Professor, Biomedical Scientist And Director: Technology Transfer & Innovation At The Durban University Of Technology, South Africa
Director of Audit: Wealth, Investment Management and Insurance, Absa Group, South Africa & Project Lead, Africa Tourism Innovation Hub
Chief Executive Officer, Hospitality EQ, Kenya
Founder & Chief Executive Officer of Fortunatus Advisory LLC
IT Strategist & Business Consultant, CEO, Liranz Limited
Senior Specialist Department Of Innovation, Education And Investments World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), Spain
Senior Manager, Intrapreneurship, United Kingdom
Deputy CEO – General Services, Ghana Tourism Authority, Ghana
Lecturer, Coordinator & Learning Development Facilitator, University of Johannesburg
Department Head, Senior lecturer, Department of Tourism and Hospitality at the Namibia University of Science and Technology, Namibia
Doctor of Education – Sport Tourism, Illinois State University, USA
I.T Specialist - Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), Deutsche.
Professor, Biomedical Scientist and Director: Technology Transfer & Innovation at the Durban University of Technology
Prof. Keolebogile Motaung is a Full Professor, Biomedical Scientist and Director: Technology Transfer & Innovation at the Durban University of Technology with more than 23 years’ experience in Higher Education. She is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Global Health Biotech (Pty) Ltd. As a Professor, research scientist and entrepreneur, she trains her postgraduate students not just on how to do research, and become a scientist, but also on how to become entrepreneurs. By becoming entrepreneurs, they can create jobs for themselves after completing their studies at a time, when jobs are scarce, and unemployment is high.
Based on her own scientific exploration into the use of medicinal plants in tissue engineering of bone and cartilage, she founded a company called Global Health Biotech (PTY) Ltd in 2016. Global Health Biotech has developed a natural anti-inflammatory ointment named La-Africa Soother (LAS) from medicinal plants which helps relieve muscle and joint aches, thus offering athletes, sportsmen and women an alternative natural anti-inflammatory ointment. This is the first product of its kind aimed at preventative care, meaning it is applied ahead before and after physical activity to prevent anticipated muscle aches.
This product, packaged in a green and white tube, is already available on the market. Motaung has also licensed a technology from Stellenbosch University to develop a second product named pump protein shake (vegan friendly plant-based). The product simultaneously leads to decreased muscle inflammation which leads to accelerated regeneration and may be more effective as an anti-inflammatory agent than known non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) and with less side-effect. She is an award winner and has received a number of accolades from far and wide because she has thrown the gauntlet in bridging the gap between science and entrepreneurship.
Director Of Audit: Wealth, Investment Management And Insurance, Absa. South Africa
He is the Director of Group Internal Audit: Investment Management and Insurance at Absa Bank South Africa and an academic with a vested interest in the Futures as a discipline. He has presented on this subject matter at several conferences and organisations and has received numerous accolades. He is a PhD Candidate (Wits) and holds an MBA (Stellenbosch), MCOM (Wits), BSc Hons Management (UJ), BSc IT & Mathematics qualifications.
Chairperson, Innovation Challenge and Africa Tourism Innovation Hub, Kenya
With over 25 years of experience in the international Hospitality & Tourism industry, he has been a prominent presence in the field. He is currently leading the commercial activities for Portier Technologies, a company that provides the industry with technology which enhances the guest experience and enhances engagement with the hotel.
Barry was chosen as one of the Global 100 most influential leaders in the industry during the Global Mice Congress in Mumbai this year and has been a regular invited speaker at several international Hospitality & Tourism conferences around the world.
With proven commercial understanding, product, and business development skills, he has also been appointed to the adjudication panel for the Africa Youth in Tourism Innovation competition. And will act as a mentor to one of the winners.
Founder & Chief Executive Officer of Fortunatus Advisory LLC, Safiyya Akoojee is an astute legal & private advisor based in Dubai. She is a qualified South African Attorney maintaining her status on the High Court Bar in South Africa. She has
worked as an advisory professional, completing transactions on Foreign Direct Investments into Africa, offshore corporate strategy, legal counsel, UAE company establishment and a complete suite of advisory services.
Safiyya serves as the International Director for Thomson Wilks Inc., where she has practiced for 14 years, focusing on Middle East strategy & legal consulting. She advises a multitude of international clients both in the Middle East and the African continent. She has also served as President of the South African Business Council,
Dubai U.A.E and represented South Africa in procuring foreign direct investment.
Having held leadership posts in multiple businesses and providing global expertise with legal insights to advise corporations, companies, and executives alike. Safiyya has an acute business acumen and foresight allowing her to advise her clients on the intricacies of cross border transactions whilst providing access to laws and regulations. Safiyya has mandates representing clients across various businesses &
industry sectors, including oil, gas & energy; travel, tourism & hospitality; food manufacturing; real estate & construction, automotive and technology sectors.
She speaks regularly at conferences on international investments and the international legal environment providing insights to regulations and supporting business opportunities, whilst overcoming cross border and governmental challenges.
Safiyya holds degrees in Bachelor of Arts (Law, International Relations, English), University of Witwatersrand; Bachelor of Laws (LLB), University of South Africa; Post Graduate Certificate, Commercial & Corporate Law, University of London (awarded merit*); Post Graduate Diploma, Banking & Finance Law, University of London (awarded merit*); Masters of Law (LLM), Banking, Finance & Corporate Law,
University of London.
IT Strategist & Business Consultant, CEO, Liranz Limited, Ghana
Mr. Nicholas Bortey, CEO and founder of Liranz Consulting, A leading IT Consultancy and Management Firm in Ghana, is as an accomplished authority in the realms of Business and Technology, showcasing his exceptional leadership within Ghana’s IT sector. His remarkable contributions have earned him accolades both locally and internationally, affirming his prowess. With a focus on IT Strategy and Business Consultancy, his reputation shines brightly, underscored by a history of successfully guiding enterprises in areas of Business Transformation, Digital Innovation, and Technology Consulting.
Mr. Bortey’s distinctive talent lies in aligning business objectives with the most fitting technological solutions, resulting in the prosperity of numerous ventures. Drawing from 20+ years of extensive
experience, his expertise spans Governance of Enterprise Information & Technology, Strategic IT Planning, Organisational Change Management, IT Services Management, IT Project Management, IT Consultancy, as well as Training & Capacity building.
His profound impact on the technology sector gained recognition from the West Africa Nobles Forum, which inducted him as a Noble in 2018. Has also received an “Africa International Award of Merit” by the West Africa International Press Ltd for his exceptional leadership within Ghana’s IT sector. Some of his honors include the following:
Mr. Nicholas Bortey has consulted for top industry players across various sectors including Oil and Gas, Education, Legal Practice and Non-Governmental Institutions on various assignments in Ghana and beyond the sub-region.
Mr. Bortey’s drive lies in empowering enterprises to optimize their operations and yield through a comprehensive Information Technology strategy. He advocates for businesses to perceive IT as a valuable investment rather than a mere burden, fuelling his unwavering commitment to elevating organizations
through the strategic implementation of technology.
Senior Specialist, Innovation and Digital Transformation, Office of the Executive Director, World Tourism Organization (UNWTO)
José Ricardo Díaz Ardila currently works in the Innovation and Digital Transformation team of the Innovation, Education and Investments Department of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO). During this period, he has been in charge of the UNWTO Acceleration Programme, the UNWTO Rural Tourism Competition and the UNWTO Sustainable Development Goals Global Startup Competition.
His experience includes previous work for the Youth Chapter of the Hotel and Tourism Association of Colombia (COTELCO) and Shangri-La Hotels & Resorts in the Sultanate of Oman. Recently, he has collaborated as Mentor Coordinator for the EUvsVirus Hackathon, a project from the European Commission to find solutions for COVID-19 challenges.
Dan is a leader in corporate innovation and startup acceleration. With a proven track record of developing startup ventures and driving innovation for renowned clients like Sumitomo Corporation, Lloyd’s of London, and Metro Bank etc. Dan is passionate about delivering impact and positioning clients as industry leaders in innovation. Developing 9 Ventures that collectively raised $12 million in seed funding, generating a remarkable commercial value of $170 million across both developed and emerging markets.
Dan collaborates closely with C-Suite and high-performing teams to implement innovation best practices. He’s confident across diverse sectors, including Finance, Agriculture, Healthcare, Education, and Energy. Dan excels in identifying promising opportunities, shaping business models, assessing commercial viability, and setting up for early-stage investment readiness.
Being deeply immersed in all aspects of corporate innovation and startup acceleration, Dan has a genuine passion for sharing new ideas and enjoys giving back to others as a startup mentor, thought leader, and speaker.
Deputy CEO – General Services, Ghana Tourism Authority, Ghana
Ben Anane-Nsiah is a Deputy Chief Executive Officer, General Services of the Ghana Tourism Authority based at its Head Office in Accra. He has had extensive experience stretching over two decades in tourism operations and management and has previously handled the Ashanti Region, Marketing, Special Events and Product Development and Investment Departments of the Authority.
His current schedules as Deputy Chief Executive Officer requires that he provides strategic leadership, technical, and administrative support for effective management of resources for the achievement of the mandate of the Authority including the coordination of the development of medium to long term strategic plan for the organization.
He is bilingual (French/English) and holds a Bachelors of Arts, French and Economics Degree from the University of Ghana, Legon. He also holds a Master’s Degree in Tourism Management from the University of Cape Coast in Ghana and a Diploma from the University of Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
He has been actively involved in the planning and execution of strategies designed to propel the development of Tourism in Ghana these last few years and is a keen advocate of enhanced Intra-Africa Regional Tourism.
Lecturer, Coordinator & Learning Development Facilitator, University of Johannesburg, South Africa
Maipato Caroline Mmako is a lecturer, Coordinator and Learning Development Facilitator at the University of Johannesburg. Passionate about student success and student development, she has worked on an initiative called Africa by bus where she planned, organized, and facilitated 3 trips across 3 African countries with more than 250 students by bus. She presented at the South African National Resource Center (SANRC) on how the Africa by bus initiative encourages experiential learning and affords young people the opportunity to experience the different cultures in Africa while exploring the beautiful continent.
She forms part of the first cohort of fellows who were part of the Tennessee State University Research programme with a focus on student learning and adaptation; looking at the Nashville Next Plan. She loves working with young people and that saw her working in collaboration with a youth organization in Soweto where she led, collected, and donated over 250 books for the Nelson Mandela Day book drive.
She is also an avid reader and loves traveling.
Department Head, Senior lecturer, Department of Tourism and Hospitality at the Namibia University of Science and Technology, Namibia
Dr Isobel Manuel holds a PhD in Tourism and Hospitality, a Postgraduate Diploma in Heritage Conservation and Management, a Postgraduate Certificate in Higher Education (Cum Laude) and a Master in Leisure Project Management. She is at present employed as a senior lecturer in the Department of Tourism and Hospitality at the Namibia University of Science and Technology, Windhoek. She is also the Head of Department which oversees both the academic department and commercial NUST Hotel School.
She is currently the Deputy Chair of the Board of Directors at the Windhoek Country Club and Deputy Chair of the Council on the National Arts Council of Namibia. Her involvement in local community projects and activities speaks to her portfolios on the various government boards and of which she takes great pride to be able to share skills and knowledge for the upliftment of the respective entities which in turn benefits the community at large.
As a seasoned academic her research interests are of cultural, creative, heritage, and sustainable tourism management which seeks to empower local communities more specifically women, and which she has published in various journals and book chapters.
In her spare time, she is an avid reader of novels and biographies and enjoys spending time with her husband and four kids.
Doctor of Education – Sport Tourism, Illinois State University, USA
Prof. Kamilla Swart is Associate Professor and Director of the Masters in Sport and Entertainment Management (MSEM) program at Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Qatar. She also serves as Senior Research Associate, School of Tourism and Hospitality, University of Johannesburg. Previous positions include Director of the Centre for Tourism Research in Africa, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Cape Town. Her research interests include sport, tourism, and events, focusing on mega-events, policies, strategies, monitoring and evaluation, legacy, sustainability and inclusion; in the developing context, and in the global South in particular.
Kamilla has nearly 30 years’ experience in sport, tourism and events that spans academia and the private sector and has consulted broadly in both the public and private sectors. She served as Sport and Facilities Manager at the Cape Town 2004 Olympic bid and a sponsorship consultant for Octagon SA. She headed up the Durban Events Corporation, a public-private partnership with the City of Durban to use events to attract tourism. She also led the 2010 South Africa FIFA World Cup research agenda.
Kamilla has an established track record of research excellence, having published over 50 peer-reviewed articles, 25 book chapters, and numerous conference presentations and technical reports. Kamilla co-authored the first U.S. text on sport tourism (2002) and recently co-edited the Research Handbook on Major Sporting Events (Edward Elgar, 2024). She is an Associate Editor for the Journal of Destination Marketing and Management and Frontiers in Sports and Active Living. Kamilla served as Co-Chair of the World Association of Sport Management 2023 Qatar Conference. She serves on the Advisory Board of the Qatar Olympic Academy and the Advisory Committee (research pillar) of the UNESCO Chair on Governance & Social Responsibility in Sport. Kamilla is committed to building local capacity and empowering the next generation.
I.T Specialist - Gesellschaft Für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), Deutsche.
I am an experienced and results-driven IT specialist with extensive experience designing, implementing, and maintaining complex IT systems. Capable of analysing business requirements and delivering innovative technology solutions to improve efficiency, security, and growth. Capable of working with cross functional teams. Proficient in a variety of IT domains such as network administration, system integration, cybersecurity, and digitalization.
Currently, I work for Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) as an I.T Specialist. GIZ is committed to assisting the Malawian Government in areas such as improving systems for essential public services that will be required for a young and growing population: health and social protection, assisting children by improving teacher training and nutrition, stimulating entrepreneurship and livelihood development through private sector development in rural areas, and assisting with public financial management
improvements. I act as GIZ Malawi’s technology vision. I have consistently demonstrated a strategic mindset and a results-driven approach in previous roles. I have worked in various clinical research institutions (Johns Hopkins project, Malawi Liverpool welcome Trust and Malaria Alert Centre, demonstrating my ability to navigate complex environments and deliver impactful results.
Key Accomplishments:
Jean Byamugisha is the CEO of the Uganda Hotel Owners Association, the only trade association for the Hotel Sector in Uganda. With over 600 member hotels, UHOA is the biggest as well as one of the oldest private sector Associations in Uganda’s tourism sector.
Ms. Byamugisha is the first female CEO of the Association as well as the youngest CEO in the history of UHOA. When Jean took over as CEO, the Association had 202 Members and she has steadily grown the association to 625 members in 6years, making her one of the best performing CEO’s in the history of UHOA. She has also been recognized as one of the 20 Best performing CEOs in Uganda in a national survey carried out in December 2018 and 2019. She was voted among the top 100 women in Tourism in Africa in 2017 as well as one of Uganda’s Top 40 CEO’s under 40 in 2018. She was also voted as one of Uganda’s 50 most admirable women in 2020.
Ms. Byamugisha has a Bachelor’s Degree in Tourism Management from Makerere University, one of Africa’s oldest and best universities as well as a host of post graduate certifications from different international training institutions. Jean is very passionate about the tourism industry and has acted as Mentor to many hospitality students in different universities in Uganda. In her spare time, Jean is an avid reader and traveller.
