Stephan Ekbergh married father of 4, lives in Cape Town. Ex professional DJ for 10 years. Entrepreneur in Travel. Started the E-commerce revolution in Scandinavia 1999. Is now doing the same in Africa. Passion for releasing gifts and entrepreneurship with people. Writes and speaks about business, life and taking risks. Investor and active boardmember, also works with and finances non profits organization Thembalitscha foundation.

Siew Hoon is a travel trade journalist, author, entrepreneur and podcaster who established WiT in 2005 to address the evolving landscape of travel technology and customer behaviour.

Over the years, WiT has grown into a prominent events and media platform in the Asia Pacific region, expanding its coverage to include markets such as Japan, South Korea, and the Middle East. Recognised as “Tourism Entrepreneur of the Year” by the Singapore Tourism Board, Siew Hoon’s efforts led to the acquisition of WiT by Northstar Travel Group in 2014.

Siew Hoon is happiest when platforming the future movers and shakers of the industry, lending a voice to those who are out to change, disrupt, and build back better. She thrives on launching unique, people-centric events by blending global insights with local knowledge, while exploring new markets and staying informed about industry developments.

Siew Hoon’s published titles include “Around Asia In One Hour: Tales of Condoms, Chillies & Curries,” and children’s books such as “Adventures of Habibie The Turtle” and “The Story of Baitong and Boon.” Siew Hoon also hosts the “A Life In Travel” podcast.

Christian is responsible for designing, implementing and maintaining the long-term growth and commercial strategy for Digital in MTN. He joins MTN from the Emmanuel Macron presidential campaign in France, where he was the Head of Communication and Digital.

Prior to this mission, he spent 8 years at Orange in France and corporate, where his roles included Director of Products and Services for the French market and Director of Orange Content at group level (2020-2021). At Orange, his responsibilities included product design for the consumer market, as well as managing the pay TV and Subscription Video On Demand (SVOD), music games, ioT and financial services, OCS the Orange pay TV company, and the Orange movie studio.

Christian’s other roles include Deputy Managing Director of M6 Web (the online and digital division of M6 Group) and Director of Marketing and Business Development at the Canal+ Group.

He holds a Masters Degree in Management Science at IMT Business and a Masters Degree in Television, Telecoms and Internet, from Dauphine University (Paris).

Mr. Albert Fernando is a visionary leader and the CEO of Travelwings, a leading online travel platform headquartered in Dubai. Mr. Fernando is one of the rare insiders who built Travelwings with a passion for travel, keen business acumen, and hypersensitivity to the customer experience.

Inspired by the idea of taking customers on an enchanting journey without bounds, he established Travelwings as an enduring travel brand that offers authentic and exclusive travel experiences made possible with innovative technology and firsthand knowledge of every destination. Ever attentive to consumer demands, Albert is driven by a vision to position Travelwings as the world’s most trusted e-commerce tourism brand, known for its world-class technology, exceptional customer service, customer-centric approach, and seamless user experience.

Mr. Fernando’s extensive experience in the travel and hospitality sector has enabled him to understand the evolving needs and preferences of modern travellers. With an acute focus on personalised travel experiences, Albert has revolutionised the way we explore the world. Under his guidance, Travelwings has become renowned for its emphasis on customised travel ventures, tailoring every journey to meet the unique requirements of customers. Through innovative technologies and a customer-centric approach, Mr. Fernando has ensured that Travelwings remains at the forefront of the industry. His impressive career trajectory is marked by his unwavering commitment to excellence and his relentless pursuit of innovation in the travel sector. 

Mr. Fernando possesses a wealth of experience and expertise, making him a respected leader in the industry. His visionary leadership has propelled Travelwings to become a trusted platform for travellers around the world. Under the guidance of Mr. Albert Fernando, the company has recorded over 300K bookings catered to over 1 million travellers, and gained a strong foothold in 32+ nations across the Middle East, South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya, Rwanda, Morocco, Ghana, Uganda, Ethiopia, Zimbabwe, Mauritius, and many more.

Throughout his tenure, Mr. Fernando has been recognized for his outstanding contributions. Recently, Albert was felicitated with ‘Africa’s Flight Booking Brand CEO of the Year 2023.’ The award celebrates the “Best Brains and the Most Successful Visionary Brands in Africa.” Moreover, in 2022, CEO Insights 2022, a program that honours emerging chief executives across the Middle East, bestowed Albert Fernando with the title of “Top 10 Leaders in the Middle East,” while the CEO Monthly program felicitated Mr. Albert with the “Most Influential CEO of 2022 in the United Arab Emirates” award. Additionally, he has been featured in CEO Insights India as a self-motivated leader setting an exemplary standard for others to follow. 

Moreover, as a thought leader in the travel industry, Mr. Fernando has also been featured in various publications and industry journals. His efforts to offer well-curated travel experiences have been celebrated in The Guardian’s special focus on iconic drivers of Nigeria’s hospitality and tourism sector. His insights and expertise have been sought after by many, and he has inspired many others in the tourism sector. These prestigious accolades are a testament to his exceptional leadership skills and his ability to drive positive change within the organisation.

Driven by his relentless pursuit of excellence, Mr. Albert Fernando continues to steer Travelwings toward new horizons, ensuring that every traveller’s journey is nothing short of exceptional. He envisions offering his customers a journey filled with unforgettable memories and unparalleled experiences. 

Guided by his vision to deliver exceptional customer satisfaction and his ability to navigate the ever-changing travel landscape, Albert Fernando continues to be a driving force in the tourism industry, shaping the future of online travel platforms.

Experienced Regional Business Development Manager with a demonstrated history of working in the airlines/aviation industry. John is skilled in Negotiation, Operations Management, Management, Business Development, and Aviation. Strong sales professional with a Diploma focused in Travel Skills from St Maurices High School.

Ross is CEO & Co-Founder at Wego, which is online travel marketplace that provides top ranked mobile apps and websites for users living in the APAC and MENA regions. Wego harnesses powerful technology that simplifies the process of searching, comparing and booking flights and hotels across hundreds of airlines, hotels and online travel agency websites. Wego is has dual-HQs in Singpaore and Dubai and is backed by top-tier investors including Tiger Global, Crescent Group, Square Peg Capital and the MBC Group.

Ross is a veteran of the Asian internet industry having established Yahoo!s Southeast Asian operations in Singapore back in 1998 and leading product development efforts across the region for 6+ years. He is also Singapore Co-Chair of H2, the premier global leadership network for the digital industry. Ross has been an active angel investor in the technology sector for a decade and enjoys working with other passionate entrepreneurs. He has worked in Sydney, Melbourne, London, Kuala Lumpur and is now splits his time between Singapore and Dubai. He travels frequently for business but not nearly enough for leisure.

As Vice President and Managing Director of Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA), Carlo Olejniczak is responsible for leading operations for Booking.com across this region, including accommodation partner growth and retention, exploring business development opportunities and ensuring best-in-class service and support for both customers and partners.

In his eight years with the company, Carlo has served in several key leadership roles for Booking.com both regionally and globally. Most recently, he led the Global Chains segment of the Booking.com business, a key arm of the Accommodations Business Unit dedicated to supporting chain hotel partners and their relationship with Booking.com. Prior to that, Carlo was Regional Director for France, Spain and Portugal, a position he was first appointed to in 2015. Before joining Booking.com, Carlo spent five years at AccorHotels, leading global sales for the global hotel and hospitality company. Previously, he worked in a myriad of roles at Disneyland Paris.

Carlo holds an MBA in International Trade from the Sorbonne University. A native of France, he now lives and works in Amsterdam.

Ross is CEO & Co-Founder at Wego, which is online travel marketplace that provides top ranked mobile apps and websites for users living in the APAC and MENA regions. Wego harnesses powerful technology that simplifies the process of searching, comparing and booking flights and hotels across hundreds of airlines, hotels and online travel agency websites. Wego is has dual-HQs in Singpaore and Dubai and is backed by top-tier investors including Tiger Global, Crescent Group, Square Peg Capital and the MBC Group.

Ross is a veteran of the Asian internet industry having established Yahoo!s Southeast Asian operations in Singapore back in 1998 and leading product development efforts across the region for 6+ years. He is also Singapore Co-Chair of H2, the premier global leadership network for the digital industry. Ross has been an active angel investor in the technology sector for a decade and enjoys working with other passionate entrepreneurs. He has worked in Sydney, Melbourne, London, Kuala Lumpur and is now splits his time between Singapore and Dubai. He travels frequently for business but not nearly enough for leisure.

Paulina spent the last 12 years in various C-suite roles at Travelstart from CTO to CMO, to CCO and Managing Director. During Covid while reassessing opportunities on the table for the travel industry, Paulina founded GlydePay – a spin off from the Travelstart group focusing on solving the many inherent payment problems in the travel industry and beyond in partnership with Mastercard and Access bank.

Timothy O’Neil-Dunne is a principal at 777 Partners, a private equity investment firm based in Miami with deep experience in aviation. He is a frequent speaker and commentator on aviation, travel distribution, technology, startups and innovation at events around the globe. Timothy is also the head of product at Air Black Box, a global travel technology company founded to help airlines address the complexities of cross-selling travel product inventory. Air Black Box is headquartered in Manchester, UK with offices in the USA and Asia. Most recently, Air Black Box was recognized as a 2019 CIO 100 Award Winner.

Before founding Air Black Box, Timothy was a founding management team member with Expedia, heading its international and ground transportation portfolios. He also spent time with Worldspan as their international head of technology, where he managed technology services from infrastructure to product.

Experienced CEO with a demonstrated history of working in the Leisure & Travel industry. Skilled in Strategy Development, Negotiation, Business Planning, Operations Management, Quality Assurance and Sales.

Support by a history of strong business development experience within the Travel & Tourism industry, having worked with various products across the African Continent.

A seasoned professional with a Sales and Marketing Management and Quality Assurance qualifications.

Rahul is a Co-founder & CEO of Peach Payments, a leading payments gateway in South Africa, Kenya and Mauritius. He has worked with leading e-commerce websites and apps across Africa to improve their conversion rates, mitigate risk and optimise customer experience. He has participated in accelerators sponsored by Google and Barclays Africa as well as spoken at numerous events including Youth Pravasi Bhartiya Divas, Africa FinTech Festival, ECOM Africa, and Seamless Africa. He was named IESE Business School’s 40Under40 Entrepreneur of the Year in 2022, the school from which he earned his M.B.A. Previously, Rahul worked with a strategy consulting firm in Boston, USA where he advised large retailers and airlines regarding e-commerce, marketing and ancillary revenue streams.

Alessandro is passionate about Travel Industry, with 14 years of experience across different area, such as R&D, Project Management, IT Account Management, Commercial Account Management.

He currently holds the position of VP Sales, Online, Metasearch and Digital Players in Amadeus.

Formerly twice World Rowing Champion he’s then focused his drive, energy and commitment into supporting major Online Travel Agencies, Metasearch and Digital Players into differentiating and succeeding into the Online Travel ecosystem.

Finally, he has had the privilege to lead a team of experienced Account and Sales Managers sharing my passion and values

Louis Van Zyl is a versatile business professional having gained a wealth of experience across different business functions, industries and geographical markets. From a basic career starting point as a financial clerk, Louis progressed into a financial management role, moved into a management consulting line and progressed into software design and implementation, while managing large, enterprise level projects and programs. He moved into senior management roles including CIO, COO and ultimately into a CEO capacity. His career took him to five countries over three continents and exposed him to the services and manufacturing industries with specific exposure to consulting, manufacturing, retail, oil & gas, IT, project management and corporate travel management. Louis thrives in a dynamic environment where he have the opportunity to gain knowledge of processes and procedures, with a specific goal of improving business results by improving productivity and profitability. He is equally comfortable working with both internal and external stakeholders to help deliver the vision for the organization he works for and ensure optimal success in whatever the strategic vision may be.

With over 25 years of experience in the hospitality industry, Mark stands out as a highly skilled and seasoned strategist, boasting an exceptional track record of driving commercial hotel performance.

With a solid commercial background, he has successfully overseen teams in markets across Asia, Middle East, Africa, UK, and the Americas, with notable contributions in India, Southeast Asia, Korea, Japan, London, Tokyo, Bangkok, and Singapore.

Throughout his career, Mark has held various leadership roles at renowned hotel chains including Forte & Le Meridien, Starwood Hotels & Resorts, and IHG.

During his 16-year tenure at IHG, Mark played a key role in the launch of key brands including Holiday Inn Express brand in South-East Asia, alongside with the development of halo resorts under the Holiday Inn, Hotel Indigo, Regent, and InterContinental brands.

In his current role as Vice President of Commercial Strategy for Middle East, Africa, and Türkiye in the Premium, Midscale, and Economy Division at Accor, Mark plays an instrumental role in streamlining and optimizing commercial performance across more than 240 properties.

A creative problem solver and successful entrepreneur, most notably in the travel technology space, Theresa Emerick is the Managing Director of NightsBridge, the “bridge” between independent hospitality suppliers and the marketing channels selling their inventory. Founded in 2004 by Theresa and her husband Neil, NightsBridge focusses on developing simple technology that increases online distribution and marketing opportunities for B&B, guest house and boutique hotel clients. Today a recognised and well-respected thought leader in the country’s tourism industry, Theresa pours her energy into strategic partnership development and championing the growth of South Africa’s tourism. Theresa holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Pretoria in Political Science and International Relations.

Founded and leading Tactivion, creators of Africa’s number one adventure management platform, Activitar and Shoretime, the groundbreaking new platform for shore-excursion management in the Cruise industry.

Previously founded leisureplanet.com a leading European online travel venture.

Chee Chong is passionate about the tourism industry, so much so that his 15-year career has been centered around it. He has founded not one, but two start-ups to better meet the needs of the buoyant travel/tourism industry.

He is currently Chief Executive Officer and visionary of GlobalTix, an e-ticketing travel marketplace. Chee Chong was also one of the co-founders of Adventure Glamping, which has pioneered and built the first-ever “glamping” (glamorous camping) resort called Canopi, located in Bintan.

He began his travel industry career with SilkAir, the regional carrier owned by Singapore Airlines and subsequently was seconded to Singapore Airlines.

During his seven-year career with the two carriers, he handled various job functions, including postings to Thailand, Indonesia, and Central Japan which gave him invaluable exposure in the airline industry. In Central Japan, he started many initiatives, including several that continue to today, and the team was recognized with a CEO’s Merit Award for operational excellence.

Chee Chong next joined Sentosa Development Corporation as a member of the management team. He started as the Leisure Operation, Director where he was responsible for ongoing daily operations, from beach operation, attractions to ticketing and subsequently became the General Manager of Mount Faber Leisure Group.

Chee Chong holds a Bachelor of Engineering (2nd Upper) degree from the National University of Singapore.

A senior travel industry executive with experience in developing and leading global technology platforms, Mike’s ambition for Meili is to become the market leading ancillary revenue platform. As the former CEO of CarTrawler, Mike leveraged his deep understanding of the mobility industry to drive a decade of sustained growth, secure substantial private equity investments, and execute several acquisitions. Mike’s commercial expertise and track record of success perfectly position him to propel Meili towards its ambitious growth targets, capitalising on the company’s existing momentum.

Fritz Demopoulos has been an entrepreneur and investor within the media and internet industries for over 10 years. He co-founded Qunar.com, China’s largest travel internet company; and Shawei.com, China’s largest sports internet company. Fritz also had senior positions at Netease and The News Corporation.

Bastian Gotter has a diverse work experience in various roles and companies. Bastian is currently the Founder and CEO of Bamba, a position they have held since February 2022. Prior to this, they were an Investor at Lenco, a banking and expense management platform for African businesses, starting in January 2021. Bastian also served as the Growth Board Member and Investor at pawaPay from January 2020 onwards. In 2018, Bastian founded ECD Ltd. as a partner. Bastian has also co-founded Spark.ng in February 2013 and invested in Flutterwave, betPawa, PropertyPro.ng, Hotels.ng, and Paystack. At Paystack, Bastian served as an investor until January 2021.

Bastian Gotter attended The University of Manchester from 2003 to 2006, where they studied Management Sciences. No specific field of study was provided.

Lindy Rousseau is head of strategy for  the Bailes Family Office. Her portfolio includes eco-tourism brand Singita, investment arm Castleton Capital and various other businesses owned by the family.

She’s spent the past decade building the award-winning Singita brand and creating revenue value for Singita through a strong sales force, well-defined reservation channels, sophisticated content, marketing strategy development and thought leadership. Her vast experience as an inspiring marketer and brand strategist makes her a sought-after speaker, board member and mentor

Julie is a skilled sustainability consultant with experience spanning over 20 years. Her focus lies in sustainable development and business transformation.

Learnings over the course of her career led Julie to be part of the initial group of thought leaders who found Weeva – a SaaS platform that will enable the travel industry to adopt a measurable and holistic sustainability practice that goes beyond pledges and marketing ploys and recalibrates operations for improved performance and positive impact – in 2021. Weeva launched to market in January 2023.

Prior to this Julie advised a diverse range of clients on their sustainability journey, including the Grootbos Private Nature Reserve, Wolwedans, The Long Run, National Geographic, Tswalu Kalahari, Fireblade Aviation, and Oppenheimer Generations. However, she has also worked on transformation and sustainability at well-known corporate institutions such as Standard Bank, Distell, BMGi, the National Australia Bank, and National Geographic.

Julie holds a Bachelor’s degree in Commerce (NMMU) coupled with a post-graduate certificate in Executive Development (GIBS), Six Sigma (Black Belt), and Program Management Certifications. She is a member of NOW Partners – a global partnership of over 100 senior business leaders united to accelerate the economic evolution of business for good.

An exemplary leader with 15+ years of international experience in B2B and B2C businesses across tech, tourism and the creative industries. Proven track record of leading and inspiring sizeable cross-functional teams to deliver strategic, creative and commercial success. Experienced at path-finding in ambiguous circumstances in order to build businesses and drive greater efficiency, engagement and revenue. An excellent presenter, with an ability to forge strong relationships with stakeholders and strategic partners. Has exceptionally high standards with a passion to coach and mentor. Enjoys solving problems, is resourceful and focused on solutions. A strong believer in the potential of technology to drive inclusive growth and entrepreneurship across Africa.

Kim is a backpacking ski instructor turned serial entrepreneur, management consultant, race relations facilitator, public speaker and mom. Kim Co-founded and exited in 2021. She Co-founded non-profit Khwela Woman, and she founded Ubuntu Beds – a technology platform which accommodated over 4000 healthcare workers in empty hotels during the COVID-19 pandemic. Kim has spoken at global events, including the United Nations World Tourism Organisation, completed an Executive MBA from the UCT graduate school of business and has won numerous entrepreneurial awards including the prestigious Sanlam/ Business Partners Entrepreneur of the Year award, Premier’s award for entrepreneurship and Mail&Guardian 200 Young leaders. Kim is a proud member of Entrepreneurs Organization (EO) and serves as a learning expert on the regional board, she is also the vice chair of Tulbagh Tourism.

Kim’s passions include trail running, hanging out with her kids and husband on their farm in Tulbagh, getting dirt under her fingernails in the veggie garden and solo travel to over 42 countries including Ethiopia, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Argentina.

Tim is a partner at public sector advisory firm Consulum where he leads the Competitiveness practice and the Cape Town office.

His support for international economic outcomes covers the spectrum from policy reform, to leading the institutions that compete and win business.

He was previously the CEO of Wesgro, the Tourism, Trade & Investment Promotion agency for Cape Town and the Western Cape. During the more than six years that he led the agency it was regarded by the World Bank as the best sub-national agency in Africa.

Before that served as a Member of Parliament and Shadow Minister of Finance in South Africa.

Tim is an Associate Professor of Practice at Johannesburg Business School,  a Senior Advisor to the Harambe Entrepreneur Alliance, the leading network of entrepreneurs on the African continent, and a member of the Cape Town Chapter of YPO.

He serves on the board of the Central City Improvement District in Cape Town, and previously served on the boards of the Cape Town Film Studios, CapeBPO, and the Cape Town International Convention Centre.

He holds a BA in English Literature and a Masters in Economics from the University of Cape Town.We help governments to compete on the global stage