Virtual Africa Tech Festival

More outstanding headline speakers announced for what is going to be a seminal event

With the virtual Africa Tech Festival a little over a week away (09-12 November), Africa's telecommunications and technology elite are gearing up for four days of compelling content, delivered by some of the world's most influential industry intelligentsia.

Event Director and the Portfolio Director of Connecting Africa at InformaTech, Tom Cuthell, commented: "Over the past 23 years, AfricaCom has delivered some of the most critical insights that have led to how the telecommunications and technology industries are shaping digital development and inclusion on the African continent.

"2020, whilst being a fully-fledged virtual event (thanks to the onset of COVID-19), will essentially be no different, with matters and speakers confirmed for yet another round of robust and potentially, life-changing, discussion."

Here's a snapshot of what's on offer in 2020:

_The Africa Tech Festival Headliners - With more than 200 speakers in all, the Headliners will feature some of Africa's most prominent digital thought-leaders from organisations including Safaricom, MTN, International Trade Centre, United Nations Economic Commission for Africa and more.

The AfricaCom Headliners [2] will share their insights on the most important topics in African technology, telecommunications and innovation. Joining them are a selection of inspirational speakers such as Springbok Rugby World Cup-winning Captain, Siya Kolisi and adventurers Chris Bertish and Hein Wagner.

Industry movers and shakers and sessions that have just been announced and are a must to see include:

· STELLA NDABENI-ABRAHAMS [3], MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS AND DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, SOUTH AFRICA

· SHAMEEL JOOSUB, VODACOM GROUP CEO TALKING ON: INTELLIGENTLY NAVIGATING THE COVID OUTBREAK: STRIVING FOR SOCIETAL BENEFIT OVER PROFIT

· MOHAMED NASR , ASSISTANT ICT MINISTER FOR GLOBAL INFORMATION INFRASTRUCTURE, MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, EGYPT

· SIMO MKHIZE , CCO, CELL C

· LILIAN BARNARD , MANAGING DIRECTOR, MICROSOFT SOUTH AFRICA

· ROAD TO RETURN: THE ROLE OF PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS IN NAVIGATING A SAFE ROUTE BACK TO BUSINESS IS A PRESENTATION BY:

o Dr Miriam Altman, Professor of Practice 4IR, School of Economics, University of Johannesburg & Commissioner at National Planning Commission, South African Presidency

o Gaurang Tanna, Head, Policy Coordination and Integrated Planning, National Department of Health, South Africa

o Ronald Whelan, COO, Discovery Health

o Jean Philbert Nsengimana, Managing Director-Africa, The Commons Project. Former Minister of Youth and ICT, Rwanda

o Paul Meyer, CEO, The Commons Project

· An indisputable fact about the digital world, is the proliferation of misinformation. Addressing this subject are the likes of: Tomiwa Aladekomo , CEO, Big Cabal Media and Daniel Kimmage [9], Principal Deputy Coordinator - Global Engagement Centre, U.S. State Department

· Data Centres too, are a key talking point and looking at the environmental aspects of data centre management, a panel discussion with Bill Kleyman [10] Executive Vice President, Switch, is on the cards

· 5G, All G and the ability for African telcos to keep up with new technology will be part of the the OpenRAN discussion with Alex Botting , OpenRAN Policy Coalition International Director and Amrit Heer [12], Head of Business Development, Parallel Wireless

Other top talkers include sponsors such as:

· Louis Richards , Ecosystem Partnership 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 & Africa, Amazon Web Services

· Lucky La Riccia , Head of Digital Services, Ericsson Middle East & Africa.

Although this is a digitally driven event, some of the world's best organisations involved in connecting Africa's next billion, will also be setting up shop in online exhibition booths, and which, due to the sophistication of the conferencing platform, will engage in AI-powered networking, to ensure that progress on the continent, in terms of its digital migration, along with demos and product launches, can continue despite global lockdowns. To discover the full line-up and plan your agenda, visit the Africa Tech Festival website.

To register for a FREE delegate pass to the Africa Tech Festival - click HERE https://tmt.knect365.com/africacom/

For further information please visit the 2020 website https://tmt.knect365.com/africacom/

Media accreditation is now open: https://registration.gesevent.com/survey/06t0kg4kkf2ei