SCHEDULE

Please note: 

All in-person delegates will only be able to pre-register on the 20th October and have access to the metaverse. Official in-person programming begins on the 21st October

Time

Topic

Speaker

Day 0: 20 october 2024

*In-Person Pre-Registration open
Metaverse Experience Starts: 15:00 Arrival and explore experience Registration, induction, navigation, digital expo, networking
16:00 - 17:00 Intro to Exponentials Vivian Lan
Uma School Conscious Education
17:00 - 18:30 BREAK
18:30 - 18:37 Exponential Poem Artists
18:37 - 18:42 Welcome and Opening Remarks Mic Mann
18:42 - 18:47 Old Mutual Speech Celiwe Ross
18:47 - 18:57 Speaker Message Emad / Cathy / David
18:57 - 19:02 Closing Shayne Mann
19:02 - 19:07 AI DJ Live

Time

Topic

Speaker

Day 1: 21 october 2024

*Registrations Start from 07:30
Programme Starts: 09:30 Opening
Welcome and opening of the Summit Shayne Mann / Mic Mann and
Nastassia Arendse
Welcome Address by Peter Diamandis Dr Peter Diamandis
Disruptive Innovation David Roberts
Future of Decentralized Al Emad Mostaque
Scaling Al in the workplace Prof. Brian Armstrong
Dhesen Ramsamy
Moderator: Nastassia Arendse
MC Link Nastassia Arendse
11:27 - 12:00 BREAK
Artificial and Genuine Intelligence; the Future of Work,
Leadership and Organisations Dr Carlo van de Weijer
Africa's Al Sovereignty: Unleashing the Potential for
Homegrown Innovation and Self-Reliance Dr Mark Nasila
AI, Unintended Outcomes & The Opportunities of
Responsible Technologies Dr. Alix Rübsaam
The Rise of the Robots Prof. Benjamin Rosman
13:30 - 14:37 LUNCH
Al & Blockchain: Redefining the Future of Venture Capital Karine Arama
Moderator: Vivian Lan
Winning the Future with Responsible Innovation Kris Østergaard
Transforming Horizons: The Future of ESG
and Sustainable Prosperity Celiwe Ross
 Arturo Elizondo
 Laila Pawlak
 Moderator: Nastassia Arendse
Cybersecurity for our Future-Innovating tomorrow
by securing for today Dr Jaya Baloo
Capitalizing on Growth: Opportunities and Challenges
for VC in Africa Nchaupe Khaole / Jacob Hinson / Moderator: Dr Rutendo Hwindingwi
16:32 - 17:09 BREAK
The Future of Decentralized Identity Fireside Fireside Chat
Prof. Sandy Carter & Mic Mann
Spatial Computing and Future Tech Cathy Hackl
Wielding Modern Magic Dr Adam Pantanowitz
Closing and What to Expect of Day 2 Nastassia Arendse
18:44-20:44 RECEPTION

Day 2: 22 october 2024

Programme Starts: 09:00 Welcome Nastassia Arendse
Are we nearing the Singularity? Converging Biotechnologies
in an Artificially Intelligent Age Dr Divya Chander
Democratizing Longevity Paul Pagnato
Future of Food Arturo Elizondo
10:45 - 11:20 BREAK
Digital Fluency MJ Petroni
Metaverse, NFTs, and the New World Order Fireside chat with Evan Luthra
& Mic Mann
Future of Mobility; How Africa moves into the future Dr Carlo van de Weijer
The Future of Leadership Laila Pawlak
13:05 - 14:20 LUNCH
Singularity What's next SU Global (Neil Sogard /
Mic Mann, Shayne Mann)
Education 2030: Al and the New Learning Frontier Jos Dirkx and Sacha Hoedemaker
Reinventing Education: Beyond the Traditional Classroom Dr Taddy Blecher & Vivian Lan
Moderator: Shayne Mann
The Education Singularity Fireside chat with
Emad Mostaque
Mic Mann
Leading Change: The Power of Diverse Leadership Barbara Silva,
Tebogo Mogadime,
Mpoomy Ledwaba
Moderator: Valter Adão
16:10 - 16:40 BREAK
Leadership in an Exponential Age David Roberts
Closing What to expect next year Mic Mann /
Shayne Mann / Nastassia Arendse
ENDS 23:15 NETWORKING PARTY

Time

Topic

Speaker

Day 1: 21 october 2024

*Registrations Start from 07:30
11:32 - 11:52 Al Supply Chain Workshop Ashley Anthony &
Dario Fanucchi
13:27 - 14:12 Responsible AI: From Intention to Implementation Dr Alix Rübsaam
16:34 - 16:59 Future-Proof: The Power of Growth Mindset
in an Exponential Era Gilan Gork

Day 2: 22 october 2024

10:50 - 11:10 Excellence Over Perfection : Mastering the
Art and Science of Self-Leadership Richard Sutton
13:15 - 14:10 Lego Serious Play, Playing to Win! Kris Østergaard
16:15 - 16:35 The Human Factor: The Future of Work and Jobs Valter Adão

Time

Topic

Speaker

Day 1: 21 october 2024

*TBA - To be announced
11:32 - 11:52 The World of Tomorrow in Data Dr Reshma Sheoraj
13:27 - 14:12 Robot Demo Prof. Benjamin Rosman
16:34 - 16:54 Building Africa’s Future Workforce with STEAM:
Lessons from 300 Schools Rajesh Pasungili

Day 2: 22 october 2024

10:50 -11:10 Empowering Leadership for the Age of Change:
Shaping the body that shapes leadership minds Angela Shurina
13:15 - 14:00 How Blockchains will Power the Future of Finance Beau Williams
16:15 - 16:35 Coding Jam - wW Think Code Nyari Samushonga

Time

Topic

Speaker

Metaverse Activities

*TBA - To be announced
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Dr Peter Diamandis

Executive Founder & Managing Director, Singularity

Named by Fortune as one of the “World’s 50 Greatest Leaders,” Dr Peter Diamandis is the Executive Founder of Singularity. He is also the Founder and Executive Chairman of the XPRIZE Foundation, which leads the world in designing and operating large-scale incentive competitions.

 

As an entrepreneur, Peter has started over 25 companies in the areas of HealthTech, education, space, and venture capital. He also serves as co-Founder of BOLD Capital Partners, a venture fund with US$500mn under management being invested in exponential technologies and longevity companies. Peter is co-Founder and Vice-Chairman of two public companies, Celularity and Vaxxinity, and is also the co-Founder and Chairman of Fountain Life, a fully-integrated platform delivering predictive, preventative, personalised and data-driven health. 

Neil Sogard

Vice President Strategy and Global Partnerships, Singularity

Neil Sogard leads Singularity’s International Growth Initiatives. He collaborates with a curated group of partners to extend cutting-edge educational programmes and impact initiatives to innovation ecosystems throughout the world. 

In previous years at Singularity, in his role as Managing Director of Singularity Ventures, Neil led start-up initiatives aimed at serving humanity. He opened new markets as Senior Director of Global Partnership Programmes, and launched and led the growth of Singularity’s Global Summit and the Exponential Summit series.

Most recently, Neil was a senior member of Peter Diamandis’ A360 Leadership Team, heading up strategic partnerships, technology showcases, and acting as Executive Director of Peter’s Platinum Longevity programme. Neil earned his MBA from Boston College.

Nastassia Arendse

Host

Nastassia Arendse is a business news anchor at the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC). Each day she sits with the top names in finance and economics to analyse the essential stories for the day ahead, bringing insight into global and local markets, stocks and investing.

Having made her radio debut as a traffic reporter for YFM (99.2 FM), Nastassia has been in TV and radio broadcasting for 14 years. As a television anchor, she presented Closing Bell East Africa and Open Exchange on CNBC Africa. She has also hosted business shows on Business Day TV, SAfm and Classic FM.

As a reporter, she has covered global commodity markets for Moneyweb, writing features that focus on how the global economy, interest rates and currencies influence investor decisions concerning gold, precious metals, fixed income, and equities. She represents a new generation of journalists who break the mould of the profession to explore different avenues.

Dr Rutendo Hwindingwi

CEO & Founder - Tribe Africa Advisory

As the Founder and CEO of Tribe Africa Advisory, a business development advisory firm, Dr Rutendo Hwindingwi advises private and public organisations across several industries – financial services, healthcare, energy, technology and telecoms – about how to successfully conduct business on the African content and how to implement strategic business development initiatives in emerging markets. He equips mid to senior organisational leaders in building their leadership strategy by drawing on his experience of leading strategic business development initiatives. 

Alongside a MSc in Strategic Management from the University of Derby, Rutendo has earned his PhD in International Business Strategy from the University of the Witwatersrand. He is a Non-executive Director for the British Chamber of Commerce in Southern Africa, and Vice Chairman of the Trade and Investment Forum for the American Chamber of Commerce of South Africa. 

Dr Hwindingwi has detailed the business lessons he has learned while working in more than 20 African countries over the last two decades in his 2022 book Rumble in the Jungle Reloaded – Navigating Business on the African Continent. He is regularly featured on the Africa Business Report with Bruce Whitfield on Talk Radio 702. As a keynote speaker, his expertise includes digital transformation, innovation, business management and executive leadership. Rutendo’s passion is to see the exponential growth of Africa’s economy through its greatest asset – its people.

Dr Reshma Sheoraj

Vice President for Strategic Engagements - World Data Lab

Dr Reshma Sheoraj is the Vice President for Strategic Engagements at World Data Lab (WDL), a non-profit social enterprise that develops datasets and tools to track Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in real-time, including emissions, jobs, poverty, hunger, water scarcity, and health.

With over 15 years of experience as a Senior Economist, Director and policymaker, she has worked within the public and private sectors. Reshma is responsible for scaling WDL’s impact business and building strategic engagements, while having oversight over the expansion of its global business. 

Reshma previously served at the National Treasury of South Africa as a Senior Economist and Director, where she worked across economic policy, fiscal, financial sector policy issues affecting South Africa. She also represented the governments of South Africa, Angola, Nigeria at the Board of the World Bank Group in Washington D.C, where she was responsible for strategic, operational and policy matters. 

She serves as a member of the Board of Southern African Partners, a non-profit based in Boston, which seeks to mobilise resources for education and health programmes from the United States for positive sustainable impact across South Africa. 

Reshma holds a Doctorate in Economics, a Master’s in Finance with majors in Economics, a Master’s in Public Policy, as well as undergraduate degrees in Law and Finance.

Gilan Gork

Mentalist, Bestselling Author, Founder - The Influence Institute

Gilan Gork is a best-selling author, executive coach and a global authority on influential leadership, who has worked with leaders of Fortune 500 companies, governments, and organisations such as NATO, in over 40 countries. His insights are shaped by a mix of psychology, neuroscience, and his unusual skillset as an expert mentalist, which provide him rare experiences and perspectives about the human mind.

Gilan strives to create a world where leaders are equipped with the tools and

knowledge to be conscious, responsive, and purpose-led, allowing them to achieve success and also inspire and empower those around them.

 

He founded The Influence Institute as the research and training arm for his projects with global clients that include Mercedes-Benz, Unilever, Deloitte, Microsoft, KMPG, Sasol, among others. By providing leadership development keynotes, masterclasses and other training services, Gilan aims to foster a global community of influential leaders who are dedicated to making a positive impact in their organisations, while helping to solve the world’s biggest problems.

Nchaupe Khaole

Chief Investment Officer - Mineworkers Investment Company

Nchaupe Khaole is the Chief Investment Officer of Mineworkers Investment Company (MIC), where he leads the MIC investment team and is a custodian of investment strategy at the company. His career in financial services spans more than two decades, most of which has been in corporate finance, private equity, and venture capital. 

Nchaupe’s previous roles have seen him working for the likes of Safika Holdings, Tandem Capital, Safika Investments, and the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA). He serves as a Non-executive Director on the boards of Peermont, RMB’s divisional board, DNI Invest, and Universal Industries, while also being the Chairman of KNF II Ventures.

Nchaupe holds a BCom and BCom Hons (Investment Management) from the University of Johannesburg and an MBA from the Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS). In his spare time, Nchaupe is an avid cyclist and has a keen interest in reading about leadership, operational excellence and self mastery.

Valter Adão

CEO - Cadena Growth Partners

Valter Adão is a Singularity Expert and TEDx speaker on disruptive innovation and emerging technologies with experience working across Europe, the Middle East and Africa. As CEO of Cadena Growth Partners, a digital and innovation advisory, Valter excels at guiding organisations through business slowdowns and disruptions, unlocking new avenues for growth and relevance, while leveraging the potential of emerging technologies and disruptive trends. 

With extensive experience as a corporate entrepreneur across numerous industries, alongside his expertise as a managing partner and Chief Digital and Innovation Officer at a Global Consulting Organisation, he has a proven track record in venturing, commercialising, and scaling businesses into sustainable, high-growth enterprises. 

Valter holds an MSc, as well as an MBA from the Gordon Institute of Business Science. He has trained with Roger Martin as a master strategist and is a Professor of Practice at the Johannesburg Business School. 

Tebogo Mogadime

Investment Manager, Private Equity Transactor - Mineworkers Investment Company

Tebogo Mogadime is an equity investment manager, who works at Mineworkers Investment Company (MIC), where she is responsible for the full transaction life cycle across a diverse portfolio of investments across numerous industries, including post-transaction management. 

Her career in finance and banking spans more than 13 years and has seen her leverage her expertise in investment banking, transaction and corporate strategy, and implementation that she honed at EY, RMB and IQbusiness. As a Non-executive Director and Board (ARC) sub-committee member for numerous companies, she represents shareholder interests. 

Tebogo holds a Bachelor of Commerce in Financial Accounting from the University of Cape Town, an Advanced Postgraduate Diploma in Management Accounting, and a Bachelor of Accounting Sciences Honours in Advanced Management Accounting. Outside of work, when she is not spending quality time with her family, hiking, exploring new cuisines and travelling, Tebogo is working towards completing her CIMA CGMA qualification through the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants. 

Shayne Mann

Co-CEO - SingularityU South Africa & Mann Made

As co-founder and CEO of Mann Made – an award-winning, experiential brand agency for top local and global Fortune 500 companies – Shayne Mann has 24 years of experience in the media, marketing and eventing industries. Over the decades he has successfully driven Mann Made to become one of the top brand experience agencies on the African continent creating unforgettable experiences that amplify human connection and ignite human potential.

 

Shayne is a Singularity alumnus and also the co-CEO of SingularityU South Africa. He epitomises exponential leadership and is passionate about how exponential and disruptive technologies can drive change to positively impact South Africa and the continent. He is passionate about the drivers of entrepreneurship and is involved in the local start-up and maker communities. 

 

He has partnered with Dr Taddy Blecher of the Maharishi University of Management to help educate young South Africans. In partnership with an international private equity investor, he has invested in a variety of industries including property, medicine, music, media, and tech, alongside his brothers Kevin and Mic. Shayne is fascinated by the longevity mindset and is constantly trying new things to feel better and extend his health, while spending lots of quality time with his four daughters.

Sacha Hoedemaker

Music Director, Composer, Musician, The Music Maker

Sacha Hoedemaker is an Emmy-winning composer and pianist based in The Netherlands who has spent close to two decades perfecting his craft through theatre, live performance and composing for various media.  He is one of the most sought-after Music Directors in improvisational theatre and performs daily at a comedy theatre Boom Chicago in Amsterdam. 

 

Sacha is a successful neoclassical composer (Top 50 worldwide in 2022, with over 20 million streams) and the music director of the successful formation: Peacock in Concert. He has a wide range of experience in live-scoring events and performances and has worked with various clients such as: KLM, International Dentistry Conference, TOP employers, ING, KPMG, Salesforce, Amp.Amsterdam, bol.com, among others. Sacha is a master at creating a dynamic and thrilling musical experience for any type of event, by live-scoring in real-time, creating the perfect interactive experience for the audience.

Laila Pawlak

Co-founder & CEO - Rehumanize Institute

Laila is the Founder and CEO of The Rehumanize Institute, co-Founder and former CEO of Singularity Nordic, a Singularity Expert on impact leadership and the future of work, and a sought-after executive facilitator.

Laila is the winner of the Experience Management Achievement Award and was named Distinguished Fellow by the Women’s Entrepreneurship Day Organization at the United Nations. She is also the recipient winner of the Investor of the Year Award. Her work has seen her nominated twice as Female Entrepreneur of the Year. Laila is on the list of the top 100 female role models in Denmark, and was named among the top 50 and 100 people in tech in the Nordics. She is an angel investor and an advisor and board member to various start-ups, politicians and organisations.

She is co-author of The Fundamental 4s: How to design extraordinary customer experiences in an exponential world, and the Amazon bestseller Ethics at Work. Her experience has seen her moderate large-scale events with thousands of attendees, and intimate leadership sessions for executive teams across the world, including the Obama Foundation, Coca Cola, Nestlé, H&M, and Lufthansa among others.

Beau Williams

Engineering Lead - Africarare & Product Manager - Atlassian

If you ask Beau Williams’ family about his childhood, they recall that he only ever wanted two things: a ‘bikkie’ (Australian slang for a biscuit) and to play on the computer. Today, with a degree in software technology from Macquarie University behind his name, the Aussie is a co-founder of Transhumanism Australia and the co-creator of the TranshumanCoin. This community of technologists aims to educate, incubate, accelerate, and invest in the research and development of projects for the transhumanism movement that works towards extending healthy human lifespans, enhancing our intelligence, and improving our wellbeing. 

He is also the engineering lead of Africarare, a product manager at Atlassian, and the lead of the Google Student Developer Clubs. Beau is passionate about working on open-source projects – at one point he ranked number 60 in Australia for open-source contributions. He shares his insights about Web3 gaming, blockspace derivatives and the metaverse on stage at various Ethereum conferences around the world.

Ashley Anthony

Co-founder & CEO - Isazi Consulting

Ashley Anthony is an entrepreneur and thought leader in practical applications for AI and Optimisation. In 2012, with a foundation in physics and mathematics, Ashley co-founded Isazi.ai, which was one of the first AI companies in Africa. Alongside his co-founders, a computer scientist and applied mathematician, they challenge conventional problem-solving approaches with their bold slogan: “If you’ve tried to solve a problem with a traditional consulting firm, maybe you’re crazy enough to try a mathematician”. 

 

The team of over 50 scientists and engineers guide blue-chip companies on their AI journey. Ashley’s expertise ensures that each implementation of AI at their clients’ companies pays for the next. To date, Isazi has completed over 175 AI projects across 11 industries with products in automation, prediction and optimisation. The Johannesburg-based company has expanded to Dubai and London to solidify its position as a global leader in AI innovation. Ashley also serves on the Industrial Advisory Board appointed to guide Engineering Faculty at the University of the Witwatersrand, is a Singularity Expert, and an alumnus of the Dubai Future Foundation.

Dario Fanucchi

Co-founder & CTO - Isazi Consulting

Dario Fanucchi is a South African entrepreneur and technologist with a passion for algorithm design and AI. He has represented South Africa, both as a participant and coordinator, in mathematics and computer science Olympiads globally. Before co-founding Isazi, Dario was one of the youngest Applied Mathematics lecturers at the University of Witwatersrand. 

At Isazi, he leads a team of the best data scientists and engineers on the continent to build AI products with a measurable impact on businesses and the local economy. Over the last five years, Dario has overseen the development of Hudson, an AI supply chain platform with the audacious goal of “reducing the cost of living by making supply chains more efficient”. Dario has given talks at various universities and conferences, such as the Deep Learning Indaba, on the practical application of AI in business contexts. 

Mpoomy Ledwaba

Founder - Wisdom & Wellness, Speaker & Author

Mpoomy Ledwaba is a YouTuber and the Founder of Wisdom & Wellness, a mental health podcast that builds deep connections between her guests and audiences through relevant conversations to help them be the best versions of themselves. She is an international speaker and one of South Africa’s foremost female podcasters in the mental health and wellness space. She is a devoted wife and mother of two, who balances her personal and professional life, while inspiring women globally to do the same. 

Mpoomy was featured on the ‘Forbes 30 Under 30’ list and is a recipient of multiple awards in the content creation space. Her upcoming book “How Did We Get Here?” hits shelves in late 2024. Mpoomy’s life-long vision is to equip, inspire, and educate individuals on holistic wellness through various platforms, which solidifies her role as a trailblazer in Africa’s wellness community.

Paul Pagnato

Co-Founder & Executive Chairman - Humanaut Health, Co-Chairman - Cresset, CEO Founder - PagnatoKarp

Not many can say that their first job was working as a microbiologist alongside NASA to look for life in outer space. Today, however, Paul A. Pagnato has more than 30 years of experience in the financial industry and is ranked among Barron’s and Forbes top wealth advisors globally. He is an Advisory Council Member for Stanford Center on Longevity and is a Board Member for CFA Society of Washington D.C. 

Paul is co-Founder and Executive Chairman of Humanaut Health, a company that empowers people to optimise their health and well-being. He is co-Chairman of Cresset, and CEO and Founder of PagnatoKarp, a private wealth management firm with over US$50bn assets under management. He authored Transparency Wave, and has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, CNBC, Bloomberg, Reuters, among other financial media. 

As the Founder of Transparency Global, Paul believes that the global adoption of Transparency® will empower organisations that are aimed at improving literacy, longevity, humanity and wealth, especially as he is passionate about giving back. 

 

He is a graduate of Florida Atlantic University and the Singularity Executive Programme, whilst being a Singularity Expert.

Barbara Silva

CEO Singularity Chile & Advisor on AI Policy and Regulation of the Senate of Chile

After being the first Chilean to study at Singularity in 2012, Barbara Silva introduced Singularity to Latin America in 2016, before becoming CEO of Singularity Chile. She has two Master’s degrees, one in Organisational Psychology and the other in Innovation Management, both from Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez (UAI), Chile’s top business school. As a leader in innovation, transformation, technology transfer and exponential technologies, Barbara advises various companies, is a board member of several organisations, and speaks at international conferences. She also helps to educate the public sector in her role as the President of the Technical Committee on Industry and Development for the new AI regulatory framework of the Chilean Senate.

Barbara founded Her Global Impact, the first innovation academy for Spanish-speaking professional women, and is recognised among the “30 Most Powerful Women” by Forbes Chile, as well as one of 100 ‘Leading Women’ in her country. She was named a “Young Leader Innovator” at the Asia Pacific Forum, is a community lead of the Cartier Women’s Initiative as well as a former Jury President of the initiative, and an ambassador of the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

Mic Mann

Co-CEO - SingularityU South Africa & Africarare

Mic Mann is an entrepreneur, futurist, storyteller, and speaker on how exponential technologies can help to #futureproofAfrica. He is the CEO of Africarare and co-CEO of SingularityU South Africa.

After completing his honours degree in scriptwriting, directing and film producing at AFDA, Mic joined the family business, Mann Made, as co-CEO. Over the last 23 years at the award-winning, experiential brand agency, he has created 360-degree events and marketing campaigns for numerous global and local Fortune 500 companies.

Since bringing Singularity to the continent in 2016, alongside his partners, he has been educating, inspiring and empowering Africans through Singularity Executive Programmes, summits and multimedia events to build a global community of changemakers who want to have a positive impact.

As an avid gamer, Mic has developed numerous online games, digital spaces and metaverse environments alongside his studio at Mann Made. In 2021, he co-founded Africa’s first metaverse, Africarare, to unlock Africa’s online potential and connect the continent to the global digital economy. Mic speaks regularly about VR, AR, the online global economy, blockchain gaming, as well as education, the future of work, and the changing role of professionals. 

Rapelang Rabana

Founder - Rekindle Learning

As a serial tech entrepreneur who is deeply committed to education and skills development in Africa, Rapelang Rabana founded EdTech Rekindle Learning. The company enables organisations to easily codify and share institutional know-how among their teams to enhance business performance. 

 

Rapelang recently became co-CEO of Imagine Worldwide, which operates across seven African countries, providing tablet-based learning programmes to develop literacy and numeracy skills among millions of children. 

 

She was featured on the cover of Forbes Africa before the age of 30, was named ‘Entrepreneur for the World’ by the World Entrepreneurship Forum, and was selected as a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum, all of which are testament to her work as an internationally lauded technology entrepreneur. Rapelang holds a BCS and an MSc from the University of Cape Town.

Dhesen Ramsamy

Chief Technology and Data Officer - Old Mutual

As the newly appointed Chief Technology Officer at Old Mutual Limited, Dhesen Ramsamy focuses on digital transformation, technology strategy, future state architecture, data, and spearheading innovation at the financial services group. With 16 years of experience in the financial services sector, he has led product development and built teams in digital banking and within the space of digital business model transformation. 

 

Dhesen’s previous roles at Momentum Metropolitan Holdings, Woolworths, Unilever, among others, saw him lead functions responsible for corporate innovation, venture capital and corporate venturing. Throughout his career, he has garnered extensive insights and experience in business and customer strategy, product and client experience design, digital channel building, and technology commercialisation. 

 

Dhesen completed a BSc in chemical engineering from the University of KwaZulu-Natal, holds an MBA from the University of Cape Town Graduate School of Business, and participated in Wharton School’s executive education programme in international housing finance.

Angela Shurina

Executive Coach 360

These days Angela Shurina is a multidisciplinary coach who is driven to accelerate human progress towards a better world by helping purpose-driven entrepreneurs, leaders, teams, and companies do better, but her career started with a degree in computer science. She traded that for coaching after realising that tech just wasn’t for her. 

 

In her work as a coach, Angela blends the neuroscience and psychology of high performance with integrative brain-body protocols. These are coupled with optimal health, nutrition, stress management, productivity hacks and mindset tools to help purpose-driven individuals build their vision faster, without risking burnout, while creating more work-life integration for themselves in the form of time, health and freedom.

 

Angela hails from Russia. After 15 years of the digital nomad lifestyle that saw her live in 15 countries, she parked her luggage for good in Cape Town in 2023. From there she runs her ‘Your Brain’s Coach’ podcast and writes a daily newsletter.

Dr Jania Okwechime

Partner - Deloitte Africa AI & Data Leader

With a PhD in machine learning and computer vision from the University College London and over 15 years of experience in developing and implementing AI solutions for various industries and sectors, Dr Jania Okwechime is a leading AI expert and innovator in Africa. In her role as Africa AI and Data Leader at Deloitte, she is at the forefront of driving AI capabilities and fluency throughout the continent, while guiding organisations through their AI, data, and analytics transformation journeys. 

 

Jania delivers cutting-edge, bespoke AI solutions to solve complex business problems and to create value for organisations in the realms of fraud detection, transaction monitoring, face recognition, regulatory compliance, and Environmental, Social, and Corporate Governance (ESG) data management.

 

She advocates for the growth and empowerment of the next generation of Africa’s AI talent. This has seen Jania deliver over 100 capacity-building sessions for executives and technical teams on AI, Gen AI, big data analytics, business intelligence solutions, technology, business operations. She regularly publishes thought leadership articles and scientific papers on these subjects.

Prof. Brian Armstrong

Old Mutual independent non Executive Director & Professor in the Chair of Digital Business - Wits Business School

Professor Brian Armstrong is regarded as one of Africa’s foremost ICT industry leaders, with over 30 years of experience in telecommunications, IT, technology R&D and systems engineering globally. He completed a BSc (Eng) and MSc (Eng) at the University of the Witwatersrand in 1982 and 1984 respectively, and obtained his PhD from University College London in 1992. Brian is Professor in the Chair of Digital Business at the Wits Business School and the interim Executive Director of the Centre for Technological Transformation in Africa. With his extensive experience as a non-executive director of listed and un-listed companies, he consults to industry and government on technological disruption, digital business, digital ethics and the socio-economic impacts of technology.

 

Brian is a non-executive director of Old Mutual Limited, BankservAfrica, and the National Transmission Company of South Africa. He brings substantial practical experience in corporate governance with a focus on Environmental, Social, and Corporate Governance (ESG). 

 

Previously Brian spent seven years in the Telkom Group, as Group Chief Operating Officer and Group Chief Commercial Officer. Before joining Telkom in 2010, Brian was British Telecom’s Vice President for the Middle East and Africa with the responsibility to oversee and grow the company’s activities across the region.

Celiwe Ross

Director of Group Strategy, Sustainability, People and Public Affairs at Old Mutual

With over 18 years of experience in financial services, Celiwe Ross is the Director of Group Strategy, Sustainability, People and Public Affairs at Old Mutual Limited. While her career started in the mining industry – where she became the first Black female mining engineer in South Africa – after completing her MBA at the University of Cape Town Graduate School of Business, she transitioned into investment banking. 

 

Before joining Old Mutual, Celiwe worked at Standard Bank and Egon Zehnder. Before that she cut her teeth within various financial services companies advising on their leadership needs and team effectiveness. 

 

Some of Celiwe’s achievements include being named “Gauteng’s Businesswoman of the Year” in 2016 within the Corporate Sector by the Businesswomen’s Association, and being recognised as the Standard Bank “Top Women Business Leader” in 2022. She is fascinated by the convergence of technology and people, and passionate about women empowerment. Celiwe is an avid reader, Afro-optimist, foodie, wine lover and a proud mother.

Evan Luthra

Forbes 30 under 30 Tech Maestro, Visionary Entrepreneur & NFT Enthusiast

Few people can say that they have created more than 30 mobile applications before turning 17, though it’s one of the many accomplishments that landed Evan Lutha on Forbes’ “30 Under 30” list. The tech maestro is also responsible for fuelling more than 500 Web3 companies. 

 

Since 2014, he has managed a crypto investment bank and invested in projects such as  Hashgraph, Ripple, HYGH, and Nakamoto Games. As an angel investor, and a founding partner at KOL Capital, a venture capital fund composed of over 70 investors, Evan’s influence reaches a market cap exceeding US$100bn. 

 

Evan regularly contributes to publications such as Forbes, Entrepreneur, Binance.com, CoinTelegraph, beincrypto, hackernoon on topics including play-to-earn gaming, real-world assets, GambleFi, Blockchains and the future of decentralised autonomous organisations (DAOs). He shares his knowledge by speaking at TEDx and various universities around the world, as well as to his 2.3+ million Instagram followers. 

Prof. Sandy Carter

COO & Head of Business Development - Unstoppable Domains

Professor Sandy Carter is the COO of Unstoppable Domains, a Web3 and blockchain Digital Identity Company with a mission to onboard the world onto the blockchain-based identity platform and to optimise business using AI tools. She is also on the board of Altair, which focuses on AI simulation and digital twins. Sandy has been a notable expert working with AI since 2013 and with blockchain since 2018, garnering extensive global recognition along the way. 

 

She has had a distinguished career, holding leadership positions as a COO, Chief Product Officer, and Chief Sales Officer working for Amazon Web Services and IBM. Among her achievements, Sandy has led the business development efforts at Fortune 100 companies that changed the business landscape and resulted in adding billions of US dollars to her employers’ bottom line.

 

Sandy is the Chairperson of the board of Girls in Tech, an adjunct professor at Carnegie Mellon University Silicon Valley, and the author of five award-winning books. 

DAVID ROBERTS

Disruptive Technologist, Thought Leader & Keynote Speaker

David Roberts is a globally recognised thought leader in the realm of disruptive innovation and exponentially advancing technology. As an alumnus of Singularity, he has dedicated his career to harnessing technology’s potential to address humanity’s global grand challenges. David’s insights into the future of technology, its implications, and opportunities have captivated audiences on stages around the world. As a Singularity expert, David delves into the transformative power of technology, offering a visionary perspective on its role in shaping the future. 

DR TADDY BLECHER

CEO & Co-founder - Maharishi Invincibility Institute

Dr Taddy Blecher is a Singularity Expert on the future of human potential and exponential education. He is the CEO and co-Founder of the Maharishi Invincibility Institute, the Imvula Education Empowerment Fund, the Invincible Group, and Tendrel (now Catalyst 2030). He also co-founded the Branson Centre of Entrepreneurship South Africa alongside Sir Richard Branson.

Taddy is passionate about Consciousness-based Education that promotes transferable skills. He conceptualised the E3 initiative (Entrepreneurship, Employability, Education) for the National Department of Basic Education to embed 21st century skills in South Africa’s school system by 2030.

As a result of his work, 24 000 unemployed South Africans (70% of whom are women) have been educated at tertiary level, with over 21 000 of them currently employed, yielding a combined annual salary exceeding ZAR1.715bn. Meanwhile, over 600 000 learners have undertaken his week-long education and life-skills training courses, in partnership with the Nelson Mandela Extranet programme.

In 2010, the Maharishi Invincibility Institute won first prize in a global competition for the world’s most innovative education initiative. It was selected by Stanford University’s Guide to Re-Imagining Higher Education, as one of the 12 most innovative higher education institutions in the world in 2019. Taddy is profiled in over 65 books and Inc. Magazine named him one of five most influential global entrepreneurs over the last 30 years. 

VIVIAN LAN

Singularity Mexico Director & Co-founder & CEO - Uma School Conscious Education

Innovation for social good and the use of technology to help humanity are Vivian Lan’s biggest drivers. In addition to studying graphic design at CDMX, majoring in fine arts, and being a Montessori teacher, Vivian has always been involved in projects of social impact whether it is through her work or her talks as an international speaker. 

As a social entrepreneur and consultant with experience in leadership, innovation and design, Vivian believes in tackling global grand challenges through creativity and collaboration. 

In 2013, she attended Singularity at NASA, where she studied the use of exponential technologies to integrate them into humanitarian work. After graduating, Vivian became the Singularity ambassador in Mexico and is the current Singularity Mexico Director. She is the Director of the Innovation Ecosystem at the Presidency of the country, and the Exponential Growth Director at ExO Works. 

After 10 years of working with corporates, government leaders and entrepreneurs, Vivian understood that the only way to change the world is through education. In 2023, Vivian co-founded Uma School, a Montessori institution of Consciousness-based Education, pioneering a new paradigm where education serves as a life tool, empowering individuals to discover their purpose, nurture a desire to be their best selves, achieve self-realisation, and expand their capacity, while uncovering inner happiness and vital force. 

RAJESH PASUNGILI

Founder and CEO - Resolute Education

Rajesh Pasungili is the Founder and CEO of award-winning EdTech Resolute Education, which has partnered with Oxford University Press South Africa to bring educational tools and programmes to schools across the country. 

 

Throughout his degree working towards an Honours in Electronic Engineering from the University of Pretoria, and even after graduating, Rajesh was committed to tutoring mathematics and science to public high school students. He observed the challenges students encountered in bridging abstract theoretical concepts with real-world applications, and was driven to better equip them for life after high school, while ensuring equitable access to transformative, tech-based education.

 

Resolute Education aims to cultivate creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills in students from all backgrounds, through their innovative robotics and coding programmes. To date, the EdTech has impacted over 150 000 students, more than 5000 teachers in over 300 schools across seven countries. With a goal to positively influence the future of education, Resolute Education is committed to readying learners for a rapidly evolving world. Rajesh believes that education is among the few tools that can level the field, enabling students to ascend socially and make significant global impacts. 

 

Resolute Education has won the EdTech of the Year Award and has been recognised among the top 15 EdTech startups globally in 2024.

JOS DIRKX

AI Founder & Advisor, Best Selling Author & Thespian

Jos Dirkx is the Founder of Beenova AI, Chief AI Strategist at Turner and a global speaker. Her work as a World Economic Forum tech pioneer, Singularity Expert, best-selling author and podcast host make her a leading voice on education, technology, leadership, and practical AI implementation.

Jos and her team have built numerous tech products, solutions and initiatives for social impact that have reached over 85 000 people globally. She consults with universities and Fortune500 companies on AI strategy by incorporating real-world examples and human-first approaches, while advising executive boards on AI strategy and execution.

She has worked with the United Nations across Africa, started an award-winning NGO, and is board member at various organisations. Jos has designed an AI methodology that prioritises curricula development and pedagogy for personalised learning. Together with her team, she received a grant from the Dutch government to pilot AI solutions in The Netherlands.

Clients such as Google, HSBC, Evolvence Knowledge Investments, the Dubai Future Foundation, and the Colombia Chamber of Commerce rely on Jos’ advisory. Her work has been featured in Mail & Guardian, CNBC, Entrepreneur, among others; in addition to peer-reviewed academic journals. Making Sense of AI, her fourth book, will be published in 2024. 

KARINE ARAMA

Partner - SGH Capital

With a 20-year track record in investment banking, Karine (Kay) Arama’s career highlights include leading fixed income sales teams at Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, and RBS in key financial hubs such as Paris, London, and Singapore.

 

In 2018, she joined IOV (Internet of Values), a blockchain-protocol start-up, as COO and Head of Investor Relations. Two years later she joined SGH Capital, a Paris-based venture capital firm that focuses on early-stage blockchain infrastructure companies in the United States and Europe. Here she was able to merge her extensive experience in banking with her expertise in the blockchain sector. 

 

Her team’s investment strategy centers on machine learning and AI as tools to screen and track companies, which represents a novel class of venture funds. She helps SGH Capital harness the power of a new generation of machine learning algorithms in line with an approach that is underpinned by an extensive proprietary dataset. 

DR CARLO VAN DE WEIJER

General Manager - Eindhoven AI Systems Institute, Fellow for Future of Mobility and Transport - Deloitte Center for the Edge

Dr Carlo van de Weijer has a Master’s degree in mechanical engineering from Eindhoven University of Technology and a PhD with honours from Graz University of Technology. He is the Managing Director of the newly founded Eindhoven AI Systems Institute (EAISI) at the Eindhoven University of Technology, and Fellow for future of mobility and transportation within Deloitte’s Center for the Edge. 

 

Due to his extensive experience within the automotive industry, he holds a.o. executive positions at Siemens and TomTom, while advising governmental ministries and industries around the world on the future of mobility. Carlo is also a member of numerous supervisory boards at several high-tech companies, investment firms and start-ups. He shares his insights in a weekly column for Het Financieele Dagblad, a daily Dutch national newspaper.

Prof. Benjamin Rosman

Professor at the University of Witwatersrand

Benjamin Rosman is a Professor in the School of Computer Science and Applied Mathematics at the University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa, where he runs the Robotics, Autonomous Intelligence and Learning (RAIL) Laboratory and is the Director of the National E-Science Postgraduate Teaching and Training Platform (NEPTTP).

 

He received his Ph.D. in Informatics from the University of Edinburgh in the UK in 2014, and previously obtained his M.Sc. in Artificial Intelligence from the University of Edinburgh. He also has a B.Sc. (Hons) in Computer Science and a B.Sc. (Hons) in Applied Mathematics, both from the University of the Witwatersrand. His research interests focus primarily on reinforcement learning and decision making in autonomous systems, specifically on how learning can be accelerated through abstracting and generalising knowledge gained from solving related problems.

 

He is a founder and organiser of the Deep Learning Indaba machine learning summer school, with a focus on strengthening African machine learning. He was a 2017 recipient of a Google Faculty Research Award in machine learning, and a 2021 recipient of a Google Africa Research Award. In 2020, he was made a Senior Member of the IEEE.

DR ADAM PANTANOWITZ

Founder - think3dots, Co-founder - AURA & Resolute, Director & Chair in Innovation - Wits University, Expert - Singularity

Dr Adam Pantanowitz is a biomedical and electrical engineer, well-known for initiating and leading the first group in the world to connect a live and mobile human brain to the internet in a project called the Brainternet – a term he coined. 

 

As a technologist, he enjoys using his applied sciences skills to have real-world impact. He has co-founded a number of businesses/social impact projects, including AURA, Resolute Education, PRTL Medical, shift.stream among others. Adam lectured Engineering and Medicine at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, where he currently holds the Angela and David Fine Chair in Innovation, whilst being the Director of the Wits Innovation Centre. 

 

His numerous innovations include a variety of human-computer interaction devices, assistive devices and novel AI technologies and applications. He is one of the youngest global fellows of The Institution of Engineering and Technology (UK), and is a Singularity Expert. Adam is an internationally chartered engineer and holds a PhD in AI applied in healthcare innovation.

DR JAYA BALOO

Chief Security Officer - Rapid7

Dr Jaya Baloo is recognised within the list of top 100 CISOs (Chief Information Security Officer) globally and ranks among the top 100 security influencers worldwide. She is an expert in cybersecurity and quantum readiness, and serves as a contributing Expert in Quantum and Cybersecurity for the World Economic Forum, and as an advisor to Europol (EC3). 

Before becoming Chief Security Officer (CSO) at Rapid7, Jaya was CISO at Avast, and prior to that she held the CISO position at KPN, the Netherlands’ largest telecommunications carrier. 

In 2022, she received an honourary doctorate from the University of Twente for her leadership and significant contributions to technological advancement in the field of cybersecurity. Jaya sits on the advisory boards of the Netherlands’ National Cyber Security Centre, PQCrypto, and Yubico. She serves on the audit committee of TIIN capital, a cybersecurity fund, and is a board member of the Cyber Threat Alliance (CTA), and also the RvT of the Dutch broadcasting organisation, the Nederlandse Omroep Stichting (NOS). Jaya has been a Singularity Expert since 2017, where she lectures regularly. 

Dr ALIX Rübsaam

Researcher in Philosophy of Technology, Vice President Research, Expertise & Knowledge - Singularity

Dr Alix Rübsaam is the Vice President of Research, Expertise and Knowledge at Singularity, where she oversees Singularity’s research efforts, body of knowledge and experts. As a researcher in philosophy of technology and cultural analysis, Alix investigates the societal and cultural impact of exponential technologies. Her focus is on changing ideas about humanity and human activity in technological contexts, such as: AI, (autonomous) robotics, information technologies, digital environments, and on deploying emerging technologies thoughtfully and responsibly.

Alix’s postdoctoral research centres around two large-scale projects. The first is a deep-dive on responsible AI, algorithmic bias and exclusion. It aims to raise awareness about the impact of automated decision-making algorithms to explicate how decisions made during the design process can lead to unwanted outcomes, and to empower leaders to build AI that is equitable, fair and just. The second comprises an analysis of the digitalisation of information, its effects on decision making and ethics. Its purpose is to reposition decision makers vis-à-vis the way they inform themselves, to investigate and challenge computational paradigms, and to envision an approach to ethics that befits 21st century dilemmas.

DR MARK NASILA

Chief Data and Analytics Officer - FNB Risk, AI Faculty - SingularityU South Africa

As the Chief Data and Analytics Officer of FNB Risk, Dr Mark Nasila is the brains behind reimagining the bank’s risk management and forensic due diligence processes in line with global standards. He holds a PhD in Mathematical Statistics from Nelson Mandela University, is an alumnus of the SingularityU South Africa Executive programme, a Singularity Expert on AI, data science, and data strategies, and global speaker. 

 

Mark is a steering committee member of the National Institute for Theoretical Physics and Computational Sciences (NITheCS), a research fellow at Stellenbosch University, and a Professor of practice in AI at the University of Johannesburg. He is also a member of the advisory board for Moody’s Analytics Europe and Africa.

 

His opinion pieces have featured in Business Day, Mail & Guardian, TechCentral, among others, and he has written for Corinium Global Intelligence and The European Council for Modelling and Simulation. 

 

He was named one of the Global Top 100 Innovators in Data and Analytics by Corinium Global Intelligence in 2020, clinched the title of the 2022 Southern African Finnovator of the Year, was the recipient of the Excellence in Data and Analytics Award at the DigiBank Summit in 2022 and 2024, while also being the 2023 Technology Excellence Award winner at the IITPSA Annual President’s Awards.

ARTURO ELIZONDO

Founder & CEO - EVERY

Arturo Elizondo is the Founder and CEO of the Silicon Valley-based food technology company, The EVERY Company, which created the world’s first egg without a chicken. It leverages precision fermentation to brew real animal proteins without the use of a single animal. 

 

Prior to founding EVERY (formerly known as Clara Foods), Arturo studied Government and Comparative Politics at Harvard University, served under Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor, and worked at the US Department of Agriculture and at Credit Suisse. 

 

He has been lauded on Forbes’ “30 Under 30”, Newsweeks’ “America’s 50 Greatest Disruptors”, San Francisco Business Times’ “40 Under 40”, and named “Ten Innovators to Watch” by Smithsonian Magazine. Arturo hails from Laredo, Texas and grew up living on both sides of the US-Mexico border. He was also named ‘Person of the Year’ by the National Hispanic Institute, and one of “10 Latinos who inspire the United States” by BBC World News.

CATHY HACKL

Tech & Gaming Executive, CEO - Spatial Dynamics, Author, Keynote Speaker, Futurist & Podcast Host

In tech circles, Cathy Hackl is popularly known as ‘The Godmother of the Metaverse’. As a futurist, technology and gaming executive, she focuses on spatial computing, virtual worlds, augmented reality, AI, and gaming platforms strategy. Cathy is the co-CEO of Spatial Dynamics, a spatial computing and AI solutions company. She has worked at Amazon Web Services (AWS), Magic Leap, and HTC VIVE and with companies such as Nike, Ralph Lauren, Walmart, Louis Vuitton and Clinique on their emerging technology and gaming journeys. 

 

As a keynote speaker, Cathy has spoken at Harvard Business School, The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), The World Economic Forum, as well as at countless conferences. She is one of Ad Age’s “2023 Leading Women”, was featured on the cover of Forbes Latam’s “100 Most Powerful Women 2023” issue, and is on the inaugural Vogue Business “100 Innovators” list.  

Cathy hosts Adweek’s TechMagic podcast, is a guest editor for Vogue Singapore, and has been a fixture in the world of immersive technology for almost a decade, with numerous appearances on CNBC’s Squawk Box, 60 Minutes on CBS, CNN, and features in Time, The Economist, Bloomberg, among others. In 2022, she became the first human to ring NASDAQ’s opening bell in physical and avatar form, while on live television.

EMAD MOSTAQUE

Founder of Stability AI

Emad Mostaque is a British-Bangladeshi entrepreneur and mathematician, who has been instrumental in spearheading the development of the most advanced image, audio and video models in generative AI history. With a Master’s degree in mathematics and computer science from Oxford, Emad founded Symmitree, a start-up that aims to reduce technology costs for those living in poverty. 

 

He is best known as the founder and former CEO of Stability AI, the company behind the free and open-source text-to-image generator Stable Diffusion, which had more than 300 million downloads during his tenure. Emad’s vision was to activate humanity’s potential through open-source generative AI. The project also raised philosophical questions about the nature of human creativity and art. 

 

Because he works so closely with AI, Emad has been a vocal advocate for AI safety. He signed an open letter in 2023 calling on AI labs to pause training of AI systems more powerful than GPT-4 for at least six months. Since stepping down as CEO of Stability AI in March 2024, Emad is pursuing decentralised AI, which reflects his commitment to exploring new frontiers in AI and his belief in the potential of decentralised systems. As a firm believer in open-source, Emad is committed to transforming the industry from commercialised corporate AI to decentralised democratic AI. He Emad sits on the boards of EleutherAI and Render, to prompt innovation and fine-tune initiatives for a better future.