Brendan Jackson, Lecturer at SAE Institute, is a game designer, developer, lecturer, and creative with over a decade of experience in game creation and twelve years in the cosplay community. Holding a BEngSc, BA Hons, and MA in Digital Arts: Game Design from Wits University, his work bridges the worlds of play, performance, and creativity. Passionate about storytelling and character-driven design, he explores how people connect with fictional worlds - whether through games, cosplay, or interactive art.

Barry van Zyl is MBA Program Lead, faculty member, and Executive Coach at Henley Business School - Africa. With over a decade of experience facilitating business acumen across creative and traditional sectors, his work explores the cycles and patterns that drive peak performance for individuals and teams. He designs and delivers executive education programs globally, expanding into North America since 2021, and partners with Rob Sullivan to bring innovative perspectives to leadership and sales.

Holding an MBA and a Professional Certificate in Executive Coaching from Henley, his unique approach is informed by a 30-year career as a professional drummer, performing with artists such as Annie Lennox, Johnny Clegg, and Ladysmith Black Mambazo.

Dr Peder Greve, is Associate Professor and Postgraduate Research Director for International Business and Strategy at Henley Business School, University of Reading. His research explores how strategic leaders shape multinational enterprises, with work published in leading journals such as the Journal of Management and Journal of World Business.

He holds a PhD and MSc from the University of St. Gallen and teaches International Business on Henley’s MBA programs.

François Améguidé is a seasoned strategist with over 25 years of experience in investment, business development, and leadership across 27 African countries. He is the Founder and Director of AfricanTrades.org, an initiative dedicated to accelerating intra-African trade and strengthening regional value chains.

François has held senior roles in finance, technology, and academia, including positions at Henley Business School, Duke Corporate Education, and Wits School of Business Sciences. His industry experience spans leadership roles such as Africa Regional Director at iPiD, Director of Business Development at Facctum, and Head of Africa Office at GreenTec Capital Partners.

He holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Research Methods and Skills from Maastricht School of Management and is passionate about driving economic growth through education, collaboration, and innovation.

Jean-Pierre Choulet is the Director of Operations and Strategic Projects and Vice Dean (Africa) at Henley Business School. He plays a pivotal role in shaping the school’s global strategy, leading operations, and driving strategic initiatives, including international partnerships. Jean-Pierre oversees professional services with a focus on continuous improvement, digitalization, and automation.

Since 2017, he has spearheaded Henley’s development in West Africa, particularly in Nigeria and Ghana, and has been instrumental in launching African alumni chapters. His vision positions Henley as a truly global business school—rooted in Europe and authentically connected to Africa.

Jimmy Ranamane is the General Manager: Global Markets at Brand South Africa, the country’s official marketing, communication, and reputation management agency. With over 19 years of experience in international marketing and communications, Jimmy specialises in positioning South Africa as a competitive destination for trade, investment, and tourism, while promoting its exports, culture, and creative industries.

His career spans senior roles in marketing, stakeholder engagement, and brand management at organisations such as Brand South Africa, the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition, City of Tshwane, and South African Tourism.

Jimmy holds an MBA, a Postgraduate Diploma in Digital Business, and a BPhil Honours in Marketing Management. He is passionate about leveraging technology and strategic partnerships to showcase South Africa’s diversity, innovation, and excellence on the global stage.

Kganki Matabane is currently the Chief Executive Officer of the Black Business Council, an umbrella body of black business in South Africa. He is a highly experienced and seasoned business executive with over 27 years of operational and strategy execution experience, including doing business in more than 10 countries in the African continent, covering the telecommunications, policy, power utilities, rail logistics, motor retail, Bus Rapid Transport, policy, advocacy, and mining sectors.

He had served and still serves on boards as both Executive and Non-Executive Director. He also served as a Co-Executive Sponsor: Business for South Africa (B4SA) where he worked on the post-covid-19 Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan for South Africa, amongst other matters of national interest.

He is a member of the Presidential BBBEE Advisory Council.

Ms. Nthabeleng Mokitimi-Dlamini is the Group Executive: Ecosystem and Stakeholder Management at the Small Enterprise Development and Finance Agency (SEDFA). A seasoned marketing and communications strategist with 20 years of experience, over a decade at decision-making level in the ICT sector, she brings deep expertise in strategic planning, integrated marketing communications, stakeholder engagement, and brand management.

Her career spans government, public, and private sectors, including leadership roles at Nokia, Sentech, the South African Weather Service, and the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies. At Nokia, she served as Head of Field Marketing for Middle East and Africa and led global initiatives, including a partnership with UN Women to advance gender mainstreaming and ICT skills development.

Nthabeleng holds a Master of Commerce in Marketing Management and is currently pursuing a PhD in Marketing Management at the University of Pretoria.

Shane Maja is the newly appointed CEO of the South African State Theatre (SAST), assuming the role in November 2025. With over 20 years of experience in the arts and culture sector, he has held senior leadership positions shaping cultural policy and creative industry development. Previously, Shane served as Chief Director for Cultural Development at the National Department of Sport, Arts and Culture and as Acting CEO of the Gauteng Film Commission.

His career began at the Market Theatre Laboratory, and he holds a Master’s in Cultural Policy and Management from the University of the Witwatersrand. A respected cultural practitioner and advocate, Shane champions qualified leadership to advance creativity and innovation in the sector.

With an animated feature film in development at Netflix Animation USA, Tendayi Nyeke is also driving the production of independent fantasy film Tribe which she first pitched at the prestigious MIFA Market in Annecy, France. The movie is being produced with a French/UK Academy Award winning studio. Tendayi's multi-genre creative work has been globally recognised with awards from the Children's Emmys, the Annie Awards, and the South African Film and Television Awards (SAFTA), Tendayi is passionate about entertainment strategy, creative entrepreneurship and empowering every storyteller she encounters to tell stories with whatever resources they have. A former broadcast executive at South Africa's largest broadcaster and created content in all official 11 languages, Tendayi creative directs South African and US based development, production and distribution agency Tenye Creates which uses trans media and live events to create connection and engagement beyond the first viewing of all works they produce. Notable is her role as Executive Producer for Annie Award winner(2024), Kidscreen, and Children's Emmy-winning Disney+ science fiction Anthology Kizazi Moto (2023). Tendayi's independent live-action comedy feature film, Loved Out, released in South African cinemas nationwide in September 2025 and continues international release and tour in November 2025. Her award winning pilot series Burns and Song has travelled and played at Oscar Qualifying festivals HollyShorts and Dances with Films as well as received consultation with Academy Award winning Jordan Peele’s Monkey Paw. With an MBA in Music and Creative Industries, Tendayi continues to explore the intersection of art and business, amplifying diverse voices through film.

Gugu Mfuphi is an award-winning broadcaster and financial journalist, best known as the host of Kaya Bizz on Kaya 959. She is a seasoned moderator, MC, and conversation strategist with deep expertise in financial markets, economic trends, and current affairs. Gugu has served as a Senior Anchor on CNBC Africa and has moderated high-level events for organizations such as the World Bank, IMF, and MasterCard Foundation.

Her career highlights include reporting from the World Economic Forum in Davos and Africa, and facilitating the South Africa Investment Conference.

Onke Dumeko currently serves as the Acting Chief Executive Officer (ACEO) of the National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF), an agency of the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture. A seasoned executive in corporate affairs and operations, she has over 20 years of experience across the private and public sectors, including FMCG, retail, media, publishing, and film production.

Prior to her current role, Dumeko rapidly ascended within the NFVF, having served as Head of Operations
overseeing critical functions like the South African Film & Television Awards (SAFTAs). Her media career includes key management and editorial roles for publications such as DESTINY, ELLE, and SAWUBONA magazines. An award-winning professional, she was named one of the Mail & Guardian's Top 200 Young South Africans and is a respected voice and keynote speaker on cultural policy and creative economy leadership.

Professor Elena Beleska-Spasova is the Dean of Henley Business School and a Professor of International Business. Appointed in June 2023, she provides strategic vision and leadership for the school. Elena joined Henley in 2009, became a professor in 2019, and previously served as Pro-Dean for Education and Innovation.

Her career spans over a decade in academia and more than ten years in corporate strategy consulting with multinational firms, including PwC, as well as roles with Central Bank and World Bank projects. Her research focuses on international business strategies, competitiveness, and cross-border operations for SMEs and exporters.

Elena holds a PhD in International Business from the University of Sheffield, an MBA from Maastricht School of Management, and an MSc in Economics from Florida State University.

Dr Puleng Makhoalibe is the CEO of Alchemy Inspiration. She is an acclaimed innovation and design thinking expert with over 20 years of global experience spanning the private sector, government, and academia. Known for her unique ability to foster environments where imagination meets strategy, she is a sought-after speaker, facilitator, and published author.