Kakungulu Brenda Asasira is a visionary leader and founder of Bris Agro Safaris, a pioneering agrotourism company that showcases the beauty and potential of sustainable agriculture in Uganda. As CEO, Brenda has spearheaded initiatives that promote agroecological practices, community engagement, and environmental stewardship. With expertise in agrotourism development, agriculture education, and agriculture communication, Brenda has become a respected figure in the industry.

Through Bris Agro Safaris, Brenda has developed a range of innovative experiences, including food tourism, farm tours, farm vacations, farm camps, and farm trainings. These initiatives not only educate visitors about sustainable agriculture but also inspire them to adopt environmentally friendly practices. Bris Agro Safaris’ services also include agrotourism development, agribusiness consultancy, and other tailored solutions to support farmers and rural communities in diversifying their income streams and promoting sustainable livelihoods.

Currently, Brenda’s network spans over 500 agrotourism enthusiasts, including host farmers, agrotourists, and clients of their services. This extensive network enables Bris Agro Safaris to foster meaningful connections and collaborations that drive positive change in the agriculture sector. To further promote agrotourism, Brenda actively seeks partnerships with other tourism operators, integrating agrotourism adventures into their itineraries and expanding the reach of sustainable agriculture experiences.

Brenda’s work focuses on creating awareness about sustainable farming practices, promoting healthy food systems, and diversifying farmers’ incomes. Her commitment to empowering communities and promoting sustainable agriculture has earned recognition, including winning numerous awards and being acknowledged as an expert in agrotourism.

Under Brenda’s leadership, Bris Agro Safaris has become a model for agrotourism development, demonstrating the potential for agriculture to drive economic growth, environmental sustainability, and social impact. Her dedication to promoting sustainable agriculture and community development continues to inspire others to join her mission.

Mmoloki is the Founder & Director of Story at Lowapi Drone Light Shows, a Pan-African destination experience company that blends storytelling with advanced drone technology to create immersive experiences that offer a new benchmark for global visitor engagement at our culture and heritage sites. He has launched a flagship experience called “The Portal” , an after-dark open air theatre visual story living experience that sees 1,000 drones take to the sky and choreograph stories of our myths and legends associated with our culture & heritage destinations. This new tourism product invites tourists to engage with African heritage in a new way that solidifies and reinforces our position as a global hub for innovation in culture and entertainment. His expertise in weaving destination storytelling with technology makes him a trusted partner for DMOs, National Tourism Boards, and Cultural Institutions seeking to enhance visitor engagement, amplify global visibility, and champion sustainable tourism while safeguarding cultural heritage through stories that are local in truth but global in reach.

Nouran Farouk is a social entrepreneur and the Co-founder of Dosy Bikes, a tech-driven platform that empowers women in Egypt through sustainable micro-mobility. With a mission to break barriers in gender and transportation, Nouran launched Dosy to provide women with scooter and bicycle training, job opportunities as instructors, and access to safe, eco-friendly transport solutions. Since its founding in 2019, Dosy has reached over 7,000 customers and trained 300 women as certified riders. Nouran combines her background in healthcare and operations with a passion for inclusive innovation to drive social and environmental impact. She is committed to scaling Dosy’s model across Africa to create safer, greener, and more accessible mobility for women.

Edgar Mwila is a 27year old Zambian entrepreneur and youth leader committed to promoting tourism and youth empowerment. He is the Founder and CEO of Beautiful Zambia, a platform dedicated to showcasing Zambia’s natural and cultural beauty. He also serves as Co-Founder and Director of the Youth Tourism Association of Zambia (YoTAZ), which equips young people with skills and opportunities in the tourism industry.

Edgar holds a Diploma in Clinical Medicine and a Diploma in Operations Management, alongside certificates in International Business and Marketing. His diverse background enables him to lead impactful projects that bridge youth development and tourism growth.

He was honoured with the Future African Leaders Award in 2019 and the National Youth Award in 2020 for his outstanding contributions.

Through his work, Edgar empowers youth to take pride in their heritage and participate actively in shaping Zambia’s future as a top tourism destination.

Octavius Maketo is a Namibian entrepreneur and law graduate born in a small town of Katima Mulilo Eastern part of Namibia .Octavius Maketo founder Ubuntu Aquatics CC, a company that integrates aquaculture and technology with farming. Ubuntu Aquatics CC innovative approach to sustainable agriculture by the by the method of Aquaponics, that allows us to use technology to farm all year around in a controlled environment. The main focus of the business/ Project is to raise different species of fish that is found of the Namibian market such as Tilapia, Catfish and vegetables at the same time using re-circulating water system to save water. Ubuntu Aquatics CC mission is to turn Namibia desert into our oasis of Aquaponics farmers.

Chukwudi Dike is a versatile entrepreneur with a strong foundation in finance and extensive experience across technology, sales, real estate, and retail operations. He holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Finance, which underpins his strategic approach to business development and growth.

Chukwudi began his career as a database developer, where he built essential technical skills in data management and system design. This early exposure to technology equipped him with analytical thinking and problem-solving abilities, which have been instrumental in his entrepreneurial journey.

He later ventured into owning and operating vending machine businesses, gaining hands-on experience in retail management, operations, and customer service. This role highlighted his ability to identify business opportunities and effectively manage day-to-day operations to ensure profitability.

Chukwudi also has a background as a sales professional, where he developed strong communication skills and an in-depth understanding of market dynamics. His sales expertise enables him to build lasting client relationships and drive revenue growth across various sectors.

Additionally, he has experience in real estate management, overseeing property operations and investment strategies. This role enhanced his knowledge of asset management and provided insight into long-term value creation.

Combining his multidisciplinary background, Chukwudi approaches entrepreneurship with a well-rounded perspective, blending finance, technology, sales, and operations. His passion lies in creating innovative solutions that address real-world challenges and generate sustainable business growth.

Today, Chukwudi continues to leverage his diverse skill set to build ventures that make meaningful impacts in emerging markets, driven by a commitment to excellence and forward-thinking leadership.

Daniel Balmun is a technical product manager, entrepreneur, and serial startup operator. Currently based in Jos, Nigeria, with a career spanning 7+ years in software development and technology innovation. 

Daniel has a passion for leveraging technology to solve real-world challenges, he has made significant contributions to multiple industry sectors. In the tech sphere, Balmun has excelled as a product manager, notably leading teams to build software solutions for MDAs like JAMB, NPC, NIMC, UNICEF, and other sundry local and global projects, streamlining processes for millions of users, and most recently bringing together highly talented travel innovators and operators to build solutions for the Travel and Tourism industry in Africa. 

Dora (f.k.a Trvelr) is a groundbreaking travel platform with a deep proposition for promoting authentic African experiences and simplifies travel planning to Africa.

Dora is a comprehensive travel solution that provides users with Access to a Travel Search Engine, Tour Marketplace, and AI-powered Trip Planner, as an Africa-first platform empowering travelers to discover curated experiences like cultural tours and safaris while supporting local communities through sustainable tourism. 

Bruno Komurubuga is a Ugandan fine artist and innovator with a Bachelor’s Degree of Industrial and Fine Arts from Makerere University Kampala. He brings a unique blend of creativity and technology to QueBuster, a startup revolutionizing event registration in Uganda’s $431 million business events market with queue-less paperless sign up. Doubling as Creative Lead at CHUNZI Technologies and Co-founder of Bakash Media Foundation, Bruno has honed his ability to design scalable, innovation-driven solutions across di erent sectors like Hospitality, Education, Culture and Heritage and others. His three years of experience working Events Warehouse, a corporate events management and experiential marketing, provided first hand insight into the pain points of manual registration during conferences, trade-shows and corporate meetings, inspiring QueBuster’s mission to eliminate long queues and troublesome validation. Bruno conceptualized QueBuster in 2024, iterating through names like DA Experiences and Signups before landing on a brand that perfectly captures its queue-busting focus By collaborating with a flexible team, including his global network as a WEF Global Shaper and Jim Leech Mastercard Fellow, he is driving QueBuster through its pre-seed stage, promising to deliver a queue-less paperless registration solution tailored for Uganda’s event organizers. His vision ensures QueBuster’s prototype features, like virtual queuing and QR code check-ins, resonate with organizers and attendees, positioning the startup for growth and impact. 

Check out Bruno Komurubuga’s Profile on LinkedIn | QueBuster’s Crunchbase Profile

My name is Mokenti Samuel, a proud Motswana born and raised in the Okavango Delta. I have over 13 years of experience in the safari and tourism industry, having worked with leading companies such as &Beyond, Great Plains Conservation, Natural Selection, and Disney World in Orlando. Over the years, I’ve served as a guide, walking safari leader, and camp manager, always passionate about delivering unforgettable experiences while protecting our natural heritage.

I’m the founder and general manager of Pride Plains, a 100% citizen-owned mobile safari company offering authentic, affordable adventures across Botswana. My goal is to provide high-quality safari experiences that support local communities and promote responsible tourism. I also founded the Okavango World Festival, an annual event that celebrates culture, nature, and unity in the Panhandle region. The festival creates opportunities for local artists, youth, and businesses, while showcasing Botswana’s rich traditions to the world. In addition, I run an NGO called Ecolife, which focuses on conservation, research, and community upliftment. I believe in using tourism as a tool for positive change both for the environment and for people.

I hold diplomas in Tourism and Hospitality, Environmental Science, and Community Development, and I’m currently studying Business Management to further strengthen my leadership skills. Everything I do is guided by my love for the Okavango Delta, my commitment to conservation, and my desire to empower local communities. I believe in humble beginnings, strong values, and working together to build a better future.

Thank you

Idris Abdulhamid Ayomide is a passionate young innovator from Bassa Local Government Area in Kogi State, Nigeria. He is the Founder of Terra Origin, a tourism initiative inspired by the vibrance of WakaWaka_ a name that reflects movement, culture, and African pride. Idris is driven by a simple but powerful belief: Africa’s stories, places, and people deserve to be celebrated by the world, through the people who live in them.

With a background in computer science and a strong love for coding he is building Terra Origin to blend technology with storytelling. The platform connects travellers  through shared experiences, offering more than just destination reviews. Users can explore curated tour packages, attend cultural festivals, and uncover authentic local attractions across Africa.

At its core, Terra Origin promotes responsible tourism by encouraging meaningful engagements with local communities. Beyond sightseeing, travellers have the opportunity to observe traditional processes like Kano leather making, tie-dye techniques, beadwork, and other cultural crafts gaining deeper appreciation for the heritage and skill behind African artistry.

Idris is passionate about uplifting communities and ensuring tourism serves as a tool for economic growth, cultural preservation, and local empowerment. His growing interest in data science allows him to explore how data can enhance travel experience, making tourism more personalized and spotlighting lesser known destinations that deserve attention.

Being Selected as one of the top 20 finalists in Tourism Innovation challenge 2025 marks a proud milestone in his journey.  Idris is on a mission to help the world see Africa not just as a destination, but as a living story __ Vibrant, diverse and deeply human.

When he’s not building or brainstorming, you’ll likely find him exploring somewhere new soaking the culture that inspires it, listening to Afrobeats, or connecting with young changemakers.

Ngwenya. Married father of 4, with a ±106 year old great grandmother. Ngwenya has

13 years experience in community tourism destination development, civic

engagement, entrepreneurship and 15 yrs in the professional arts field. He is a

multimedia specialist, project manager, conceptualist, explorer, self taught social

scientist and arts leader. He is currently concluding his honours in the arts at WITS.

Upon directing and managing an arts and science expedition that took him from his

hometown, Alexandra Township, to Antarctica South Pole in January of 2008. He

came back with a mobile solar and wind powered workstation for his townships’

creatives to see and use. Siphiwe proved to the South African community that his

vision is more than just offering social solutions for creative youth in peril but

creating an image and ethos for South Africa that sits proudly in global destination

development practices.

Ngwenya is much more than just an artist, he is South Africa’s ambassador that has

been shaped in the fire of people’s pain in the township of Alexandra Johannesburg.

As a vanguard of Hip Hop culture and expression, it is interesting to know that he is

the founding member of South Africa’s pop phenomenon, Skwatta Kamp.

Keeping to his philosophy of the home being the epicentre of cultural affairs,

Ngwenya has found himself turning more than 100 of peopleʼs homes in townships

around South Africa into tourism destinations. A feat that brings to the locals:

character, identity, income and a new sense of where the arts and tourism should be

heading.

Through Ngwenya’s expertise gained on the ground, he can create reputable

business development strategies based on a broader economic ethos of the nation.

He can oversee projects and liaise effectively with internal teams, multi field

specialists, outside agencies and suppliers in coordinating programmes.

Siphiwe has completed various international leadership and arts management

courses with institutions such as Business Arts South Africa, Red Bull Amaphiko

Social Entrepreneurship Academy, Common Purpose, the Mandela Washington

Fellowship and the Salzburg Global Seminar to name a few.

Siphiwe has a great lead of the digital, number, written and spoken language. His

interpersonal relationship attributes allow him to work sustainably with teams,

creators, providers, thought leaders and creatives in a humble, successful and

reputable manner. His discipline encompasses an ongoing learning process which he

shares with those around him. His readiness to develop and spearhead INNOVATIVE

strategies and teams for the development journey of South Africa’s arts and tourism

economy will prove to be progressive, enlightening and a great advantage for years to come.

Lillian Chungu Mumbi is an aspiring leader in tourism, currently pursuing a Bachelor’s in Travel and Tourism Management at the Zambia Institute for Tourism and Hospitality Studies in zambia, and Currently doing her internship with The Ministry Of Tourism In Zambia. Distinguished semi-finalist in the prestigious ATP Youth In Innovation Challenge 2025 (Top 20),

 Lillian is recognized for the groundbreaking Ecotourism Digital Passport. This initiative leverages blockchain technology to revolutionize sustainable tourism, aligning with Africa’s dynamic shift towards responsible and impactful travel.

As the visionary founder of Tourism Beyond Borders Africa TBBA, a rapidly growing travel agency launched six months ago, Lillian is dedicated to showcasing the diverse beauty and rich cultural heritage of all of Africa. The platform actively promotes a pan-African narrative, Promoting connections and driving sustainable economic growth.

Lillian’s commitment extends beyond entrepreneurship. As a proud member of the African Congress Zambia, Lillian actively contributes to shaping national leadership and governance initiatives. Furthermore, as a full-time member of the National Council for Students Unions in zambia and serving as the Vice-Media Director at her institution, Lillian champions student empowerment and youth engagement. This powerful blend of academic rigor, entrepreneurial drive, pan-African advocacy, and active leadership firmly positions Lillian at the forefront of the evolving African tourism landscape.

Methode Minani, born in 1995, is a
Burundian environmental expert, passionate
about eco-tourism and conservation. He is a
graduate of the University of Ghana as MPhil
in Environmental Science, and he is both
fuent in English and French. He always
envisions to use his skills to serve
communities locally and internationally
through multicultural collaboration.

As a founding member of EcoYouth Travel Burundi, Methode blends expertise in sustainable tourism, environmental science, and community development. He has travelled in meaningful and impactful trips that created enriching experiences for visitors while delivering lasting benefts to local communities. Methode has taken part in key regional events, including the 2019 Climate Change Adaptation Forum in Tanzania and the 2020 Kenya Climate Innovation Center (KCIC). These platforms enriched his understanding of nature-based solutions, green entrepreneurship while strengthening East African networks for ongoing collaboration. Dedicated to youth development, Methode always seeks to design programs that can ofer job training, entrepreneurship support or volunteer opportunities in the tourism sector. His vision is especially that one of helping young people to gain practical skills and build sustainable careers. His strong community ties
and leadership in building partnerships with NGOs, donors, and local businesses enhance his impact. Methode’s work is rooted in a deep commitment to protecting Burundi’s natural heritage and promoting eco-tourism as a driver of economic resilience and social progress.

Leon T Chaperuka, is a student at the University of Zimbabwe and Project Director for Eastville Chemakuti Sustainable Ecotourism Travels. Leon, a student studying towards a degree in Plant Production Science and Technology, leads the Eastville Chemakuti Ecotourism Team. We are Ministry of Education Mutare District, Heritage Based Curriculum (HBC) Ecotourism School Based Project. We are dedicated to promote sustainable tourism practices and showcasing the beauty, culture and heritage of Jindwi, Chief Zimunya, Mutare Rural District Council, Zimbabwe. We are affiliate members of the Zimbabwe Youths in Tourism, Zimbabwe National Parks & Wildlife School Clubs Programs, Zimbabwe Tourism Authority “Catch Them Young Program, National Museums & Monuments” Adopt-A-Site Program”, University of Zimbabwe Students Community Service’s Placement Program. We Promote and Offer “Off the beaten track “Sustainable Ecotourism Adventures!!

Our project is a Heritage trail development initiative which aims to promote sustainable tourism in Mutare, Zimbabwe by offering unique Cultural experiences and activities that showcase the local heritage.

Through our project, we are contributing to the socio-economic growth, cultural & Heritage preservation of the region. Our goal is to create a memorable experience for visitors while supporting the local community and preserving the environment.

We are promoting eco-friendly tourism practices, such as nature conservation, Ecosystem and Biodiversity Restoration, reducing waste and using renewable energy, to minimize our impact on the environment.

Our vision is to create sustainable and immersive tourism experience that showcases the unique culture and attraction of our destination while promoting economic growth and community engagement.

Education, Advocacy and Awareness Raising awareness about the importance of Ecosystems and Biodiversity involving Schools and Communities in Nature Based Restoration, Conservation Efforts & Sustainable Practices through Eco-Tourism.

Busiku Cheelo is a passionate and driven young professional pursuing a degree in Travel and Tourism Management at the Zambia Institute of Tourism and Hospitality Studies in Lusaka, Zambia. Born and raised in the small town of Mazabuka, Busiku developed a strong interest in tourism and hospitality, inspired by Zambia’s rich cultural heritage and diverse landscapes.

In addition to his academic pursuits, Busiku holds an international accreditation as a Stores Manager from Purdue University in the USA, demonstrating his commitment to continuous learning and global standards in tourism and hospitality management.

Busiku is actively engaged in the tourism sector as the Company Secretary for Beautiful Zambia – The Best Travel Destination, a company dedicated to promoting Zambia’s unique tourism offerings. His leadership and organizational skills play a vital role in the company’s mission to position Zambia as a leading travel destination in Africa.

As an active member of the Youth Tourism Association of Zambia, Busiku is passionate about empowering young people to explore careers in tourism, contributing to community development, and promoting Zambia’s tourism industry both locally and internationally. With a blend of academic knowledge, practical experience, and a deep-rooted passion for Zambia’s tourism, Busiku Cheelo is poised to make a meaningful impact in the sector and inspire the next generation of tourism professionals in Zambia.

Andreas Leonard is a results-driven entrepreneur and technology expert with a solid foundation in IT systems, digital solutions, and STEAM education.

He is the Co-Founder and Chief Operations Officer of Mindsinaction STEAM Centre, where he leads innovative educational programs that have empowered over 5,000 learners through robotics, coding, electronics, 3D printing, and more.

With academic qualifications in IT and Information Systems Audit, Andreas has held key roles across both the public and private sectors, including at Ernst & Young Namibia and various government ministries. His expertise spans STEAM education, digital transformation, cybersecurity, and IT auditing.

Passionate about youth empowerment and civic engagement, he has successfully led impactful projects in partnership with organizations such as ExxonMobil Foundation, Debmarine Namibia, the Bank of Namibia, and UNESCO.