It features over 50 speakers, including Alan Knott Craig Jr, digital advertising mavens John Montgomery and Quentin George, pioneering muso Okmalumkoolkat, Mark Kaigwa, sparking new ideas and relaying ways in which the Internet and specifically social media can enhance their professional and personal experience and that of their immediate communities.
The theme is 'The Future of Now: Always On; Always Connected', which will be dissected in the form of panel discussions; virtual hangouts; master-classes, keynote presentations, hackathons, film screenings and more.
• Digital entrepreneur Alan Knott Craig Jr will present a keynote address on the importance of providing broadband access to wider communities on opening day.
• Google will host a series of master classes on best uses of its technologies for business.
• Lee Naik, MD, Technology Strategy, Accenture will present a keynote on emerging digital technologies in transforming service delivery for governments and business.
• Dr Sindi van Zyl, known to involve her Twitter followers in pertinent health issues, will talk on navigating the communication landscape of social media and healthcare.
• John Montgomery, COO of GroupM and previous founder of Mindshare SA will be travelling from New York to offer a future-thinking keynote presentation on the Internet of Things.
• Head of broadband for the City of Joburg, Zolani Matebese will address the city's focus on technology-driven service delivery and the City of Joburg's broadband initiatives.
• Levi's will reveal results from a new research study on youth perspectives on success, followed by a youth panel on Tuesday, 23 September. This will precede its inaugural Pioneer Nation festival on Thursday, 24 September.
• London-based trend firm trendwatching.com will host a morning session of multi-format events highlighting key global, pan-African and local consumer trends.
SMW is an official partner of the inaugural Fak'ugesi Digital Africa Festival (August 11- September 27), which curates numerous stand-alone conferences, exhibitions, workshops, short courses and other activities that promote the fusion of creative and technical development of digital culture in Africa.
Many events during the week are free of charge; however, there are pass options available for unlimited access for a day or the entire week. For more information, go to socialmediaweek.org/johannesburg/attend.
