Meet Our Speakers
Our Speakers are more triggers to conversation as opposed to the center of the symposium, they stimulate the conversations and unlike many conferences, we create the time for the participants to speak and learn together!
Dr Mongezi C Makhalima
Mongezi is Thinkers 50 Top 50 Global Coach, a Top 40 Organisational
Culture Champion. He is an organisation development specialist, organisational learning expert & Executive coach with over 30 years of working with organisations and leadership in corporates and NGO’s. He has recently been named one of the Top 30 Global Gurus in
Leadership & Coaching. He is currently the Chairperson of the Africa Board for Coaching, Consulting and Coaching Psychology (ABCCCP), and also sits as non-executive director on several boards in the NGO, film and music sectors. Mongezi serves as a faculty member in the Faculty of Commerce, Law and management of the University of the Witwatersrand as well as the Wits Business School, teaching Masters and advanced programmes in leadership and
coaching. Mongezi has presented and written widely on the subject of coaching, mentoring and leadership and
works with clients globally and locally in organisations that include: MTN, Sasol, CITI Bank, FNB, Rio Tinto, De Beers, Vodacom, Allan-Gray Orbis, Barclays PLC amongst others.
Ms. Thabisile Phumo
Thabisile is an accredited public relations and communication specialist and a PRISA Fellow with 28 years’ experience in the public and corporate sector. She is past President of the Public Relations Institute of Southern Africa and Executive Committee member of the World
Communication Forum Association.
She is currently the Executive Vice President and Head of Stakeholder Relations at Sibanye-
Stillwater and has worked in various capacities in the corporate affairs environment at the University of South Africa, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Commission for Gender Equality and Anglo-American Platinum Limited. She has been involved in curating programmes, course facilitation and training, and involved in academic projects as a curriculum reviewer, contributor to research and one of the content reviewers for the 10th Edition of the Handbook for Public Relations. She is co-editor of Strategic Communication: South African Perspectives and is a member of the Academic Advisory Board for Strategic Communication at the University of Johannesburg. She is the Chairperson of Group Technical Security Management (Pty) Ltd. Thabisile was recognized as the 7th leader in Mining Elites in Africa 2022
Ms. Lydia-Elim Andrews
Lydia is a leading Wealth Coach who empowers accomplished women to transform their financial narratives through her celebrated “Love Yourself Financially” (LYF) Coaching Program. With several years’ experience in the energy industry, she champions Africa’s sustainable development by harnessing its abundant resources and wants to see more Africans building global businesses.
Comrade Omang Dave, T
Omang Dave is a human right/social activist committed to support humanity and fight for the vulnerable. This is seen in my involvement as a crew member of the Human Right Radio & Television (Brekete Family) MD and CEO of Dale Digital and Media Limited and team lead of Changing Dreams 2 Life (Eduradio), member Presidential TWG of the ASP program.
Communication consultant, BESDA- world bank project. Tech. consultant, Almajeri and OOSC .Resource Person, CJED AUDA?NEPAD. Member of several civil society organizations
The Futurist Perspective
Mr. Goodnews Cadogan
Goodnews Cadogan is a highly accomplished executive coach and management consultant based in South Africa. He has extensive experience working across various industries, including automotive, packaging, FMCG, and public sector tax administration. His expertise spans leadership coaching, organizational transformation, and human capital management. He is the founder of the Centre for Courageous Authenticity in Leadership, where he emphasizes values-based leadership and the principles of “ubuntu”—a philosophy of interconnectedness and humanity. Goodnews is passionate about fostering courage and authenticity in leaders to create meaningful impact across teams, organizations, and even entire regions.
Mr. David April
David April is the Creative Entrepreneurial Officer (CEO) of David April. Passionate about arts & culture development, April uses twenty years of know-how, including a decade of senior management experience, to bring a professional approach to any project he tackles – from fundraising, teaching & skills development to planning, marketing & management. April has shown great leadership skills as a director, teacher, choreographer & lobbyist in South African Dance. In addition, within the performing arts sphere, he has filled the roles of performer, project manager, fundraiser, dance activist, developer of education through dance & movement, dance adjudicator, motivational speaker & reviewer.
Mr. Sihle Mthembu
Sihle Mthembu is a talented young man who pursued a Diploma in Theatre Art & Design (Drama) at Tshwane University of Technology (TUT). He has showcased his skills in various theater productions, including lead roles in plays like The Island and Sizwe Banzi Is Dead. Beyond theater, he has also been involved in film and TV projects, taking on roles ranging from lead to supporting and even voice-over work.
Sihle is a versatile artist with a passion for storytelling.
Mr. Emmanuel Njang
Emmanuel Njang is associated with youth development and activism in Botswana. He is the incoming president of the Upright African Movement, a pan-African collective focused on education and the inclusion of African history in classrooms. Additionally, he has been recognized as a SADC Youth Member of Parliament, representing Botswana. He is also the founder of Higher Thinkers Global, which works on youth development initiatives
Ms. Palisa Ntsala
Palisa is an environmental expert focused on sustainability, climate change, and community empowerment. She has a background in enterprise development and has led initiatives like the award-winning Motherwell Community and Enviro Hub. Passionate about youth empowerment and climate action, she integrates Indigenous knowledge into sustainable development and promotes inclusive solutions that honor African cultural heritage.
“I leave the session inspired and hopeful. This is very different for a conference, where most of the time we just sit and listen”.
“It’s different to talk about the continent in the context of coaching. Quiet enlightening conversations and meeting interesting people”