INSPIRE STAGE

SPARKS TALK

MASTERCLASSES

DISCUSS TALKS

INSPIRE STAGE

Two standout moments in the programme, our Keynote Talks bring the whole community together for powerful, perspective-shifting ideas. Designed to inspire and challenge at the highest level, these sessions set the tone for Wild With Purpose and the future we are shaping together.

LET THE WILD LEAD

Dr. Steve Boyes

LET THE WILD LEAD

Dr. Steve Boyes, National Geographic Explorer & Explorer of the Year

The future of Africa’s ecosystems is inseparable from the dignity, agency, and leadership of the communities who live within them. Luxury travel can help anchor long-term employment, local ownership, and cultural continuity, supporting not just conservation outcomes. The question is no longer whether tourism can help save wilderness, it’s whether we’re brave enough to let wilderness set the terms.

A National Geographic Explorer and Explorer of the Year, Boyes has spent his life moving through Africa’s last intact wildernesses by dug-out canoe, on foot, and by bicycle – tracing the unseen systems that sustain them. His work takes him into the depths of the Angolan highlands and across the waterways of the Okavango Delta, mapping the fragile water towers that feed two-thirds of Africa’s economy and hold the future of its biodiversity in balance. This is exploration not for spectacle, but for protection.

WE SHAPE THE FUTURE OF LUXURY

Thebe Magugu

WE SHAPE THE FUTURE OF LUXURY

Thebe Magugu, Creative Director & Designer

Explore how culture, creativity and storytelling shape how the world sees Africa today — and why the continent’s future narratives must be authored from within. Discover how Magugu has built a globally celebrated brand rooted in African heritage and the lived experiences of women, using fashion as both a cultural and intellectual practice. Through collections that weave together untold histories, politics and contemporary issues, his work preserves, interrogates and reframes complex narratives through modern luxury, local craftsmanship and bold creative expression.

Thebe Magugu is an award-winning Johannesburg-based fashion designer using clothing as a tool for storytelling, education, and social commentary. Rooted in African heritage and women’s lived experiences, his intellectually driven brand delivers sustainable, modern luxury, alongside Faculty Press, a journal amplifying African youth culture.

SPARK TALKS

Fast, bold 5-minute talks designed to ignite ideas, challenge perspectives and spark new thinking across the community. High-energy and tightly structured, they’re a platform for fresh voices to share what matters — quickly, creatively, and with purpose.

QI: QUITE IRRITATING

Alex Walters

QI: QUITE IRRITATING

Alex Walters, Sales & Marketing Manager, Great Plains Conservation

Africa travel has its favourite words, you’ve heard them, you’ve probably used them, and you’ll definitely recognise them. In the spirit of QI, this session plays with the language of our industry, gently unpacking the clichés and quirks that shape how we tell our stories, some of which are, frankly, Quite Irritating.

Alex began his career at the Royal Geographical Society, where he funded and interviewed scientific expeditions, and famously counts cold-calling Sir David Attenborough to join him on an interview panel as one of his “biggest sales.” He joined the then relatively new Great Plains Conservation in 2010, having worked previously as an agent for over a decade, looking after the European sales market. His journey has been defined by curiosity, resilience, and a willingness to step into the unknown.

Only The Brave

Pierre du Plessis

Only The Brave

Pierre du Plessis, Founder of Be Brave

We like to think we shape demand. The reality? We don’t - not like we used to. Influence has fragmented, attention is unpredictable, and the rules of storytelling have quietly been rewritten. This session is a provocation: if the old playbook no longer works, what does and who’s really in control now?

Pierre is the founder of Be Brave, a Strategy Design Lab that helps businesses and people find clarity in the chaos. With over two decades of experience developing people, building products, and designing strategies, Pierre blends ancient wisdom, systems thinking, and gut feels to create brave roadmaps for the future. He’s spoken on four TEDx stages, written four books, won the Desmond Tutu Gerrit Brand prize for literature, worked with global brands like Tencent, BP, Yum!, Allan Gray, and HATCH, and delivered keynotes all around the world, that feel more like conversations around a campfire than boardroom lectures. Part strategist, part modern-day philosopher, Pierre’s academic research focused on loneliness and belonging and he is fascinated by what it means to be human in an age of machines. He lives in Cape Town with his wife, and two kids and when he is not reading or lifting weights, enjoys doom-scrolling.

The Renaissance We Need

Sethu Komani

The Renaissance We Need

Sethu Komani, MD, Kruger Rhino Renaissance Foundation | Social Impact & Commercial Executive

Renaissance is, at its heart, about revival. This talk explores how the tourism industry can multiply synergy and agency through a self-funded model that enables the sector to address crises and emergencies requiring rapid resource support. This is a call to move beyond the constraints of the present and collaboratively move towards a sustainable future that is funded by the industry, for the industry, and driven by a collective purpose to protect the people, wildlife, and environment that make South Africa a unique and compelling destination.

Sethu Komani is an executive leader specialising in the intersection of sustainable development and commercial strategy. As Managing Director of the Kruger Rhino Renaissance Foundation (KRRF), she is spearheading a systemic revival of the Greater Kruger ecosystem through self-funded, industry-driven models. In her short time in the role she's helped secure R5 million in TBCSA funding to launch the Rhino Monitors project—a blueprint for bypassing traditional bottlenecks in conservation. Previously, as Chief Commercial Officer of WeThinkCode_, she raised millions in strategic impact funding from Jobs Fund, JP Morgan Chase, IDC and Caterpillar Foundation. Sethu holds an MBA from the University of Cape Town, where she served as Class President in 2020.

JUDGEMENT IS THE INVISIBLE LUXURY

Casey van Embden

JUDGEMENT IS THE INVISIBLE LUXURY

Casey van Embden, Business Development Manager at Timeless Africa Safaris

What if the greatest opportunity in African luxury travel is not simply to reduce harm, but to actively increase contribution? This Spark Talks explores the often-unseen influence of travel advisors as powerful shapers of perception, capital flow and exposure. While advisors may not own lodges or land, their recommendations determine which conservation models thrive, which communities are elevated, and what stories of Africa are carried home.

Casey van Embden is a Cape Town–based travel strategist, leading one of Africa’s most well-respected luxury travel companies. Born and raised in Cape Town and shaped by years living in India, she brings a global perspective to how Africa is experienced and understood. As a mother of two, she has travelled extensively through the continent with her children, using their perspective to rethink what meaningful family travel can look like. Known for her strong judgement and creative approach, her work focuses on designing journeys that are deeply personal, people-led and impactful beyond the trip itself.

BUILDING WHAT DOESN’T YET EXIST

Sarah Dusek

BUILDING WHAT DOESN’T YET EXIST

Sarah Dusek, Co-Founder & CEO of Few & Far

This is a personal story from Sarah Dusek about the courage required to begin again and build something new when there is no clear path ahead. Inspired by her journey creating Few & Far and working in one of South Africa’s wildest and unknown landscapes, this Spark talk is about choosing to create rather than copy, to protect what matters, and to build new models that serve both people and the planet. Because the future isn’t found – it’s built by those willing to step into the unknown and forge new paths.

After selling her first travel company Under Canvas in 2018, for more than $100 million, Sarah Dusek launched Enygma Ventures a venture capital fund to invest in Africa’s talented female entrepreneurs and contribute towards rectifying the great funding imbalance. In her new book “Thinking Bigger: A Pitch Deck Formula For Women Who Want To Change the World”, Sarah shares the challenges of her own journey building a big travel business and shares the critical building blocks needed to scale any business.

Don’t Automate The Soul

Pride Maunatlala

Don’t Automate The Soul

Pride Maunatlala, Chief Marketing Officer, Singita

This talk explores the tension between technology and human instinct in modern luxury, asking whether in optimising for precision we risk losing the very soul of experience. Drawing on Africa’s depth of presence and connection, it suggests that what some see as falling behind the AI curve may in fact be a quiet advantage. At its core is a simple idea: technology can optimise an experience, but only humans can truly feel it.

Pride Maunatlala is Singita’s Chief Marketing Officer. With deep expertise across industries and continents, she blends a profound understanding of global cultural landscapes with a passion for storytelling. In her role, she's guiding Singita into a new chapter defined by richer narratives and more intuitively curated experiences. Pride believes in the transformative power of hospitality and nature, the sense of care they can both offer and inspire, and that creating opportunities for people to experience Africa’s wild spaces intimately fosters a deeper commitment to protecting them.

MASTERCLASSES

Practical, focused sessions designed to build knowledge, sharpen skills and deliver real-world value. Led by experts and grounded in the realities of our industry, Masterclasses offer clear takeaways you can immediately apply to your business and way of thinking.

MASTERING THE NEW MEDIA LANDSCAPE

Sharon Machira & Pride Maunatlala

MASTERING THE NEW MEDIA LANDSCAPE

Sharon Machira, Founder of Studio Unconventional
Pride Maunatlala, CMO, Singita

The way travel demand is created has fundamentally shifted. No longer driven solely by traditional media and trade, today’s inspirational economy is shaped by creators, culture, and algorithms, redefining how destinations are discovered, desired, and booked. Sharon and Pride will explore the evolving intersection of storytelling and commercial impact. Together, they’ll unpack who really influences travel decisions today, why authentic and culturally grounded narratives matter more than ever, and how brands can work with modern storytellers to drive both relevance and revenue.

Working at the intersection of legacy media and the creator economy, Machira helps luxury travel brands remain culturally relevant by connecting them with the creators shaping modern travel narratives. Her work bridges traditional journalism and the new wave of digital storytelling, ensuring brands resonate with the audiences defining tomorrow’s luxury traveller. Previously a Senior Journalist at BBC Africa and Head of Communications for Google in East Africa, Machira brings a rare blend of editorial insight, brand strategy and cultural intelligence. She is also the founder of @wpst ‘Weak Passport, Strong Taste’ – a media platform inspiring a new generation of Afropolitan travellers to explore African cities and reimagine luxury through a contemporary African lens.

Pride Maunatlala is Singita’s Chief Marketing Officer. With deep expertise across industries and continents, she blends a profound understanding of global cultural landscapes with a passion for storytelling. In her role, she's guiding Singita into a new chapter defined by richer narratives and more intuitively curated experiences. Pride believes in the transformative power of hospitality and nature, the sense of care they can both offer and inspire, and that creating opportunities for people to experience Africa’s wild spaces intimately fosters a deeper commitment to protecting them.

UNLOCKING REAL VALUE THROUGH AI & AUTOMATION

Garreth van Rensburg

UNLOCKING REAL VALUE THROUGH AI & AUTOMATION

Garreth van Rensburg, Founder, GoFetch Online

AI is everywhere — but where is it actually creating value in travel? This fast-paced, 45-minute masterclass cuts through the noise to show how AI can be used in the industry. Grounded in real business challenges — not tech jargon — this session explores where AI works, where it doesn’t, and how to apply it in a way that enhances (not replaces) the human touch. Through live examples and open discussion, you’ll see how you can use AI, streamline operations and make better decisions. You’ll leave with a simple framework to evaluate AI in your own business, a clearer view of where it delivers real impact, and the confidence to take meaningful, informed action.

A proudly South African entrepreneur, Garreth brings over two decades of experience working alongside lodges, hotels, tour operators and travel businesses across the continent — helping them build the digital foundations needed to grow, adapt and thrive in an ever-evolving landscape. His approach cuts through complexity, turning disruption into opportunity and enabling businesses to find their ‘flow’ without losing their authenticity.

DISCUSS TALKS

Intimate, community-led conversations — submitted by the community, for the community — designed to create space for honest dialogue, shared challenges and new perspectives. Small, informal and deeply human, they’re where the industry comes together to explore what really matters and shape what comes next.

A BETTER WAY TO PR AFRICA: WHAT WORKS IN 2026

Lindsy Terry, Lisa Grainger & Alexandra Kirkman

A BETTER WAY TO PR AFRICA: WHAT WORKS IN 2026

Lindsy Terry, Co-Founder, Torch Consulting
Lisa Grainger, Journalist
Alexandra Kirkman, Journalist

As the PR landscape continues to evolve at pace, what resonated even a year ago is no longer guaranteed to cut through. With shifting media priorities, changing editorial landscapes, and the rise of new platforms, African travel brands are being called to adopt a more considered and strategic approach to storytelling. This discussion session is designed to be both practical and accessible — a live, experience-led conversation focused on what is truly working right now, and what is no longer landing. At its core, it is about cutting through the noise: refining how stories are positioned, strengthening meaningful media relationships, and ultimately generating coverage that resonates in an increasingly crowded and fast-moving space.

Lindsy Terry works at the intersection of sales, PR, and brand strategy within the luxury travel space. Known for her relationship-led approach, she focuses on connecting people, ideas, and opportunities in a way that drives meaningful growth. She believes in the power of the collective — and in backing bold, forward-thinking ideas that push African travel narratives forward.

Lisa Grainger: Before she started to travel the world professionally, Lisa has worked on the news, features and arts sections of The Times, and been features director of Elle magazine and deputy editor of Sunday Times Style. She has driven around the whole of the USA in a beaten-up sedan, camping en route (yes, even New York); been attacked by hippo on the Zambezi; and joined three explorers trying to find the source of the Nile, while trying to avoid some of the hairiest spiders she’s ever seen. Today, in between working for eight months of the year as deputy editor and travel editor of Times Luxx, she is sustainability editor for Country + Town House, and a contributing editor to Conde Nast Traveller.

Alexandra Kirkman: Alexandra Kirkman has spent 25 years at the nexus of journalism and media relations. She began her career as an international reporter at Forbes, where she traversed the globe covering topics ranging from online banking in Brazil to the world’s best hoteliers to solo exploring on the Great Barrier Reef. Since 2013, Alexandra has worked as a freelance writer and media relations consultant. In addition to Forbes.com, where she remains a travel contributor, she writes regularly for Fortune; her editorial work has also appeared in HuffPost, Condé Nast Traveler, Departures and Centurion (International), The Times(London), Christie’s International Real Estate, the New York Post, and Maxim, among other publications.

Are We Failing the Guest. If Purpose Matters, Why isn’t it converting?

Julie Cheetham, Paul de Waal, Rosie Stubbs & Zukiso Makalima

Are We Failing the Guest. If Purpose Matters, Why isn’t it converting?

Julie Cheetham, CEO, Travalyst
Paul de Waal, Founder & CEO, Wetu
Rosie Stubbs, Head of Brand and Marketing, The Long Run
Zukiso Makalima, Head of Sales, Twsalu

For too long, sustainability has been treated as a “nice-to-have” rather than a driver of real value — but that perception is shifting. This session explores why the industry still struggles to sell impact, questioning whether we are underestimating today’s traveller or simply failing to communicate purpose in a way that resonates. As accountability frameworks like CSRD push for greater transparency and measurable impact, the conversation looks ahead to what it will take to turn good intentions into credible, compelling value — and how the industry must evolve to meet this moment.

Julie Cheetham is the Chief Executive Officer of Travalyst, the global not-for-profit coalition founded by Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, to transform the way the world travels. With 25 years of experience across sustainability, hospitality, technology, conservation, and finance, she leads a $3 trillion coalition advancing credible sustainability data and industry alignment. Julie previously served as Travalyst’s COO and is Chair of The Long Run, the world’s leading organisation for nature-based tourism. She co-founded Weeva, the award-winning sustainability-management platform, and has held senior transformation roles at National Australia Bank, Oppenheimer Generations and Distell. She speaks globally on climate, nature, and regenerative tourism.

Rosie Stubbs is Head of Brand, Marketing and Communications at The Long Run, supporting a global community of nature-based tourism businesses protecting over 23 million acres of biodiversity and supporting more than 350,000 people. Rosie works at the intersection of sustainability, technology and tourism, having built and led marketing functions from the ground up at organisations such as Weeva and iOCO. Her experience spans scaling a sustainability SaaS brand to global recognition and shaping marketing strategy within small and large businesses and NPO’s, turning complex impact into clear, credible, and commercially relevant stories.

Paul de Waal is the founder of Wetu, a leading travel technology platform that empowers the global tourism industry through content, collaboration, and innovation. Paul is passionate about responsible tourism, industry collaboration, and enabling travel professionals to deliver more meaningful experiences. Through his work, he aims to create a more connected, transparent, and impactful travel ecosystem.

Zukiso is a seasoned sales professional with over a decade of experience in senior sales leadership roles within the luxury and conservation tourism sector. He has worked with renowned brands such as andBeyond, Asilia Africa and others and has extensive experience in strategic sales leadership, market development, team mentorship, and high-level agent relationship management. He is currently the Head of Sales at Tswalu Kalahari Reserve and a Member of their Executive Committee.
Zukiso is an avid traveler with a love for languages. He's a cyclist, an aspiring marathon runner and art enthusiast and spending time in the great outdoors keeps him centered and grounded..

The Changing Role Of The Travel Agent & DMC

Simon Jones & Alex Lategan

The Changing Role Of The Travel Agent & DMC

Simon Jones, GM Ultimate Jet Vacations
Alex Lategan, Sales and Marketing, Journey Beyond

As travel becomes more complex, costly and unpredictable, the role of agents and DMCs is undergoing a profound shift. In Africa, where logistics, access and on-the-ground realities add further layers of nuance, intermediaries are no longer simply designing itineraries, but navigating risk, interpreting value and safeguarding trust across the entire journey. This session unpacks how the role is evolving, what may be at risk of being lost, and where new forms of value are emerging. Set against a backdrop of rising client expectations and increasingly fragmented systems, the discussion will also examine the tension between speed and complexity, the shifting dynamics of client ownership as suppliers market more directly, and whether the industry is truly recognising – and pricing – the invisible work being carried out behind the scenes.

Alex Lategan represents the next generation of Journey Beyond, with a perspective shaped by a lifelong immersion in African travel and a family legacy spanning over two decades in the business. His approach blends deep-rooted industry knowledge with a fresh, forward-looking mindset. With a strong understanding of Africa’s leading lodges and destinations, he combines traditional values of trust and relationship-building with a modern view of the traveller. His focus is on creating clarity — helping both travellers and partners navigate Africa with confidence through a thoughtful, insight-led approach.

Simon Jones, General Manager, UJV Africa - Bio: Having been selling the magic that is Africa for close to 20 years and within that time representing some of the most prestigious brands in Africa, when the opportunity came to start up UJV Africa, I could not turn it down. Working with a team of professionals that are all passionate about what they do makes every day a great day. Finding the right partner is imperative to business, and at UJV you get just that. Proud people that want to take care of their clients and the 'proof is in the pudding' so to speak. An adventure that has somewhat just begun and long may it continue.

THE LUXURY EQUATION: PRICING, VALUE & CONFIDENCE

Garrett Fitzpatrick & Jean Pickard

THE LUXURY EQUATION: PRICING, VALUE & CONFIDENCE

Garrett Fitzpatrick, Sales Manager, Londolozi
Jean Pickard, Travel Advisor, Smartflyer

As global uncertainty, rising prices, and currency volatility reshape the travel landscape, the way African travel is sold, positioned, and ultimately trusted is under increasing scrutiny. This speaker session explores whether the industry is clearly communicating value in a way that truly holds — or if pricing is beginning to outpace perception. Through an open and considered conversation, it will unpack the growing pressure on agents to defend Africa’s price point, the challenge of articulating value beyond cost, and how the continent compares with other ultra-luxury destinations. With the added influence of fluctuating currencies, fuel costs, and broader global shifts, the session invites an honest look at how Africa can continue to justify its place at the top end of the market while strengthening confidence and clarity in its offering.

Garrett Fitzpatrick is an apprentice to the wild. Twelve years with Londolozi, from safari guide to marketer, have shaped his worldview. Rooted in the belief that nature heals, grounds, and calls us into the present, he is equally convinced that sustainable business is one of conservation's most powerful tools. Now in the Londolozi sales team, he tells stories with one intention: to inspire people to experience Africa, and in doing so, to fall in love with the wild we are all trying to protect.

Jean Pickard, Travel Advisor, Smartflyer Jean is a senior travel industry professional with decades of experience across Africa and other emerging destinations. She joined the travel industry in 1978 and is known for a relationship-driven approach—building a career around meaningful collaboration and long-standing, trusted partnerships within the travel trade.In 1988, Jean founded Explorations, guided by the belief that successful tourism is built on deep destination knowledge, collaboration, and mutual respect between travel advisors, their clients, and local suppliers.Jean’s connection to Africa began in 1982 with her first trip to Kenya and Tanzania. Since then, she has visited 18 countries across the continent—returning again and again to explore and experience what makes Africa so compelling. As the saying goes, you come for the animals, but you remember the people, and Jean’s work has always been grounded in the relationships she’s built with African operators, guides, and destination partners.
Africa remains central to Jean’s work and close to her heart. Drawing on extensive firsthand experience and trusted on-the-ground partnerships, she collaborates with African suppliers to design thoughtful, carefully crafted itineraries—bringing her clients closer to the places, wildlife, and, most importantly, the people who make each journey unforgettable.

WHO OWNS THE WILD? POWER, PROFIT & PARTICIPATION IN AFRICAN CONSERVATION

Clever Zulu

WHO OWNS THE WILD? POWER, PROFIT & PARTICIPATION IN AFRICAN CONSERVATION

Clever Zulu, CEO, Chem Chem Association

For years, tourism and conservation have been positioned as natural partners — but who really benefits? This session challenges us to rethink the model, questioning whether conservation can truly succeed without meaningful community ownership at its core. Moving beyond well-intentioned but externally driven approaches, it explores how power, profit and participation can be rebalanced. Because the future of African tourism won’t be defined by what we protect — but by who it truly belongs to.

As CEO of Chem Chem Association (CCA), he leads one of East Africa’s most advanced conservation ecosystems within the Kwakuchinja Wildlife Corridor—linking Tarangire and Lake Manyara. Under his leadership, CCA has pioneered the Joint Monitoring & Protection Center (JMPC), a data-driven command system that translates intelligence into real-time conservation action, setting a new benchmark for Wildlife Management Areas in Tanzania and beyond. Clever’s work challenges traditional tourism paradigms by shifting from experience-based models to system-based regeneration—where every guest interaction contributes to ecosystem restoration, community prosperity, and long-term sustainability. Through integrated value chains, financial inclusion models, and youth programs such as Kids Safari, he is building a scalable blueprint for conservation-led economies across Africa.

Architects of the Renaissance: Transforming Individual Contributions into Systemic Power

Dave Varty, Jerry Mabena & Blacky Komani

Architects of the Renaissance: Transforming Individual Contributions into Systemic Power

Dave Varty, Co-Founder, Londolozi
Jerry Mabena, CEO, Motsamayi Tourism Group
Blacky Komani, Chairman, FlySafair

Partnership is, at its heart, about shared responsibility. This discussion explores how the tourism industry can optomise the efficacy of the TOMSA levy to address community and conservation matters in and outside Kruger through expanded participation. By moving from a mindset of basic compliance to one of active commitment, the industry can unlock an expanded levy pool to safeguard the health of the Kruger National Park. This is a call to bridge the gap between private sector capability and public conservation, creating an execution-focused layer built for immediate action and long-term sustainability.

Dave Varty, Co-Founder, Londolozi | Global Conservation Pioneer is a relentless visionary who has spent over five decades redefining the relationship between luxury tourism, wildlife restoration, and social development. As the Co-Founder of Londolozi, Dave pioneered a blueprint for harmony between people and nature that was famously lauded by President Nelson Mandela in 1995. In 2024, his lifelong dedication was formally recognised with the prestigious Eco-Intelligence Lifetime Achievement Award, celebrating his role as a "social architect" who has shifted conservation from a model of exclusion to one of collective agency.
Beyond the boundaries of Londolozi, Dave co-founded &Beyond (formerly CC Africa), where he spearheaded the incorporation of private game reserves into the Kruger National Park—a landmark model for conservation concessions. To mark Londolozi’s centenary in 2026, Dave facilitated a R10 million gift to the Good Work Foundation, ensuring the continued expansion of digital learning campuses for rural youth. A published author and founding partner of the Tracker Academy, Dave remains a pivotal voice in the call for meditative luxury and the creation of global wildlife corridors that secure a sustainable future for both nature and humanity.

Jerry Mabena, CEO, Motsamayi Tourism Group | Iconic Property Investor & Visionary is a distinguished business leader with an illustrious career spanning tourism, marketing, and property management. As the CEO of Motsamayi Tourism Group, he has been instrumental in bringing iconic South African landmarks to market, including the award-winning Kruger Shalati (Train on the Bridge Hotel) and the Sanctuary Mandela Hotel. Jerry’s expertise lies in restructuring and scaling complex organisations; prior to his current role, he served as CEO of the Thebe Services Division, where he oversaw a diverse portfolio across the financial, energy, and media sectors.
In addition to his executive leadership, Jerry serves as the Chairman of the Tourism Business Council of South Africa (TBCSA) and Chairman of the Board of the School of Tourism and Hospitality at the University of Johannesburg. His previous leadership includes tenures as CEO of Kagiso Property Holdings and Global Business Unit Director at J Walter Thompson, where he managed blue-chip accounts such as Ford, Rolex, and Liberty. Jerry holds a B Comm from Rhodes University and completed an Executive Development Programme at Wits Business School, specialising in finance and accounting.

Blacky Komani, Chairman, FlySafair | Business Executive & Tourism Strategist with over three decades of leadership spanning South Africa and the United States, Blacky Komani is a seasoned executive renowned for navigating complex regulatory environments and driving high-impact commercial growth. As Chairman of FlySafair, South Africa’s leading domestic airline, he recently played a critical role in facilitating a landmark Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment deal with Harith General Partners. This strategic acquisition by a local investment powerhouse ensures the airline’s continued compliance and operational stability, allowing the formerly UK-based business structure to remain a vital pillar of South African aviation.
Blacky’s contributions were recently recognised on a national scale when he was named the 2025 Aviation Professional of the Year at the South African Civil Aviation Excellence Awards. His career includes transformative tenures such as CEO of Tourvest Ground Duty Free, where he pioneered Nigeria’s first duty-free operation, and General Manager for South African Tourism in the Americas, where he led a strategy that increased tourist arrivals by nearly 30% year-on-year. Blacky holds a Master’s in Tourism Administration from George Washington University and remains deeply committed to social upliftment and mentoring the next generation of African leaders.