Speakers & Panellists

AIE offered inspiring case studies, controversial debates and engaging conversations on what AI means for us all, now, in 2027, and beyond 2030.

Day 1 focused on AI in business: how it’s transforming sales, marketing, hiring, strategy, finance, and creativity.

Day 2 took a step back to look at broader societal shifts: from climate change and wellness to education, ethics, and leadership in the age of AI.

Colin Timmis

Regional Director for EMEA, Xero.

Colin Timmis is a SAIPA-certified accountant and Regional Director for EMEA at Xero, with over 12 years’ experience in accounting and cloud software. He was South Africa’s first Xero advisor and previously served as Xero’s Country Manager.

I’m speaking on:

7 August.

EO Insights Hub.

Ross Drakes

Founder, Nicework.

Ross Drakes is the founder of Nicework, a branding company helping leaders build brands people care about. He now explores emergent technologies, guiding businesses to adopt innovation without losing humanity, creativity, or what makes them worth remembering.

I’m speaking on:

8 August.

Main Auditorium.

Heléne Smuts

Group Chief Executive Officer & Founding Partner, Credo Growth.

Heléne is the founder and CEO of Credo Growth, a TEDx speaker, author, and behavioural psychology expert. She empowers leaders globally, helping teams thrive through coaching, profiling, and over 15 years’ experience across start-ups and multinational corporations.

I’m speaking on:

7 August.

Main Auditorium.

James Saunders

Co-founder and Chief Technology Officer, RelyComply.

James is a technologist and Co-Founder/CTO with a background in mathematics and computer science. He’s built AI-driven platforms across industries, spanning risk modelling, robotics, energy systems, and more, most notably co-founding BusinessOptics, a company focused on advanced data and automation solutions.

I’m speaking on:

8 August.

EO Insights Hub.

Nicole Adriaans

Business Executive: Data, Analytics & AI, BlueSky.

Nicole Adriaans is a data and AI strategist helping enterprises drive measurable transformation through responsible AI, analytics, and modern data architecture. She champions inclusive innovation, bringing a human-centred approach to technology and advocating for equity and women in leadership.

I’m speaking on:

7 August.

Main Auditorium.

Daniel Avinir

Chief Executive Officer & Co-Founder, Solid Systems.

Daniel Avinir is CEO and Co-Founder of Solid Systems, a Microsoft Hyper Cyber Security and IT provider. With 20+ years’ experience, he helps businesses embrace technology meaningfully while protecting against evolving threats with a practical, people-first approach.

I’m speaking on:

8 August.

EO Insights Hub.

Rahul Jain

Chief Executive Officer & Co-Founder, Peach Payments.

Rahul Jain is Co-founder & CEO of Peach Payments, a top payment gateway in Africa. An IESE 40Under40 honouree, he helps businesses improve online payments, customer experience, and risk. He has spoken at leading fintech and e-commerce events.

I’m speaking on:

8 August.

EO Insights Hub.

Kabelo Makwane

Country Director, Google.

Kabelo Makwane is Google South Africa’s Country Director, bringing over 20 years of experience in tech leadership. He has held executive roles at Vodacom, Accenture, Microsoft, and Cisco. A passionate biker and father of two, Kabelo is committed to driving innovation and digital transformation across the region.

I’m speaking on:

7 August.

Main Auditorium.

Lolo Pearl Schrimpton

Retail Executive, Microsoft.

Lolo Pearl Schrimpton is Retail Executive at Microsoft with 15+ years in tech. She drives digital retail innovation, customer engagement, and inclusive growth, with past leadership roles at Vodacom and fluency in seven languages. Passionate about people, service, and transformation.

I’m speaking on:

8 August.

EO Insights Hub.

Linda Saunders

Country Manager and Senior Director, Salesforce Africa.

Linda Saunders is Country Manager and Senior Director at Salesforce Africa, driving AI-powered digital transformation. With expertise in customer-centric innovation, she empowers businesses to scale sales, service, and marketing while championing human skills for the AI era.

I’m speaking on:

7 August.

Main Auditorium.

Steven Sidley

Professor of Practice, JBS, University of Johannesburg Partner, Bridge Capital Future Advisory.

Sidley is Professor of Practice at JBS, University of Johannesburg, a partner at Bridge Capital, and author of seven books. He writes widely on tech and finance, with a focus on AI, crypto, and digital ownership.

I’m speaking on:

7 August.

Main Auditorium.

Gianni Giacomelli (Virtual)

Head of Design Innovation, MIT Center for Collective Intelligence.

Live from Berlin, Gianni joins Catherine Lückhoff to unpack how AI is transforming work. From predictive to agentic AI, this keynote explores practical examples, leadership strategies and a playbook for thriving in an AI-augmented, human-amplified future.

I’m speaking on:

7 August.

Main Auditorium.

Africa Melane (MC, Day 1: 7 August)

Talk Show Host, CapeTalk & 702.

Africa Melane hosts the Early Breakfast Show on CapeTalk and 702. A seasoned broadcaster and arts advocate, he is also vice chair of Cape Town Opera and chairs the judging panel for the Fleur du Cap Theatre Awards.

I’m speaking on:

7 August.

Main Auditorium.

Alan Winde

Premier, Western Cape Government.

Premier Alan Winde, a former entrepreneur and naval officer, entered politics in 1996. Known for his innovative, disruptive, and caring leadership, he became Western Cape Premier in 2019. He is passionate about service, family, and making a difference through politics.

I’m speaking on:

7 August.

Main Auditorium.

Musa Kalenga

Group Chief Executive Officer, Brave Group & Former Client Partner at Facebook Africa.

Musa Kalenga is Group CEO of Brave Group, former Facebook Africa Client Partner, and a pioneering digital strategist. A Chartered Marketer and youth advocate, he’s recognised for his leadership in marketing, brand innovation, and digital transformation across Africa.

I’m speaking on:

7 August.

Main Auditorium.

Jos Dirkx

Global AI Strategist, Keynote Speaker, Best-Selling Author, Top 100 Women in AI, MicroInfluencer, Inventor, Thespian.

Jos Dirkx is Founder of Beenova AI, Chief AI Strategist at Turner, bestselling author, global speaker, and Top 100 Women in AI. She advises Fortune500s on human-first AI strategy and builds transformative tech solutions impacting thousands worldwide.

I’m speaking on:

8 August.

Main Auditorium.

Dillon Jearey

Founder at KILOW∆TT, Co-Founder at 180DIGIT∆L, Co-Founder at 3PE∆K STUDIO, AI Empowerment Trainer, Lego Serious Play and Enneagram Facilitator at Circle Forward Global.

Dillon Jearey is a South African entrepreneur, global facilitator and trainer dedicated to levelling up human potential by leveraging AI. A Faculty member of the VJAL Institute AI in Dubai, his energetic sessions inspire growth, innovation, and curiosity.

I’m speaking on:

TBC.

Dana Pretorius

Co-Founder & Head of Innovation and Special Projects, Outsourced CFO.

Dana Pretorius is Co-founder of Outsourced CFO and Head of Innovation, leading AI integration across operations, client services, and team development. Passionate about people and technology, he drives experimentation, future-focused thinking, and scalable business solutions through strategic innovation.

I’m speaking on:

7 August.

EO Insights Hub.

Thapelo Nthite

Co-Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Botlhale AI Solutions.

Thapelo Nthite is the Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Botlhale AI, building African language NLP tools for inclusive digital engagement. A UCT Mechatronics graduate, he’s led Botlhale to major awards, funding success, and partnerships with top African corporations.

I’m speaking on:

8 August.

EO Insights Hub.

Beverley Schäfer

Director of Strat Diplomacy Advisors.

Beverley Schäfer is a systems strategist, AI and wellness futurist, and founder of Sovereign Systems. A former Parliamentarian, she advises leaders on ethical governance, regenerative health, and conscious technologies, with a focus on sovereignty, clarity, and multidimensional strategy.

I’m speaking on:

8 August.

Main Auditorium.

Gaurav Devsarmah

MBA & AI/ML Practitioner, Head of AI at Warp Development.

Head of AI at Warp Development and former founder of Xibon AI, acquired by Warp, he helps businesses implement practical AI solutions. With an MBA and data science background, he bridges strategy and technology to deliver scalable, impactful outcomes.

I’m speaking on:

7 August.

Learning Lab.

Geoff Cohen

Partner, DYDX & Former CEO of 24.com.

Geoff Cohen is a Partner at DYDX, specialising in digital transformation across retail, media, and marketplaces. Formerly CEO of 24.com, he brings deep expertise in product strategy, investment advisory, and has played a key role in South Africa’s digital media evolution.

I’m speaking on:

8 August.

Main Auditorium.

Tyler Reed

Founder, xgmi.

Tyler is an entrepreneur, advisor, and investor focused on building companies people love. As founder of xgmi, he’s creating agentic software to 10x human potential, drawing on deep experience in coding, scaling startups, and navigating exits and failures.

I’m speaking on:

8 August.

EO Insights Hub.

Shirley Eadie

CEO, Whole Human Studios. Eduction Strategist & Harvard Graduate School of Education.

Shirley is an education strategist with over a decade of experience advising ministries and shaping policy. As CEO of Whole Human Studios, she helps institutions navigate the intersection of AI and education, with a global perspective and Harvard training.

I’m speaking on:

8 August.

Main Auditorium.

Chris Roper

Senior Strategist, Code for Africa.

Chris Roper is a senior strategist at Code for Africa. He has served as editor-in-chief of the Mail & Guardian and 24.com. He is author of the Reuters Institute’s SA Digital News Reports for South Africa 2019-2025.

I’m speaking on:

8 August.

Main Auditorium.

Michael Yolland

Head of AI, Pepkor IT.

Michael Yolland is Head of AI at Pepkor and a digital transformation leader with a passion for simplifying complexity. He thrives on change, explores new ideas daily, and connects innovation to practical outcomes that empower people and businesses.

I’m speaking on:

7 August.

EO Insights Hub.

Karen Allen

Journalist & Founder, Karen Allen International.

Karen Allen is a seasoned journalist and former BBC foreign correspondent with 25+ years of experience covering conflict and politics. She now consults on information integrity, narrative control, and tech, and has lived in Africa for over 20 years.

I’m speaking on:

8 August.

Main Auditorium.

Louise Liddell

Senior Solutions Architect, AWS.

Louise is a Senior Solutions Architect at AWS with experience in insurance and defence. She’s passionate about machine learning, sustainability, and analytics, and is curious about when Artificial General Intelligence will become a reality.

I’m speaking on:

7 August.

EO Insights Hub.

Felix Norton

Managing Director, Woww.

Felix is the founder of Woww, an award-winning digital agency helping businesses grow online. Passionate about AI, he explores AIO and GEO to scale digital presence and accelerate business growth through large language models and smart automation.

I’m speaking on:

7 August.

Pitch & Power Lab.

Siya Khumalo

Author.

Siya Khumalo is the author of You Have to Be Gay to Know God and The Queer Book of Revelation. A former soldier turned off-label business consultant, he explores religion, politics, sex, and technology as modalities of power. Siya is Director of Communication at Ready4Life, a cross-continental ESG systems innovation organisation, and writes for platforms such as The Daily Maverick, News24, and MambaOnline.

I’m speaking on:

8 August.

Main Auditorium.

Derek Wilcocks

Chief Information Officer, Discovery Group.

Derek is Discovery’s Group CIO, with executive experience in Internet and IT Services. A Wits graduate with further studies at Stanford and University of London, he also advises MTN MoMo and Ikusasa. He’s a passionate runner, reader, and birder.

I’m speaking on:

7 August

Main Auditorium.

Matthias Bellmann

Chief Executive Officer, Passion.io.

Matthias helps SaaS, eCommerce, and creator businesses grow profitably with AI-powered marketing engines. After teaching 52,000+ students on Udemy, he built an 8-figure SaaS and now shares tools, templates, and tactics to help you achieve peak independence.

I’m speaking on:

7 August.

Main Auditorium.

Braden van Breda

Chief Executive Officer, AI Diagnostics.

Braden started his career developing cardiovascular implants, seeing the impact of delayed disease detection, he co-founded AI Diagnostics to develop diagnostic solutions for frontline workers. AI Diagnostics’ flagship product accurately detects tuberculosis by analysing patients’ lung sounds.

I’m speaking on:

8 August.

TBC.

Werner Stucky

Chief Executive Officer, Stubber.

Werner co-founded an ISP serving six African countries before launching Stubber to automate business inefficiencies. Passionate about AI, he has led major LLM projects in South Africa since 2023, driving innovation in AI-driven business transformation.

I’m speaking on:

TBC.

Kyle Torrington

Co-Founder & Director, Taylor Torrington and Associates Law Firm.

Kyle Torrington is a commercial lawyer and legal tech entrepreneur, pioneering AI-driven contract tools. As Co-Founder of Legal Legends, Loft Legal, and AirCounsel, he delivers scalable, fixed-fee legal solutions globally and champions innovation in legal workflows and attorney-grade automation.

I’m speaking on:

8 August.

EO Insights Hub.

Chris Shortt

Group Chief Technology Officer (CTO), Shoprite Holdings.

Chris Shortt, CTO at the Shoprite Group, brings over 30 years of global experience in digital and retail technology, leading strategic initiatives across Africa. He specializes in POS systems, SAP Retail, digital transformation, and enterprise architecture.

I’m speaking on:

7 August.

EO Insights Hub.

Jose Rodrigues

Chief Data Analytics Officer, Woolworths.

Jose Rodrigues is the Chief Data and Analytics Officer at Woolworths, driving business transformation through AI, digital innovation, and data-led strategies. He partners with high-performing teams to enhance efficiency, customer engagement, and sustainable commercial growth through execution excellence.

I’m speaking on:

7 August.

EO Insights Hub.

Catherine Lückhoff

Co-Founder & CEO, 20fifty. Award-Winning Tech Leader, Mentor & Global Speaker.

Catherine Lückhoff is the CEO of 20fifty, an AWS Partner leveraging cloud, AI and design to build future-focused solutions. She’s an award-winning tech leader, mentor and global speaker with a passion for innovation, strategy and industry transformation.

I’m speaking on:

7 August.

Main Auditorium.

Deshni Govender

Country Advisor: FAIR Forward – Artificial Intelligence for All, GIZ.

Deshni Govender is a lawyer, fintech expert and AI ethicist driving inclusive AI policy in Africa. She champions locally relevant innovation through leadership roles, open-source initiatives, and AI education, advocating for accessible, ethical technology shaped by African voices.

I’m speaking on:

8 August.

TBC.

Yvonne Wakefield (EO Cape Town)

Chief Executive Officer, Caveat.

Yvonne is an attorney, advocate, and legal disruptor. Through her platform, Caveat, she delivers cross-jurisdictional commercial and M&A services, using tech-driven, lean models to reshape legal practice and empower businesses with efficient, high-quality legal support.

I’m speaking on:

8 August.

EO Insights Hub.

Andi Friedman (EO Cape Town)

Founder, Upgrade LX.

Andi is an entrepreneur and leader with 20+ years’ experience in tech and social impact. He is the founder of EdTech company UpGrade LX, and a long-standing Entrepreneurs’ Organisation member and past president of the Cape Town chapter.

I’m speaking on:

8 August.

TBC.

Jade Abbott

Co-Founder & Chief Technology Officer, Lelapa AI.

Jade Abbott is CTO and Co-Founder of Lelapa AI, advancing NLP for African languages. With over a decade of experience, she’s earned global recognition, including MIT Innovators Under 35, for her work in tech, language, and inclusive AI innovation.

I’m speaking on:

8 August.

TBC.

Nazareen Ebrahim

Founder, Naz Consulting. AI Ethics and Policy Practitioner, Top 100 Brilliant Women in AI.

Nazareen Ebrahim is a South African communications technology entrepreneur and AI ethicist. She leads Socially Acceptable, advises on AI ethics and policy, and speaks globally on the intersection of technology, governance, and social impact.

I’m speaking on:

8 August.

TBC.

Emma Sadleir

Founder and Chief Executive Officer, The Digital Company. South Africa’s Top Social Media Law Expert.

Emma Sadleir is South Africa’s top social media law expert and founder of the Digital Law Company. She educates diverse audiences on online legal risks, reputation management, and digital safety, and co-authored two bestselling books on social media law.

I’m speaking on:

8 August.

Main Auditorium.

Archana Arakkal

Lead Research Engineer, Synthesis Software Technologies.

Archana Arakkal is a Lead Research Engineer at Synthesis Software Technologies, with a PhD in privacy-preserving AI and multi-agent reinforcement learning. She co-founded SisonkeBiotik, a grassroots community advancing AI and data science for health across Africa.

I’m speaking on:

8 August.

Main Auditorium.

Tamir Kessel

Climate Tech Entrepreneur, Former Executive at Google.

Tamir Kessel is a climate tech entrepreneur and a former executive at Google, that he joined through the $200 million BreezoMeter exit.  With a background in strategy and business development, he specialises in scaling Impact tech solutions across global markets.

I’m speaking on:

8 August.

Main Auditorium.

Ian Thomson

Co-Founder, The Guardians Cooperative.

Ian Thomson is a South African-based American investor, incubator, and former U.S. Marine focused on building anti-fragile organizations that protect what matters most. He leads The Guardians, a cross-cultural charitable task force dedicated to youth and environmental stewardship, and Enough Ventures, a consultancy and incubation platform integrating AI with values-driven strategy. With over 25 years across four continents, Ian supports people and teams in defining and realizing their visions—as a friend, founder, facilitator, and father—guided by the mantra: “When I have TooMuch, I share. When I have Enough, I stop. And I always protect things that matter–especially children, nature, and those who cannot defend themselves.”

I’m speaking on:

7 August.

EO Insights Hub.

Mike Scott

APAC Director, Warp Development.

Mike is a two-time exited founder, business coach, and APAC Director at Warp Development. With 20+ years’ experience, he helps companies adopt AI and scale software teams. He also hosts the How to Be Moderately Successful podcast.

I’m speaking on:

7 August.

Main Auditorium.

Jarred Cinman

Chief Executive Officer, VML.

Jarred Cinman is the CEO of VML South Africa. A digital advertising pioneer, he’s spent over 30 years shaping the industry through innovation, creativity, and purpose-driven work that blends technology, insight and impact for visionary brands.

I’m speaking on:

7 August.

Main Auditorium.

Nevo Hadas (EO Cape Town)

Founder and Managing Partner, DYDX.

Nevo Hadas is the Founder of DY/DX Digital, a transformation consultancy. With 25+ years’ experience, he designs award-winning products, lectures on Human-Centered Design, and leads innovation projects for global brands focused on digital transformation and workplace rehumanisation.

I’m speaking on:

7 August.

TBC.

Derek Wilcocks

Chief Information Officer, Discovery Group.

I’m speaking on:

7 August

Main Auditorium.