2022 SESSIONS
Take a look back at some of our favourite 2022 sessions!
Telco to TechCo - How African Telecoms is Evolving with the Continent
SPEAKERS:
- Nitesh Singh, MD and Lead for Communication, Media and Technology, Accenture South Africa
- Ashraff Paruk, Digital service Executive Head, Cell C
- Nina Triantis, Global Head, TMT, Standard Bank
- Dejan Kastelic, Group Chief Technology Officer, Vodacom
- Siyabonga Mahlangu, Group Executive: Regulatory Affairs & Government Relations, Telkom
- Todd Ashton, VP & MD: Ericsson South & East Africa, Ericsson
DESCRIPTION:
For African telecoms, change is nothing new. But even for an industry in constant motion, the scale and pace of recent disruption has been unprecedented. The session explores how shifts in enterprise markets and consumer behaviour coupled with increasing investment and partnership are driving accelerated change, as operators diversify beyond connectivity to protect profit in a changing world.
Looking Back, Going Forward: How Africa's Tech History Contains the Roots of its Future
SPEAKERS:
- Russell Southwood - CEO, Balancing Act Nika Naghavi - Executive Director, MNOs, MFS Africa
- Andile Ngcaba - Chairman, Convergence Partners
- Funke Opeke - CEO, MainOne
- Nic Rudnick - Group Deputy Executive Chairman, Liquid Intelligent Technologies
DESCRIPTION:
From the first mobile roll-out in Africa to the present day, Africa’s communications revolution has taken 36 years and, arguably, this is just the end of the beginning. This sessions brings industry veterans who played key roles in this historic journey together to tease out what it can tell us about what will happen over the next ten years.
- Mobile data & infrastructure: how roll-out barriers were negotiated and what work remains
- Mobile money the transformer: how these services came to be born and the future of this 'magic sauce'
- Digital life: how Africans have taken to using the internet and why the best is yet to come
- Innovation & start-ups: what lit the fuse for African start-ups and how they will change how business is done in Africa?
Defeating Cybercrime to Win the Race for Fintech Leadership
SPEAKER:
- David Lotfi, CEO of Evina
DESCRIPTION:
Telecommunication companies are now more than ever looking to gain a significant share of the digital economy and increase their profitability. At the same time, and for too long, these operators have been side-lining a particularly profitable business where they possess all the advantages: fintech. In this session, led by David Lotfi, CEO of Evina, discover:
- Why telecom operators can become the most prominent fintech players on the planet.
- How protected operators have been able to reconcile hyper-growth and security, reopen their markets and take full advantage of the power of one-click payments.
- Why security is the most crucial battleground to seize this unique opportunity.
Enterprise Empowered - Supercharging the Digital Disruption of Africa’s SMMEs
SPEAKERS:
- Nitesh Singh, MD and Lead for Communication, Media and Technology (CMT), Accenture South Africa
- Habiba Ben Barka - Chief of Africa Section, United Nations Conference on Trade & Development
- Joseph Ndaba - Commissioner 4IR/CEO MDIHub, Republic of South Africa
- Nastassha Dooks - Business Executive Head - SME & SOHO, Vodacom
- Masha Mathopane - Director: Inclusive Economy at Gauteng Department of Economic Development, Gauteng Provincial Government.
DESCRIPTION:
Small, medium & micro enterprises are Africa’s economic backbone. The sector’s scale is breathtaking: SMMEs comprise 90% of the private sector, employing more than 80% of the workforce, totaling 44 million. The fact that its power remains ‘potential’ indicates a sector that remains acutely underserved. This session explores how placing Africa’s SMMEs at the centre of the digital revolution and equipping them with the tools to thrive will unlock economic development across sectors, regions, and demographics. • Digital gap: SMMEs are often late digital adopters, rarely by choice. How can improved access to communities, markets, financial services, and data tackle investment and infrastructure gaps? • Government: unpacking why policy and regulation must be the first steps in creating enabling lending frameworks and nurturing ecosystems for the continent’s nascent enterprises.
The Building Blocks for Africa's 4th Industrial Revolution
SPEAKER:
- Nic Rudnick, Group Deputy Executive Chairman, Liquid Intelligent Technologies
Tech Horizons: Innovation Trends for Africa’s Next Decade
SPEAKERS:
- Danson Njue Senior Research Analyst Omdia
- JP van der Merwe Head of Investment Promotion WESGRO
- Lavina Ramkissoon Chairperson & Co Founder Fintech Association of South Africa
DESCRIPTION:
Technological innovation has already transformed Africa. Record internet penetration & financial investment, a lead in mobile money innovation, and a rising, wealthier middle-class are all meaningful indicators of the progress delivered by tech-enabled digital economies - but what next? This session looks ahead to what innovations are coming down the line in the next 10 years, and how these new technologies aim to deliver real-world solutions to the continent’s most urgent priorities - connectivity, education, trade, agriculture, healthcare, and financial tech. Innovation drivers: exploring the support networks and vehicles that drive tech innovation in Africa - policy & legislation, market access, PPPs.
Building a More Digital and Inclusive Africa
SPEAKER:
- Jérôme Hénique, Chief Executive - Middle East & Africa (OMEA), Orange
Lighting Up the Future with Nonstop Innovation - Africa Tech Festival 2022
SPEAKER:
- Leo Chen President, Sub-Saharan Africa Region Huawei
This is Cape Town - Building Africa's Innovation & Investment Hub
SPEAKER:
Alderman Geordin Hill-Lewis - Executive Mayor of Cape Town, The City of Cape Town
DESCRIPTION:
This session analyses Cape Town's unique position as a tech hub and what it takes to create an environment that will boost tech innovation and accelerate business development
Connectivity and Access to Information for Landlocked Countries
SPEAKER:
- Dr Lado Wani Kenyi Undersecretary for Ministry of ICT & Postal Services
Keynote from the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies, Republic of South Africa
SPEAKER:
- Hon Mr Philly Mapulane Deputy Minister, Department of Communications and Digital Technologies Republic of South Africa
Limitless Connectivity, Limitless Possibilities
SPEAKER:
- Fadi Pharaon, Senior Vice President & Head of Market Area Middle East & Africa at Ericsson.
DESCRIPTION:
The digitalization trend is accelerating in Africa with continued strong growth in mobile network access. With the 4G era already here in many countries, and 5G on the horizon, the value of connectivity for social and economic prosperity will continue to increase. As 4G and 5G become widely available, ground-breaking consumer and enterprise innovations will happen, enabling digitalization at scale. In this session, new ways of enabling limitless possibilities for innovation and digital transformation will be discussed and we will look at the near term focus on 4G investment while paving the way for 5G.
A New Era of Connectivity? What Equiano Means for Africa
SPEAKERS:
- Ngasuma Kanyeka - Head of communications, UNICEF
- Nitin Gajria - Managing Director, Sub-Saharan Africa, Google
DESCRIPTION:
- Status: Equiano made its first African landing in Togo in March 2022 - which other countries will be connected, and what major milestones remain for the project?
- Impact: what will terabit-sized capacity increases and faster fibre mean for enterprise, and can these benefits translate into more affordable home broadband for African consumers?
- Catalyst: can the cable help address the issue of poor fibre penetration in underserved nations inland? And what impact will this have on job creation
Into the Metaverse - Africa’s Place in a New Virtual World
SPEAKERS:
- Louise Claassen - Co-founder & Creative and Technology Lead, ORBmersive
- Alex Masu - Head of Africa and Middle East - Network Investments, Meta
- Brian Afande - Co-Founder & Managing Director, BlackRhino VR
DESCRIPTION:
The chances are that if you’re interested in technology, you’ll have heard the term ‘Metaverse’ recently. The Metaverse, like much of the tech that enables it, remains at a nascent stage of development, but estimates have put its revenue potential at $800B by 2024. Many global tech brands are already betting big on the idea, and the dream of an immersive, business-ready 3D world is very much alive. This session looks past the hype to explore real-world application of a new virtual universe for business and consumer, dives into how Africa aims to build its own unique space in the Metaverse and how pioneers are leveraging new tech to make this vision a reality.
Digital Skills Africa - Why an Educated Youth is Key to Unlocking the 4IR
SPEAKERS:
- Paula Gilbert - Editor, Connecting Africa
- Fiona Tabraham - Chief Executive, CapaCiTi
- Chris Fabian - Co-founder & Co-Lead, Giga - UNICEF
- Anita Van Vuuren - Chief Education Specialist (CES), Western Cape Government
DESCRIPTION:
A median continental age of 20, 60% under the age of 25, the world’s youngest continent - you’ve already heard the statistics, but what do they really mean? The answer is very little without the education and training to turn Africa’s youthful population into skilled, productive contributors and beneficiaries of the continent’s Fourth Industrial Revolution. There’s no denying the incredible potential Africa’s youth presents but to still be talking about ‘potential’ in 15 years would be an opportunity squandered. This panel session unpacks how governments, development agencies, tech giants, and start-ups are working to ensure the continent’s youth are given the connectivity, environment, skills and opportunities to ensure Africa takes its rightful place on tech’s global stage.
- Targeted training: prioritising in-demand industry skills is critical to ensuring employability in a labour market that gains on average 11 million workers each year
- Forgotten majority? Highlighting and funding fledging young entrepreneurs with the right support at the right times is critical to taking them from micro-enterprise to global business