Top things to look out for at 2020 Africa Tech Festival
In advance of the events, the organisers have also opened up the platform to allow registered delegates, speakers and exhibitors the opportunity to familiarise themselves with the virtual real estate. This also affords those attending and participating, the prospect of pre-arranging meetings and setting up their viewing agendas.
Here are some key highlights to expect:
The Africa Tech Festival headliners
Featuring Africa's most prominent digital thought-leaders from organisations including MTN, Vodacom, Facebook, United Nations Economic Commission for Africa and more, the AfricaCom Headliners will share their insights on the most important topics in African technology, telecommunications and innovation.
- Siya Kolisi, co-founder, Kolisi Foundation
- Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams, minister of communications and digital technologies, Republic of South Africa
- Paula Ingabire, minister of ICT and innovation, Republic of Rwanda
- Shameel Joosub, group CEO, Vodacom
- Lillian Barnard, managing director, Microsoft South Africa
- Charles Molapisi, group chief technology and information officer, MTN
- Alioune Ndiaye, CEO, Middle East and Africa, Orange
- Pinky Kekana, deputy minister of communications and digital technologies, Republic of South Africa
- Yolanda Cuba, group chief digital and fintech officer, MTN
- Professor Tshilidzi Marwala, deputy chair, Presidential 4IR Commission
- Alice Munyua, director, Africa Innovation and Public Policy, Mozilla
- Nenzeni Babs Duma, CIO, WesBank
- Nitin Gajria, director - Sub-Saharan Africa, Google
- Izabela Milewska, digital skills global leader, Amazon Web Services
- Bob Skinstad, former Springbok captain and world cup winner, partner, Knife Capital
- Emmanuel Lubanzadio, head of public policy for Sub-Saharan Africa, Twitter
- Kojo Boakye, director, Africa Public Policy, Facebook
- Pamela Coke-Hamilton, executive director at International Trade Centre
- Dejan Kastelic, group chief technology officer, Vodacom
Announcement of the Africa50 Innovation Challenge Winner
Hear from Africa50, Smart Africa, the ITU and Paula Ingabire, minister of ICT and innovation, Rwanda, about the importance of investing in digital infrastructure and find out who from the Africa50 Innovation Challenge came out on top.
AccelerateHER Africa – new for 2020
Addressing the under-representation of women in technology. Hear from Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams, minister of communications and digital technologies, Republic of South Africa, Arianna Huffington, founder and CEO, Thrive Global, Yolanda Cuba, group chief digital and fintech officer, MTN and Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, executive director, UN Women.
Global tech brands sharing exciting Africa plans
Find out why Microsoft, Google, Facebook, Twitter, TikTok, WeWork and others are so excited about Africa’s 4IR potential and learn about their strategies for the continent.
New AfricaCom Awards theme: Building a Better Digital World
Check out new categories for 2020 such as the Covid-19 Response Award, the Last Mile Connectivity Award and the Building a Better, More Inclusive, Digital World Award and celebrate with the winners.
Mobile network operator heavyweights out in force
Find out what Africa’s connectivity champions are doing to connect the next billion. Hear from Shameel Joosub, Group CEO, Vodacom, Charles Molapisi, Group Chief Technology & Information Officer, MTN, Alioune Ndiaye, CEO, Middle East and Africa, Orange.
Enterprise transformation giants share 4IR vision
Explore the forefront of emerging tech and find out what the likes of Microsoft, AWS, IBM and Oracle are doing to power enterprise digital transformation across the continent.
Top African tech start-ups take to the stage
Visit the AHUB to see top Africa tech start-ups pitch courtesy of our partners VC4A, Startupbootcamp Africa and ITC SheTrades. The theme is entrepreneurship as an engine for job creation and economic growth.
Deep dives into healthcare as well as banking and financial services are on offer along with a series of key tracks that include:
- 5G Africa
- Data Centres Africa
- Artificial Intelligence Africa
- AfricaTech Centre Stage
- Fintech Africa
- Future of Work
- Blockchain Africa
- IoT Africa
Other top speakers include sponsors such as:
- Louis Richards, ecosystem artnership director, EMEA, Console Connect, PCCW Global
- Jean Claude Tshipama, business development director, Konnect Africa
- Raul Martinez, chief commercial officer, Upstream
- Clive Charlton, head of solution architecture - Sub-Saharan Africa, Amazon Web Services
- Zubin Chagpar, head of public sector, Middle East and Africa, Amazon Web Services
- Lucky La Riccia, head of digital services, Ericsson Middle East and Africa
