Africa's Premier Innovation and Start-up Summit

Commissioner Joseph Ndaba

Founder of Mafikeng Digital Innovation Hub and appointed Presidential Commission on the Fourth Industrial Revolution (Commissioner) under the leadership of President Ramaphosa, an expert in delivering professional and innovative training interventions. A qualified Assessor and Facilitator, my passion for IT has acquired great work ethics and business experience in both the big corporate and SMME enviroments.

Cleola Kunene

Winner of Future Leaders Entrepreneurial Leader 2024 and Mail & Guardian Woman of Power, Business for 2023. Cleola is a champion of Small Business growth & funding & high growth coach for African Entrepreneurs. As an entrepreneur herself, she has also been instrumental in investing and growing companies in industries from e-commerce, green energy to commodities.

Cleola had demonstrated her capability as a precision business growth expert. She has grown companies in excess of 53% in revenue and aided in increasing jobs, reducing red tape and supporting economic development. Her expertise include business coaching, capital readiness, capital access, market access and strategic pivoting. She honed her skills as an entrepreneur and aiding hundreds of companies in their growth journey. Most notably as part of the JSE she has successfully built the most successful Accelerator Programme in Africa.

Cleola is an advocate for equality, African economic development and has worked tirelessly to promote investment and financial literacy in Africa.

Alderman JP Smith

Alderman Jean-Pierre Smith was born on 13 July, 1971. He attended Micro Primary School and matriculated at De Kuilen High School, both in Kuilsriver, Cape Town. He continued his studies at Stellenbosch University where he achieved a BA degree in English.

In addition to serving as the Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, he is also a Proportional Councillor assigned to Langa and serves on the Provincial Executive of the Democratic Alliance (DA). He previously served as the ward councillor for Ward 58 (Atlantic Seaboard).

Ald Smith served on the board of an NGO working with street children and worked with a variety of NGOs that assist homeless children and adults, including the Western Cape Street Children’s Forum and the Central Street People’s Forum (which he chaired for two years). He started the Atlantic Seaboard Refugees Association and the Atlantic Seaboard Domestic Workers’ Association and served on the Civilian Oversight Committee of the Cape Town Metro Police.

He previously taught English abroad and conducted computer software research and development. His interests include paragliding, kayaking, politics, reading, IT and gadgets of all descriptions, science and technology, organized electronic sports and computer network gaming, cinema, table-top, simulation and board games, animals, travelling and exploring the diversity of people and cultures.

Dr Audrey Verhaeghe

Creativity and innovation is our untapped and unlimited resource. I am privileged to lead initiatives that assist our nation to use it better as individuals and as collectives to improve our position in the world. As an Executive Chairman leveraging close to three decades of global industry expertise in the science, technology and innovation landscape, my experience has enabled me to successfully provide innovative consulting services to both the public and private sectors. My area of accountability includes directing the development and implementation of ground-breaking projects and programmes as well as constructing strategic policies and frameworks to ensure that tech entrepreneurs move forward. Due to my drive and passion, I embarked on a 10-year journey to establish the SA Innovation Summit which is now recognised as the largest innovation event in South Africa that integrates business, academia, and government. I have successfully concluded over 50 innovation challenges that are technology-based, I enjoy identifying business opportunities, invest in them and grow them.

Patrick Krappie

Patrick Krappie is the Acting CEO of the Technology Innovation Agency, having served in various senior management and executive roles in the agency. Mr. Krappie has a strong management background, having held senior positions in government institutions specialising in economic policy and negotiations. He holds an Honours degree in economics and has vast international working experience in England and Switzerland serving as a diplomat for 8 years representing South Africa as a negotiator in the World Trade Organisation, World Intellectual Property Organisation, and the United Nation Conference for Trade and Development. He was involved in the establishment of the TIA, facilitating the merger of seven entities of the Department of Science and Innovation.

Robin Padberg

With over 20 years of international management experience, Robin J. Padberg offers a unique blend of private sector and development expertise. Mr. Padberg is currently the Chief of Party (COP) for the, USAID-funded, Southern Africa Mobilizing Investment project implemented in Johannesburg by DAI Global. Mr. Padberg joins SAMI having successfully led the Rwanda Nguriza Nshore Activity as COP for DAI in Kigali. Prior to his move to Rwanda, Mr. Padberg worked as an independent consultant for an array of development firms such as RTI International, Dexis Consulting Group, Papyrus SA and ABT Associates. In 2019, Mr. Padberg completed an assignment as COP for the, USAID-funded, Local Enterprise and Value Chain Enhancement (LEVE) project in Haiti implemented by RTI International. Before joining RTI International, Mr. Padberg was employed as Country Director for TechnoServe (Haiti), a global nonprofit organization focusing primarily on the economic development of SMEs and smallholder farmer communities. From 2012 – 2013 Mr. Padberg played a pivotal role as an independent consultant in structuring and negotiating the terms that culminated in the sale of the historic Hôtel Villa Créole in Haiti. Mr. Padberg served as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Communication Cellulaire d’Haïti S.A. (ComCEL), Haiti’s leading mobile telecommunications provider — owned by Seattle-based, Trilogy International Partners, operating under the brand name, Voilà, which was successfully sold to the Digicel Group in 2012. Having joined the company in 2007 as Chief Commercial Officer (CCO), Mr. Padberg was promoted to CEO in February 2008. Returning to Haiti in December 2004, Mr. Padberg was appointed as Honorary Consul of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in November 2005 and subsequently promoted to Honorary Consul General in 2014. Mr. Padberg is a seasoned international executive having previously held senior positions with such companies as Descartes Systems Group (supply chain execution software) from 2002 to 2004, Tech Inspirations (venture capital) from 1998 to 2002 and Baan USA (ERP software) from 1997 to 1998. Mr. Padberg holds dual graduate degrees from the University of Miami, a MBA and a MS in International Business.

James Scott

James, with 24 years in digital transformation and banking, served as Chief Digital Officer at Absa Corporate and Investment Bank, leading the disentanglement of Absa and Barclays Plc across Africa. In 2021, he founded ThoughtLab and Hive Ventures, focusing on digital impact and tech-forward startups. By 2023, he expanded ThoughtLab to include ThoughtLab Technologies and ThoughtLab Ventures, addressing niche client needs. His experience spans the UK, Ireland, Kenya, Tanzania, and South Africa, covering sales, business technology, client solutions, and product design.

Dr Annemarie Lombard

Dr. Annemarie Lombard is the Founder and CEO of Sensory Intelligence® Consulting, with over 33 years of experience in people development and learning. She holds a PhD in Occupational Therapy from the University of Cape Town and practiced as an occupational therapist for 15 years, focusing on neurodiverse children with special needs. As a thought leader in sensory processing, she authored “Sensory Intelligence: Why It Matters More Than IQ and EQ” and is a frequent speaker at conferences. Her company, established in 2003, applies neuroscience to develop practical tools for leaders, teams, and healthcare professionals globally. Annemarie lives in Cape Town with her family.

Jonathan Elcock

Jonathan Elcock is an accomplished entrepreneur with a background in Actuarial Science from the University of Cape Town (UCT). His journey into the world of startups began with Zestlife, where he gained invaluable experience. As a pivotal member of the founding team at MiWayLife, Jonathan led the sales division, contributing significantly to the company’s growth and success.

In 2017, Jonathan Elcock co-founded CompariSure with Matthew Kloos, a venture that later evolved into rather.chat in 2023 under his leadership. His innovative spirit and dedication to leveraging technology for consumer empowerment continue to drive his success in the dynamic landscape of digital business solutions.

Gigi Ngcobo

Gigi Ngcobo, is the Venture Scale Lead at Injini and one of the Mail & Guardian’s 200 Young South Africans for 2023. Passionate about innovation and technology, Gigi has over five years of experience in venture capital in the US and as a venture builder and accelerator in South Africa. At Injini, she helps EdTech startup founders scale their businesses, aiming to expand access to quality education for children across Africa.

Her entrepreneurial journey began at 16 when she founded an NGO focused on teaching ethical leadership in underprivileged communities. While studying at the African Leadership Academy, Gigi founded a company advocating for the LGBTQ+ community. Gigi was a Mastercard Foundation Scholar at Michigan State University, where she launched the MSU African Business Symposium to explore innovation and venture capital in Africa.

Darryl Dennis

Darryl Dennis, with over 28 years of experience in IT, is the CEO of the Nelson Mandela Innovation Hub. His background includes a legal education from Nelson Mandela University and management training from Manchester and Stellenbosch Universities. As CEO since 2020, Darryl has expanded the Hub by opening new centers in township economies and strengthening its role in incubation and acceleration, supporting startups, and building partnerships with governmental and academic entities. He also holds board positions with several tech councils and was the former National Chairperson of the Black Information Technology Forum, advocating for Black IT professionals.

Rosheen Ngorima

Rosheen Ngorima is a Seasoned Professional Accountant by qualification and an award- winning entrepreneur predominantly based in Dubai and South Africa

She is a Forbes Business Council Member
Founder of Neeps Accounting Services
Founder of Female Founders Initiative Global
CoFounder of Melwil Logistics, a company that handles procurement for government entities and private sector.
She is a Co-Founder of Nutrir Foods which is a herbal supplements company that she started with her husband who is a scientist

UNWOMEN Business Mentor for Europe and Central Asia and Member of Dubai Business Women Council

On her journey to entrepreneurship, she noted a HUGE gap in support services especially for female entrepreneurs, being the problem solver she is, sho founded the fastest growing organization for female entrepreneurs in Global called Female Founders’ Initiative Global (FFIG) an organization for female founders offering a platform where aspiring and established entrepreneurs can receive support, guidance, and funding opportunities for their startups.

The organization’s tagline, is: “We don’t compete, we collaborate!” encouraging women to collaborate and assist each other grow in business. Throughout her career she had gained vast experience in various sectors such as retail. Telecommunications, legal, and e-commerce just to name a few. She lives by simple mantra, “people are currency, invest in creating networks

• Rosheen Ngorima has received the following awards:
• 2020 | Business Finance Leader of the Year- She Awards, Dubai.
• 2021 | Best Full-Service Bookkeeping & VAT Services Company, UAE MEA Markets 2020 | Best Brand of the Year-Women World Wide Do Dubel.
• 2022 Top 50 Women in Management Awards in Africa
• 2023 | Professional Service Provider of the Year by Entrepreneur Middle East in collaboration with Mastercard
• 2023 Recognized as one of the 60 exceptional African women at the prestigious Pan African Women Summit, Africa Union