their evolving macro and domestic circumstances from media and digital consumption, to household finances and online shopping, to shifting definitions of value.

Living across the continent, Stacy passionately amplifies the consumer voice for Africa’s top brands through her keynote addresses, workshops, and inspiration sessions.

Stacy co-hosts Kantar’s marketing podcast Future Proof Mzansi and her own podcast Colour-Full, where she uses personal stories to challenge stereotypes and promote inclusion. Stacy holds a cum laude bachelor’s degree in Sociology from Rhodes University.

Nomsa Chabeli

Group Chief Executive Officer of the SABC

AIM (UCT); MBA (Henley Business School); In progress MM: Digital Business (Wits University)

Ms Nomsa Chabeli is a dynamic and transformational leader who has demonstrated consistent growth and excellence in all the roles she has held in her illustrious career.

She is a strategic leader who will be able to interpret and execute the SABC’s public mandate while she ensures its financial sustainability. She joins the Public Broadcaster with invaluable experience from Multichoice where she successfully and profitably led SuperSport across various markets in the world. Armed with an MBA from Henley amongst her qualifications, she will be able to lead the SABC to much needed commercial success.

Ms Chabeli is also a serial marketer who has achieved success with multiple corporations including Edcon, Multichoice, MTN and government institutions such as Brand South Africa and Government Communication and Information System (GCIS) IS. Her role at the SABC is a worthy culmination of the strategic roles she has played in the various proudly South African corporations. The SABC is set to benefit from her extensive leadership experience and vision.

She has been involved in the evolution of marketing in this country, including marketing strategy, digital and social marketing, as well as growth hacking which make her an innovative leader who is constantly searching for tools and methods to achieve optimal success.

She is currently pursuing a Masters in Management: Digital Business with Witwatersrand University and stands to gain a skill that the SABC will need in the realm of digital revolution, currently underway across the world. She strives to continue to give back to the country, through lending her skills for the betterment of current and future generations.

Melusi Mhlungu

Founder and Chief Creative Officer, We Are Bizarre

Melusi is an accomplished advertising professional with 14 years of experience. Named Young Creative of the Year in Africa & the Middle East in 2016, he has achieved numerous career milestones, including winning the Young Lions competition in 2018 and creating two Super Bowl commercials for Budweiser and Kraft Foods. His accolades include Cannes Lions, One Show, Clios, Sport Clios, and D&AD awards. Melusi has worked with renowned brands such as Coca-Cola, Adidas, Nando’s, Uber, KFC, and Vodacom, leaving a creative mark on global advertising.
After a long stay in the USA, Melusi returned home and founded a creative shop called We Are Bizarre. He is also a founding partner of a movement called Jozi My Jozi, further solidifying his commitment to fostering creativity and cultural influence in his hometown.

Craig Shapiro

Executive at ENS (Intellectual Property)

Craig is an Executive at ENS, specialising in Intellectual Property (IP) law. With a wealth of experience spanning both local and international markets, he is a qualified trademark practitioner and a Fellow of the South African Institute of Intellectual Property Law. His expertise covers a broad spectrum of IP commercialisation, from providing strategic guidance on IP-related transactions to drafting and negotiating contracts, conducting IP due diligence, and overseeing the management, acquisition, and enforcement of intellectual property.

Craig’s career reflects his ability to merge deep technical knowledge with corporate insight. Having collaborated with South Africa’s leading IP and corporate law firms, and served as General Counsel at a publicly traded company on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange, he brings a unique blend of legal acumen and commercial savvy. His versatile skill set enables him to advise a wide range of clients, from emerging small businesses to globally recognised multinational corporations, always tailoring his approach to their specific needs.

A trusted advisor and a seasoned leader, Craig is committed to navigating the complex world of intellectual property with precision, ensuring clients can effectively protect and leverage their valuable assets in an ever-evolving global marketplace.

DALE HEFER

IMC CEO

Dale is a former SA Businesswoman of the Year, a best-selling author, and an artist whose prints sell around the world. Dale launched the Nedbank IMC in 2019 and under her leadership it has become Africa’s biggest marketing conference.
www.dalehefer.com

Zwelakhe R. Lephoma

Bonus Student Speaker, Red & Yellow Creative School of Business

Zwelakhe R Lephoma is a creative, businessman, and entrepreneur, originally from Pretoria. His journey in the arts began in high school and evolved into freestyling at the age of 16. He immersed himself in various forms of media and entertainment, honing his skills and expanding his creative portfolio.

Mr. Lephoma’s career took a significant turn when he moved to Port Elizabeth, where he connected with local talents and became a frequent guest and intern at BAY FM. This early exposure laid the foundation for his diverse career in media. He later moved to the UK, where he further developed his style and interest in media, returning home to Maseru to create his first mixtape, “The Kurb Side Konnekts Vol. 1.” The mixtape’s launch was a monumental success, marking the largest independent hip-hop event in Maseru at the time. This is where he learnt how to market, advertise, and grow a brand, his brand.
Leveraging this success, Mr. Lephoma expanded his career to include roles such as radio show host on Radio Lesotho’s Backdoor Sessions and TV Presenter and Production Assistant on LTV’s Urban Jamz. This is where he learnt scheduling and planning.

His professional journey continued in Cape Town, where he pursued a Bachelor’s degree in Film and Television Production from City Varsity. Over the years, he has gained extensive experience across multiple industries, including entertainment, advertising, and events management. His roles have ranged from Sales Consultant and Project Administrator to Chief Executive Officer of Braykthru Media, where he diversified operations to include a comprehensive advertising agency and media production entity.

Mr. Lephoma excels in project management, marketing strategy, and content creation, with a proven ability to deliver high-impact marketing initiatives. His technical proficiency includes Microsoft Office, Canva, Adobe Premier, and more, ensuring he can create and manage effective marketing materials.
He is committed to bringing visions to life through innovative communication strategies and is eager to leverage his skills and experience to contribute to dynamic marketing projects.

TOP THOUGHT LEADERS TALK BUSINESS.

This conference is renowned for its carefully selected speakers, ranging from local and global industry legends to unexpected voices ensuring a diverse array of perspectives. We are proud to welcome our confirmed speakers.

Confirmed Speakers

Donovan Goliath

Comedian, Content Creator and Former Adman

Master of Ceremonies

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International Keynote

Lyn Bird

Corporate Vice President for Industry Solutions Delivery (ISD) at Microsoft

Fearlessly Authentic: Building Relationships That Power Your Brand

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International Keynote

Charl Bassil

Chief Brand Officer, BBC

Reimagining Iconic Brands – from South Africa to the world.



International Keynote

ZUBAIR TIMOL

Partner and Global Vice President, Culture at Meltwater

Africa’s Advantage: Leapfrogging with AI and Cultural Capital.



International Keynote

Bryony Rose

Director, Yext Enterprise International Business.

Hyperlocal is Lekker! Search Fragmentation and the Rise of AI.



International Keynote

Dr. Gillian Hammah

Chief Marketing Officer, Aya Data
Recognised as a top 50 CMO in Ghana

People or AI? The business decision facing marketers today.

Jason Quinn

Chief Executive: Nedbank Group Limited

What every CEO wants from marketing but is too polite to ask.



Youth Panel

Khensani Nobanda

Group Executive: Group Marketing and Corporate Affairs, Nedbank Group Limited

Facilitator: Appreciating Assets. Our rising stars speak out.



Youth Panel

Mukona Ligege

Student, AAA School of Advertising.

Panellist: Appreciating Assets. Our rising stars speak out.



Youth Panel

Nozizwe Sibisi

Student, University of Johannesburg

Panellist: Appreciating Assets. Our rising stars speak out.



Youth Panel

Micaela Wathen

Student, University of Pretoria

Panellist: Appreciating Assets. Our rising stars speak out.

Preetesh Sewraj

CEO, The Loeries

What’s up with these awards?

Ten-Minute Motivation

MAJOR MANDISA MFEKA

First Black Female Combat Pilot

Breaking Barriers and Dealing with Pressure.

Ten-Minute Motivation

WELCOME WITBOOI

Inspirational Speaker

From Breaking Bad to Business Grad.

Vaughan Croeser

Vice President, Marketing: The South African Breweries (AbInBev)

Not another Marketing Pep Talk; The Real Playbook for turning creative bravery into business results.

Dean Oelschig

Founder and Managing Partner of Halo

To look where no one else is looking.



Realtime Video Challenge

Bridget Harpur

Head of Marketing,
VW Group Africa

Role: Client



Realtime Video Challenge

MBALENHLE BHENGU (MBA)

Founder of Mind Switch and Marketing Lecturer

Role: Influencer



Realtime Video Challenge

Darren Morris

Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Lucky Hustle

Role: Video Creator in Chief

Ryan Sauer

CEO Redwood Analytics

Measuring Marketing Effectiveness through Data.

Rea Leopeng

Wellness Expert/Yoga Teacher

Bend your body. Stretch your profits.

Five-Minute in your seat Stretch.

Stacy Jayne Saggers

Commercial Growth Director, Insights Division, Kantar

The Mzansi Barometer gets down to Business! Ten insights in ten minutes.

Nomsa Chabeli

Group Chief Executive Officer of the SABC

Why a CEO should drive Brand Vision from the Top.

Melusi Mhlungu

Founder and Chief Creative Officer, We Are Bizarre

Creating the Most Interesting Brand in the Room.

Craig Shapiro

Executive: IP, ENS

IP: What they didn’t teach you in marketing school.

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Bonus International Speaker

Thokozani Unyolo

Chief Executive Officer, Air Cargo Malawi Limited

Marketing Without Borders: Navigating Africa’s Diverse Business Landscape.

Thoko’s presentation will be shared with other speaker presentations on the Event App Library.

Dale Hefer

IMC CEO

It’s all in the mind!
The Business Mindset.

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Bonus Student Speaker

Zwelakhe Lephoma

Student, Red & Yellow Creative School of Business

The Culture Capital Equation: Converting Influence Into Equity in the Modern Marketplace.

Zwelakhe’s presentation will be shared with other speaker presentations on the Event App Library.