“Driving economic growth in Africa through digital transformation”
DAY 1 – 05 MAY 2021 10:00 - 10:15:
Moderators opening remarks: Vuyolwethu Dubese, Innovation Consultant and Corporate Moderator
10:15 - 10:30:
Organisers Welcome address: Ralf Fletcher, CEO, Topco Media Keynote Address: Innovation and women empowerment
10:35 – 11:00
●
Google perspective on diversity and inclusion
●
Understanding that closing the gender gap is a mindset more than a numbers game.
●
Google's ultimate goal for women in tech and innovation
Fireside Chat: Dr. Marian Croak, Vice President of Engineering, Google Lindiwe Matlali, Founder and CEO, Africa Teen Geeks,
11:00 – 11:20
Keynote Address: How Zoom adapted and pivoted to the extraordinary demands as a business in 2020 ●
Defining digital transformation
●
Zooms approach to leading digital transformation
●
Learn How to manage change for employees
Fireside chat: Abe Smith, International Lead, ZOOM, USA Ralf Fletcher, CEO, Topco Media, SA
11:20 - 12:20
Panel discussion: Decoupling Economic Growth from Resource Generation Hosted by:
Panelists: ● Snowden Mmadi, Infrastructure Expert, African Union Development Agency, AUDA-NEPAD ● Rachel Chikwamba, Vice President/Group Executive, CSIR ●
12:20 - 12:35
Senior representative, PPC
Tech Talk: The digital economy and financial innovation - The democratization of data and devices ●
Understanding the digital economy
●
A look at financial innovation
●
Implementing the democratization of data and devices
Bradwin Roper, CEO , FNB Connect ,South Africa
12:40 - 13:40
Panel discussion: Unlocking Africa's Economic Potential Through Digital Transformation ●
Recognising the potential of Africa’s economy
●
Africa’s capacity to prosper by taking hold of the digital revolution
●
Unlocking a digital Africa
Panellists:
●
Dr Justina Dugbazah, Senior Programme Officer: Education and Social Development · African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD), Ghana
●
13:40 - 13:55
Senior representative, Gijima
Tech Talk: Silicon Cape and Stockholm Connect Initiative ●
An evaluation of the Silicon Cape and Stockholm connect initiative
●
Boosting tech innovation in Africa
●
Creating platforms for partnerships
James Milne, Co-Director, Silicon Cape, SA.
13:55 - 14:10
Tech Talk: Why Africa is attracting foreign investment and how to keep driving into new competing market spaces ●
Driving economic transformation through harnessing technology
●
Leveraging locational advantages to grow international markets
●
Strengthening relationships with industry bodies in target markets.
Yemi Keri, CEO Heckerbella, Co-founder Rising Tide Africa, Nigeria 14:10 – 14:25
Tech Talk: Why does the up keeping of the sustainable development agenda in the fourth industrial revolution matters? ●
The importance of Active participation of African nations, Regional Economic Communities and key stakeholders.
●
Increasing investment in nutrition, health, and social protections for children.
●
Adopting national strategies for education and skills development
●
Committing ourselves to adopt new interdisciplinary approaches that speak to our present and future needs
Ayodele Odusola, Resident Representative, United Nations, South Africa
14:25 - 14:40
Tech talk: Why Doing business in Africa is key to economic growth ●
Africa is the most profitable region in the world.
●
Africa’s economic growth prospects are among the world’s brightest.
●
Africa’s growing, youthful population constitutes a formidable market.
Ashish J Thakkar, Group CEO, Mara Phones, Rwanda
14:40 - 15:10
Panel Discussion: Social impact and Inclusive development through digitised start-ups and scale ups ●
Potential to materialise transitions into a more sustainable society
●
Absorbing sustainable technologies to help seed small to medium enterprises on a large scale and increase their investment appeal.
●
Addressing the gender gap
Panellists: Refilwe Ledwaba, Founder and CEO, Women and Aviation, SA Ibrahim Dikko, CEO, Backbone connectivity network, Nigeria Dr. Anino Emuwa, Founder, Avandis Consulting, France Mark Schoeman, Principal, Genesis Analytics, SA
15:10 - 15:20
Tech talk: Staying relevant in a VUCA world: What fast-paced fintech innovation can teach the world of institutional/formal finance about thriving amidst chaos. Wayne Zwiers, Founder & CEO, Basalt Technology, SA
15:20 - 15:30
Moderators closing remarks: Vuyolwethu Dubese, Innovation Consultant and Corporate Moderator
DAY 2 – 06 MAY 2021 10:00 - 10:10:
Moderators opening remarks: Vuyolwethu Dubese, Innovation Consultant and Corporate Moderator
10:10 - 10:20:
Organisers Welcome address: Ralf Fletcher, CEO, Topco Media
10:20 – 10:35
Keynote Address: “Africa’s Business Heroes” (ABH) prize competition - the Jack Ma Foundation’s flagship philanthropic program ● ● ●
Strengthening the African entrepreneur ecosystem Showcasing and growing local talent Identifying the latest developments of our Heroes
Zahra Baitie, Head of Partnerships & Programs Africa's Business Heroes prize, Jack Ma Foundation
10:35 – 10:50
Keynote Address: Inspiring the youth through technological innovation and transformation during Covid-19 ● ●
Examining the place of the digital economy in creating jobs for the youth encouraging the sourcing of goods and services online
●
Looking inwards and developing digital technologies that serve local needs.
Mr. Thomas Davin, Global Innovation Director, UNICEF
10:50 - 11:05
Keynote Address: Leadership and developing high-performance organizations and corporate governance. ●
Developing and Leading High-Performance Teams
●
Maximizing the potential of diverse teams
●
Increasing productivity, efficiency, and effectiveness.
Honourable Emma Inamutila Theofelus, Namibian Deputy Minister of ICT
11:05 - 11:35 Hosted by:
Case study: When Cloud patterns become anti-patterns ●
No structured cloud journey is complete without cloud patterns. However, when these patterns, well-defined or not, create business friction, lethargic cloud momentum, bespoke iterations, and black holes of ever-increasing cost overruns, they become anti-patterns. Efficient cloud patterns need to be built on coupling cloud services which are fitfor- purpose, practically repeatable and adaptable
Lawrance Reddy, Cloud CTO, Vaxowave, SA
11:35 - 11:45
Topic Building future banking experiences
Hosted by:
Aldo Laubscher, Country director South Africa, VISA
11:45 - 12:30
Panel discussion: How Digital Infrastructure facilitates economic growth
Hosted by: Panellists: Bradwin Roper, CEO , FNB Connect ,South Africa Adriano Cosani, Executive Head: Strategy & CIO Office, Nedbank Senior representative, VISA
12:30 - 12:45
Tech talk: How to Win in the Platform Economy ●
Analyzing how platform businesses are driving the digital landscape
●
Understanding the economics and business models behind platform businesses
●
'Platformatise' your business
Tim Mitchell, Head of Digital Transformation, Flux Labs
12:45 - 13:00
Tech Talk: Business model transformation ●
Adapting your business model to the new digital era
●
Unlocking the power of communities and networks to grow your business.
●
Embracing the power of technology to create value
Enver Groenewald,Group Chief Executive Officer, Ogilvy, SA
13:00 - 13:15
Tech Talk: Harnessing the potential of AI in Africa ● ● ●
Stimulating, supporting and orchestrating AI along the value chain Joint approaches for common challenges Kickstarting AI Meetings
Marloes Pomp, International Strategy & Partnerships - Netherlands AI Coalition & Dutch Blockchain Coalition, Netherlands
13:15 - 14:15
Panel Discussion: How Liquid Intelligent Technologies is building Africa's digital future - connecting every individual on the continent.
Hosted by:
Growing world class businesses out of Africa. Africa’s digital future increasingly belongs to the cloud. Managed network solutions. Protecting users and business-critical data. Extending connectivity beyond smartphones and computers. Smarter banking solutions for Africa.
● ● ● ● ● ● Panelists:
Deon Geyser, Chief Executive Officer, Liquid Intelligent Technologies, SA Sandile Ntsele, Chief Financial Officer, Liquid Intelligent Technologies, SA Boyd Chislett, Chief Business Officer, Liquid Intelligent Technologies, SA
14:15 - 14:30
Tech Talk: AI Enabled Space Applications ● ●
An Earth Observation Data Cube Space Weather applications and how AI can be deployed for decision making.
Dr Valanathan Munsami, Chief Executive Officer, South African National Space Agency (SANSA)
14:45 - 15:00
Cyber threats are escalating globally. Can talent from Africa fill the cybersecurity skills shortage? ● ●
Filling the cybersecurity skills gap Demonstrating cybersecurity success in Africa
Paul Stafford, VP for Africa, Mimecast
15:00 - 15:30
Panel discussion: It’s not the tech but who drives it - how to shift your culture and quickly ●
Collaboration – Aligning culture with strategy - How social processes shape economic activities.
●
Integration - Smoothing out dysfunctional behaviours and potential culture clashes
●
Fruition - drive company wide culture change
Panelists: Veronica Motloutsi, Founder, Smart Digital Solution, SA Janine Rebelo, Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer, ThinkWiFi Pty Ltd Poncelet Ileleji, Lead and CEO, Jokkolabs Banjul, Gambia
15:30
Moderators closing remarks: Vuyolwethu Dubese, Innovation Consultant and Corporate Moderator