Speakers 2026

  • All
  • Keynote Speaker
  • Opening Session
  • Session 1
  • Session 2
  • Session 3
  • Session 4
  • Session 5
  • Session 6
  • Session 7
  • Session 8
  • Session 9
  • Session 10
  • Session 11
  • V. Closing Panel
  • W. Closing Address
  • X. Moderator
  • Z. Panelist
  • Default
  • Title
  • Date
  • Random
    • Keynote Speaker
    • Opening Session
    • Z. Panelist

    Dr Saul Levin

    By Executive Director

    Dr Saul Levin joined TIPS in April 2013 and was appointed Executive Director in December 2014.  He has a PhD

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    • Session 3

    Nicholas Mudungwe

    By Executive Director

    Nicholas Mudungwe is the Executive Director of the Africa Leather and Leather Products Institute. Since 2023, he has led the

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    • Session 9

    Dr Canicio Dzingirai

    By Senior Lecturer, University of Namibia

    Senior Lecturer, University of Namibia

    Dr Canicio Dzingirai is a Senior Lecturer at the University of Namibia, Economics Department. He

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    • Opening Session
    • Z. Panelist

    Prof Rasmus Lema

    By Professor

    Rasmus Lema is Professor in the School of Economics at the University of Johannesburg, Professorial Fellow at UNU-MERIT, and currently

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    • Session 11
    • V. Closing Panel
    • Z. Panelist

    PROFESSOR FAIZEL ISMAIL

    By Chair

    Emeritus Professor Faizel Ismail is the former Director of the Nelson Mandela School of Public Governance at the University of

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    • Opening Session
    • Z. Panelist

    PROFESSOR CHERYL HENDRICKS

    By Director

    Professor Cheryl Hendricks is the director of the Nelson Mandela School of Public Governance at the University of Cape Town.

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    • Session 2
    • X. Moderator

    Dr Noncedo Vutula

    By Chief Research Officer

    Dr Noncedo Vutula is Chief Research Officer for Regional Integration and the AfCFTA at the Nelson Mandela School of Public

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    • Session 11
    • V. Closing Panel
    • W. Closing Address
    • Z. Panelist

    Neva Makgetla

    By Senior Economist

    Dr Neva Makgetla is a Senior Economist at TIPS. She has undertaken extensive research into South African economic issues, published widely,

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    • Session 1
    • X. Moderator

    Itumeleng Mokoena

    By Senior Economist

    Itumeleng Mokoena is a Senior Economist at the National Treasury, where he works on industrial policy and international trade. He

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    • Session 10

    Amelia Machava

    By PhD student

    Amélia David Machava is pursuing her PhD in Development and Society and holds a Master’s degree in Rural Sociology and

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  • Kelello Mashiane

    By Assistant Researcher

    Kelello Mashiane is a Research Assistant at TIPS. She joined TIPS in 2016 and her work focuses on the Foreign

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  • Kealeboga Baikgaki is an economist at TIPS. She holds a Master of Commerce in Economics degree (with distinction) from the

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  • Luthandolwethu Zondi joined TIPS as an Economist in October 2023. Prior to this, she served as a Junior Researcher at

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    • Session 3
    • X. Moderator

    Vuyiswa Mkhabela

    By Economist

    Vuyiswa Mkhabela is an Economist in the Research and Information Unit at the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC). With experience spanning

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    • Session 1

    Zamokwakhe Somhlaba

    By Manager

    Zamokwakhe Ludidi Somhlaba is a Senior Public Policy, Political Risk and Stakeholder Engagement Advisor with more than two decades of

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    • Session 5
    • X. Moderator

    Thubelihle Sithole

    By Director and Senior Market Researcher

    Thubelihle Sithole is the Founder and Managing Director of Great Albatross Research and Advisory, a research and advisory practice he

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    • Session 5

    Albert Oosthuysen

    By CEO

    Albert Oosthysen is an experienced technology entrepreneur. As the leader of Net Nine Nine and Evotel, his focus is on

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    • Session 8
    • X. Moderator

    Phumzile Ncube

    By Senior Researcher

    Dr Phumzile Ncube is a Senior Researcher at the DSI/NRF South African Research Chair in Industrial Development (SARChI-ID) at the University of

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  • Sakhile Ndlovu

    By Economist

    Sakhile Ndlovu is an economist and researcher at TIPS, working on industrial policy for inclusive and sustainable development in South Africa.

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    • Session 6
    • X. Moderator

    Danae Govender

    By Economist

    Danae Govender joined TIPS as an Economist in September 2024. Prior to joining TIPS, he served as an Economics Researcher

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    • Session 11
    • V. Closing Panel
    • X. Moderator

    Nokwanda Maseko

    By Deputy Executive Director

    Nokwanda Maseko was appointed Deputy Executive Director for TIPS in May 2026, having previously served as a Senior Economist since

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  • Akhona Myataza

    By Economist

    Akhona Myataza is an Economist at TIPS. Her research interests include sustainable development, energy systems optimisation, infrastructure finance, climate change,

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    • Session 11
    • V. Closing Panel

    Elvis Avenyo

    By Associate Professor

    Elvis Korku Avenyo is an Associate Professor of Development Economics at the DSI/NRF South African Research Chair in Industrial Development

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    • Session 6

    Nozipho Ziqubu

    By Economist

    Nozipho Ziqubu is an economist and independent researcher with a Master’s degree in Applied Economics from the University of Cape

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    • Session 4
    • Session 9
    • X. Moderator

    Dr. Kiru Sichoongwe

    By Director: Research and Innovation

    Dr Kiru Sichoongwe is a Zambian economist, Senior Lecturer in Economics at ZCAS University, Zambia, and Senior Research Associate with

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    • Session 1

    Edna Kabala

    By Research Fellow

    Edna Kabala is a Research Fellow at Crestline Consult Zambia and a Senior Lecturer and Researcher in the Department of

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    • Session 4

    Ms Nomthandazo Mpande

    By Managing Director

    Nomthandazo Mpande is an award-winning social entrepreneur, disability inclusion advocate, and engineering professional with more than 25 years of experience.

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    • Session 4
    • X. Moderator

    Dr Rendani Mamphiswana

    By Innovation Director

    Dr Rendani Mamphiswana is Innovation Director at iCatalysis Hub, an innovation and policy research boutique that he founded in 2024,

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    • Session 3

    Dale Trimble

    By MERL Manager/PhD Candidate (UCT)

    Dale Trimble is a PhD candidate at the University of Cape Town, where his research focuses on industrial policy, trade, structural

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    • Session 2

    MAKIBINYANE THOSO

    By Senior Researcher

    Makibinyane Thoso is a Senior Researcher at the Cross-Border Road Transport Agency (C-BRTA), South Africa, with more than 25 years

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    • Session 2
    • Session 7
    • X. Moderator

    Gillian Chigumira

    By Senior Economist

    Gillian is a Senior Economist at Trade & Industrial Policy Strategies (TIPS), She has over a decade of experience as

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    • Session 6

    Brandon Davoren

    By Integration Specialist

    Dr Brandon Davoren is an electric mobility, battery systems, and energy transition specialist with experience spanning research, technology commercialisation, and

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  • Johann Vincent van der Westhuizen is an Economist at the Bureau for Economic Research (BER) with experience in applied economic

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    • Session 9

    Jacob W Human

    By Executive Officer

    Jacob Human is the Executive Officer of the Industrial Gas Users Association – Southern Africa, where his responsibilities include leadership to

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    • Session 9

    Angelo Antonio Macuácua

    By Professor

    Ângelo Macuácua is a Professor and Researcher at the Eduardo Mondlane University, Faculty of Economics, Department of Accounting and Finance

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    • Session 7

    Glen Robbins

    By Visiting Researcher

    Glen Robbins is a Visiting Researcher at the Southern Centre for Inequality Studies (University of Witwatersrand) and a Research Associate

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    • Session 8

    Michael Hector

    By Economist: Sustainable Development

    Dr Michael Hector is an Economist in Sustainable Development at Trade & Industrial Policy Strategies (TIPS). His work focuses on

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    • Session 10

    Tariro Chivige

    By Commercial Specialist

    Dr Tariro (Mapfiro) Chivige is an economist, researcher, and policy specialist with over a decade of experience spanning economic development,

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    • Session 2

    Leseko Makhetha

    By Senior Lecturer

    Leseko Makhetha is a Senior Lecturer and Head of the Department of Economics at the National University of Lesotho. He

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    • Session 10

    Selwyn Willoughby

    By Executive

    Selwyn Willoughby is the Executive for Integrated Ecosystem Management and Executive Lead for Operations and Internal Alignment at the Atlantis

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    • Session 7

    Gideon Ndubuisi

    By Assistant Professor

    Gideon Ndubuisi is an Assistant Professor of Economics at Delft University of Technology (TU Delft). Prior to joining TU Delft,

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    • Session 8

    Simbarashe Mhaka

    By Economist

    Dr Simbarashe Mhaka is an economist specialising in green economy and just transition policy. He is currently an Economist at

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    • Session 6

    Sandile Mbatha

    By Lecture

    Sandile Mbatha is a Development Economist and an academic at the University of Johannesburg, specialising in industrial development, green industrialisation,

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    • Session 6

    Stephen Onyeiwu

    By Professor of Economics and Business

    Stephen Onyeiwu is a professor and holder of the Andrew Wells Robertson Endowed Chair in Economics at Allegheny College, Meadville,

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    • Session 8

    Chere Monaisa

    By Researcher - Just Transition Labour Centre

    Chere Monaisa is a researcher in the Just Transition Labour Centre (TIPS) where he is responsible for compiling the Just

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    • Session 8

    Eric Lubangu

    By PhD Candidate

    Eric Lubangu Muamba is a Lecturer (Chef de Travaux) at the Faculty of Economics and Management, Université de Lubumbashi, Democratic

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    • Session 7

    Nokuthula Mokgele

    By Senior Lecturer

    Thuli Mokgele is a Chartered Accountant (SA) with more than 14 years of post-qualification experience across auditing, academia, taxation and

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  • Anthony Kamau is a PhD student at the University of Nairobi specialising in global business. A financial practitioner, he has

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    • Session 4

    NATASHA MAATLA PHUTHEGO

    By Founder & Managing Director

    Natasha Maatla Phuthego is an economist specialising in international trade and fiscal sustainability. She has a Master’s degree focused on

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    • Session 7

    PIERA WANJAU

    By Director of Youth Engagement & Impact

    Piera Wanjiku Wanjau is a Board Member and the Director of Youth Engagement and Impact at the Global Intergenerational Climate

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    • Session 3

    Gerald Hatirutyi Macheka

    By Economic Analyst

    Gerald Hatirutyi Macheka is an economist, research communicator, and MSc Economics candidate at the University of Zimbabwe (expected 2026). He

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    • Session 2

    Godfrey Kamutando

    By Senior Trade Economist

    Dr. Godfrey Kamutando is a senior trade economist at DNA Economics, specialising in the trade, regional integration and industrial policy

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    • Session 5

    Ndirangu Ngunjiri

    By PhD student

    Ndirangu is a doctoral (finance and accounting) student at the University of Nairobi. His research focuses on inequality and poverty,

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    • Session 1

    Michael Weluzani

    By Research Consultant

    Michael Weluzani is a Zimbabwean researcher and development practitioner with a strong academic foundation. He holds a Bachelor of Science

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