AI EXPO Africa

Speakers

AI Expo Africa 2026

Connecting local, regional & global AI thought leadership across Africa

Africa’s Largest Artificial Intelligence & Intelligent Automation Trade Show & Conference – Connecting Enterprise Buyers with Global & Local Suppliers

(2 Day Event) 28th – 29th October 2025
Sandton Convention Centre, JHB, South Africa

4 Main Tracks

As with previous years our speaking programme is broken down into the following 4 tracks with a wide range of global, regional and local presenters, panels and keynotes.

INNOVATION & STRATEGY

Talks showcasing research, innovation, standards, ethics, policy & governance

PLATFORMS & PROCESS

Talks on platforms, tools & business process change utilising AI / IA / RPA or bespoke solutions

CASE STUDIES

Talks showcasing real-world business, societal or AI 4 Good use cases focusing on lessons learned & best practice

TECHNOLOGY DEMOS

Deeper dive demos with a focus on the technical complexity of new & emerging 4IR technologies

Themes for AI Expo Africa 2026

We cover a comprehensive set of AI topics and themes at AI Expo Africa 2026

  • Machine / Deep Learning Business Solutions
  • Agentic / Autonomous Enterprise
  • Intelligent Process Automation 
  • CX / UX / Chatbots / Conversational AI
  • Platform AI / NLP / LLMs / SLMs
  • Creative Media / Generative AI
  • Big Data / Data Ops / Analytics
  • AI Factory / Data Centre / Super Computing
  • ML Ops / Frameworks
  • AI in Security & SecOps
  • IoT / Mobile / Edge AI
  • Smart Devices / Hardware
  • Autonomous Systems / Industrial Robots
  • AR VR / Mixed Reality / Metaverse / Web3
  • Training / Education & Skills
  • Women in AI
  • Applied University R&D
  • AI4Good / Ethics / Privacy / Standards 
  • Regulation / Policy / Responsible AI
  • Smart Cities / Smart Society & Smart Citizen
  • National AI Strategies & Policy
  • Community Building & Investing  

Call for 2026 Speakers, Submission Process & Key Dates

  • THIS IS AN IN-PERSON ONLY EVENT
  • DEADLINES – Call for speakers OPENS 1st November 2025
  • DEADLINES – Call for speakers CLOSES 30th September 2026
  • DEADLINES – Speakers will be notified towards end of September 2026
  • DEADLINES – Final speaker list will be issued mid October 2026
  • We normally receive in excess of 400+ submissions per year so get yours in EARLY!
  • Submissions that are none compliant will be rejected
  • We DO NOT PAY speakers AND DO NOT cover travel, accommodation or Visa costs
  • Foreign delegates must have a valid visa prior to submission (no exceptions)
  • There is a reserve list as we do get cancellations – so hang in there – we always have late slots to fill
  • Click the button below to submit your abstract TODAY
Submit Abstract

Looking Back at the AI Expo Africa 2025 Speaker Lineup - Global, Regional & Local AI Thought Leadership 

We were are again joined by a truly diverse mix of local, regional and global thought leaders for AI Expo Africa 2025.  Our speakers cover a wide range of disciplines and subjects, including; Enterprise AI / Gen AI & Automation deployments, case studies, platforms, strategy, tech demos, regulation, ethics,  policy, national strategy, analytics, development frameworks and CX / UI / UX to name but a few.

AI Expo Africa 2025 Speakers, Panelists & Moderators

Deputy Minister Mondli Gungubele

Deputy Minister Dept Communications & Digital Technologies

Sipho Mtombeni

Government Affairs and Public Policy Manager: Google

South Africa

Mlindi Mashologu

Department of Communication & Digital Technologies – DDG

South Africa

Seizo Onoe

Director of the Telecommunication Standardization Bureau (TSB): International Telecommunication Union (ITU)

Japan

Thomas Basikolo

Program Officer: International Telecommunication Union

Switzerland

Linda Saunders

Salesforce Country Manager - Africa: Salesforce

South Africa

Guillem Martínez Roura

AI and Robotics Programme Officer: International Telecommunication Union

Switzerland

Charles Murito

Regional Director Sub-Saharan Africa: Government Affairs and Public Policy - Google

Kenya

Claudio Fassiotti

EMEA Enterprise Senior Sales Manager – Smart Spaces: NVIDIA

Italy

Francesco Petruccione

Director: National Institute for Theoretical Physics and Computational Sciences

South Africa

Topside Mathonsi

Associate Professor and HoD: Tshwane University of Technology

South Africa

Celina Lee

CEO: Zindi

South Africa

Russ Bartley

Director: Mavin Powercube

UK

Peter Ing

Founder: Ingenuity IoT Pty LTD

South Africa

Nathan-Ross Adams

Founder & MD: ITLawCo

South Africa

Anish Kurien

Acting Director: TUT Hub of AI-ISA: Tshwane University of Technology

South Africa

Frederic Werner

Chief, Strategy and Operations, AI for Good, TSB: International Telecommunication Union (ITU)

Switzerland

Karen Walstra

Educational Consultant: Karen Walstra Consulting / KWC Evolve School

South Africa

Ayotunde Coker

Chief Executive Officer: Open Access Data Centres

Nigeria

Naomi Molefe

Conferences and Seminars: HR Corporate Speaker

South Africa

Daniel Wertheimer

Group Lead: Knowledge & Insights: Coca Cola Beverages Africa

South Africa

Julius Segole

Chief of Growth & Strategy: Boxfusion

South Africa

Keith Jones

Founder: Sw7

South Africa

Harrison Li

Solution Architect: Huawei

South Africa

Angus Hay

Regional Executive: South Africa - Africa Data Centres

South Africa

Werner Stucky

CEO: Stubber Inc

South Africa

Dr Nick Bradshaw

Director SA AI Association

South Africa

Smangele Nkosi

Sub Saharan Africa General Manager: Cisco

South Africa

Nanjun Zhang

Senior IT Product Manager: Huawei

South Africa

Odette Jones

Founder: Sw7

South Africa

Thapelo Mofokeng

CEO & Founder: HAVELO TECH

South Africa

Brandon Andrews

Co-Founder: Gauge

USA

Martin Sanne   

Managing Partner: DNH Technologies

South Africa

Thembekile Mrototo

News Anchor: Eyewitness News

South Africa

Ruan Schutte

Innovation Specialist, Futurist, Facilitator & Problem Solver: Standard Bank Group

South Africa

Jean-Pierre De Villiers

Senior Account Manager: Supermicro

South Africa

Leslie Chen

Senior Marketing Manager: Huawei

South Africa

Sue Nyamnjoh

Product Manager: Botlhale AI

South Africa

Kim Schulze

Head of Digital Advisory Practice: ADG - Accelera Digital Group

Sekhar Subramoney

Business Development Manager: Aptus Data Labs (Pty) Ltd

South Africa

Jacqui Muller

Industry Coordinator | Director | BRICS Skills Expert: Belgium Campus iTversity | JPanda Solutions | BRICS Skills Working Group

South Africa

Dion Millson

Head of AI Strategy: Connect

South Africa

Charmaine Houvet

Government Affairs Director: Cisco

South Africa

Geoffroy Berson

Attaché for Innovation: French Embassy in South Africa

France

Matthew Farquhar

Senior Sales Consultant: Interface Systems SA

South Africa

Reven Singh

Sales Engineer: InterSystems

South Africa

Jessica Constantinidis

Innovation Officer EMEA – Chief Strategy Office HQ: ServiceNow

UAE

Tomoko Ueta

Innovation Service Line Lead: Ipsos South Africa

South Africa

Bryan McLachlan

Executive Vice President - EMEA: ituring.ai

South Africa

Craig Abrahams

Chief Technology Officer: LRMG

South Africa

Dharhas Pothina

CTO: OpenTeams

USA

Makhotso Maiko

ISV Business Development Manager - Africa: Cloudmania & LiquidC2

South Africa

Jay Shapiro

Chairperson: Pan Africa Gaming Group (PAGG)

Kenya

Katekani Baloyi

Digital Commerce Lead: PepsiCo

South Africa

Jacques Visagie

General Manager: AI & Services - Pinnacle

South Africa

Chuka Ezenwalie

Customer Engagement and Portfolio Manager: Silicon Overdrive

South Africa

Zolani Ratya

Head - QA & Testing: Santam

South Africa

Axel Tidemann

Machine Learning Manager: Takealot

South Africa

Nyari Samushonga

Chief Executive Officer: WeThinkCode_

South Africa

Luis Silva

Solution Consultant: Verint

South Africa

Tebogo Lucky Manamela

Gauteng Provincial Ambassador Lead: South African AI Association

South Africa

Mike Lysko

CEO and Founder: ZapDash.studio

Portugal

Heidi Patmore

Managing Director: Manjaro Marketing

South Africa

Jennifer Mirembe

Architect: Jen-ai

South Africa

Tefo Ramaili

Northern Cape Provincial Ambassador Lead: South African AI Association

South Africa

Chenayi Mutambasere

Director: Africa Centre for Economic Justice

United Kingdom

Johan Steyn

Consultant: Rectron

South Africa

Naria Santa Lucia

General Manager Microsoft Elevate: Microsoft

USA

Mohamed Nomani

Kwa-Zulu Natal Provincial Ambassador Lead: South African AI Association

South Africa

Banele Shozi

ICT Marketing Manager: Huawei

South Africa

Shaun Moloi

Senior Data Scientist: First National Bank

South Africa

Cohen Appanah

Global Manager, Manufacturing Excellence: Komatsu

South Africa

Vukosi Marivate

Professor of Computer Science: University of Pretoria

South Africa

Fazlyn Petersen

Senior Lecturer: University of the Western Cape

South Africa

Tandi Kolbe

CEO and Founding Director: Surveya Global

South Africa

Gregory Rammego

Africa Risk Advisory Managing Director: Deloitte

South Africa

Elizabeth Mwashuma

Founder & Managing Director: Good Partners

Kenya

Mayur Akole

COO at InfyStrat and CIO at Oomas: Infystrat & Oomas

South Africa

Kseniia Fountaine

Senior Business Development and Operations Manager, AI for Good: International Telecommunication Union (ITU)

Switzerland

Assane Gueye

Associate Teaching Professor: Carnegie Mellon University Africa

Rwanda

LJ Rich

Inventor/Musician and International Broadcaster: Perfect Pitch Productions

United Kingdom

Vishnu Ram OV

Independent Research Consultant: International Telecommunication Union (ITU)

India

Tunga Tessema

Professional In Residence at The Upanzi Network: Carnegie Mellon University Africa

USA

Li Wenyu

Director Intellectual Property and Innovation Development Center: China Academy of Information and Communications Technology (CAICT)

China

Magan Naidoo

Chief Data Officer: United Nations World Food Programme

Italy

Paul Kennedy

Chief of Staff: Zindi

Portugal

Tsafak Djoumessi Pauline O. Gnimpieba

Director of Postal, Telecommunications and ICT Regulation, Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications: Republic of Cameroon

Cameroon

Xander Coetzee

Chief of Delivery & Architecture: CohesionX

South Africa

Alison Jacobson

Director: Strideshift Global

South Africa

Pravir Ishvarlal

Data Science Manager: Standard Bank Group

South Africa

Thobekile Mbanda

Founder: Mmaletsatsi Production

South Africa

Thilo Fuchs

CEO: Vrai AI

France

Yaseera Ismail

Senior Lecturer, Department of Physics: Stellenbosch University

South Africa

Nick Mills

Co-Founder: Community Wolf

South Africa

Astride Melvin Fokam Ninyim

COO & Co-Founder: Synthi-AI

Bridget Theron

Managing Director: LRMG

South Africa

Boitumelo Makgoba

Founder: Fetsi Data Technologies

South Africa

HE BO

Deputy Director of the Internet Law Research Center: China Academy of Information and Communications Technology (CAICT)

China

Philip Kiracofe

CEO & Co-Founder: Startupbootcamp Afritech

South Africa

Edith Luhanga

Assistant Research Professor: Carnegie Mellon University Africa

Rwanda

Samantha Wolhuter

Co-Founder: Crisis Cognition

South Africa

Michael Mollel

Co-Founder & CEO: Sartify LLC

Tanzania

Bonisiwe S. Gumede

Founder and CEO: BSG Science and Technology Centre

South Africa

Scott Howard

Field CTO: VAST Data

Australia

Chenxi Qui

Deputy Director, Center for Global Digital Governance (CGDG): China Academy of Information and Communications Technology (CAICT)

China

Prakhar Srivastava

Chief AI Officer: FlowFirst

UAE

Victor Daniyan

Founder: NearPays

Nigeria

Innocent Nzimenyera

AI & Data Analyst: Global Green Growth Institute

Rwanda

Ben Ruhinda

Senior Systems Officer: Inter-University Council for East Africa

Uganda

Natalie Raphil

Founder: Robots can Think

South Africa

Deshni Govender

Country Lead: FAIR Forward - AI for All: GIZ

South Africa

Lumona Mulengwa

Founder & CEO: Electrixitaty

Kenya

Jody Roberts

Microsoft Business Executive: Silicon Overdrive

South Africa

Derick Nwasor

Co-Founder: NewDigit

Nigeria

Fredrick Endeki

Regional Head of ICT: Ministry of Health, Kenya Medical Training College - Machakos

Kenya

Mohammed Jussab

Principal Strategist: ServiceNow

UAE

Stephane Masson

Founder: Duke Analytics

France

Odin Demassieux

Co-Founder: Toum AI

France

Japie Greeff

Research Coordinator: Belgium Campus iTversity

South Africa