Flagship gatherings driving inclusive leadership and DEIB transformation across Southern Africa.
The Africa Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB) Summit has, over the past three years, established itself as a premier platform shaping the future of inclusive business across the continent. Having successfully convened leaders in Johannesburg (twice) and Cape Town, the summit now returns for its 4th edition — elevated in scale, ambition, and strategic relevance.
DEIB is no longer a compliance or HR-led initiative — it is a core business imperative. Organisations that embed inclusive practices into their strategy consistently outperform in market growth, talent competitiveness, innovation, and long-term resilience.
The summit is designed to:
The 4th edition marks a strategic evolution — bringing together a broader ecosystem of business leaders, investors, policymakers, and practitioners. This edition will focus on:
Cape Town, as a global business and innovation hub, provides the ideal backdrop for advancing the conversation from awareness to execution and scale.
Attending the Africa DEIB Summit is not optional for forward-thinking organisations — it is a strategic advantage. Participants will gain:
Understand how DEIB directly impacts revenue growth, market positioning, and competitive advantage.
Learn proven approaches to attracting, developing, and retaining top talent in diverse markets.
Harness inclusive leadership to drive creativity, problem-solving, and product development.
Engage with partners, clients, and stakeholders aligned to inclusive growth.
Walk away with implementable strategies, tools, and metrics.
Benchmark against leading organisations and industry best practices.
The summit is designed for both strategic depth and practical engagement, featuring:
Hosted at Southern Sun, Cape Town, the summit combines world-class conferencing with curated experiences reflecting the city's position as a leading business and cultural destination. Delegates can expect:
The summit convenes a high-level, cross-functional audience of decision-makers and influencers, including:
This is a decision-making room — where strategy, partnerships, and future-focused ideas are shaped.
Secure your place at the 4th Annual Africa DEIB Summit & Expo 2026. Choose the ticket option that best suits you.
Special rate for non-profit organisations, NGOs and students committed to advancing DEIB.
RegisterDiscounted rate for delegates who register early. Limited seats available at this special price.
Sold OutFull access to all summit sessions, networking events, expo and keynote addresses.
RegisterStill time to join — register at the late rate and secure your seat at Africa's premier DEIB event.
RegisterJoin the summit virtually — access live sessions and keynotes from anywhere across Africa and globally.
RegisterMeet some of the distinguished leaders confirmed for the 2026 Summit.
Internationally recognised DEI leader with 15+ years transforming global institutions. As Director of DEI at the Melton Foundation, she leads strategy across 6 continents. Her work integrates behavioural science, intercultural leadership, and organisational psychology to build equity-centred, human-centred practices.
Director, DEIB
Melton Foundation
Accessibility Lead at Vodacom Group, driving the Accessibility Strategy across 8 African markets. With 27+ years in mobile telecoms, she champions digital inclusion for people with disabilities — spearheading emergency services for Deaf users and South Africa's first big-button phone for the elderly.
Accessibility Lead
Vodacom
Founder & MD of Prerna Advisory, specialising in neuroscience-based coaching for individuals, teams and corporates. Named Most Empowered Woman 2025 (USA) and Winner — Global Women of Influence Awards 2024 (Singapore). Partners with clients across the globe to unlock leadership potential.
Founder & Managing Director
Prerna Advisory
DEI consultant, leadership coach, and systems practitioner working at the intersection of inclusion and organisational transformation. She integrates Arnold Mindell's Deep Democracy, ORSC, and the Enneagram to help organisations engage with conflict, difference, and power as catalysts for growth. MBA (Cum Laude), Stellenbosch Business School; LLM, Stellenbosch University. Her research has been presented internationally at the Gender, Work & Organisation Conference (2023) and The Forum on Workplace Inclusion (2022). In this session, she and co-presenter Izelda Swanepoel explore how Deep Democracy provides a practical framework for building authentic workplace community.
DEI Consultant & Leadership Coach
Systems Practitioner
Attorney of the High Court with 25+ years heading Legal, Regulatory/Compliance and Governance Risk in major organisations. She has intimate knowledge of business operations, governance, and relevant legal and regulatory frameworks, with extensive experience drafting contracts, internal policies and controls, and managing high-value litigation and commercial matters. Her senior legal roles in banking and telecoms have equipped her with deep expertise in technology law, banking law, AI legal parameters, and risk mitigation in business.
Attorney at Law & Managing Partner
RSS Law
With over nine years of cross-continental experience, Ayanda works at the intersection of leadership development, transformation, diversity & inclusion, and healing-centred systems. She has partnered with the Mastercard Foundation, Action for Southern Africa, Whitaker Peace & Development Initiative, Anglia Ruskin University, and UCT — raising over R5.4 million in education and youth development funding and empowering thousands of young leaders across Africa. Currently DEI Lead at GIZ SA, Lesotho and eSwatini. Recognised as one of the Mail & Guardian Top 200 Young South Africans and a Young Mandela of the Future. She has represented South African youth at the United Nations Youth Assembly and global forums in Brazil and the UK.
DEI Lead
GIZ South Africa, Lesotho & eSwatini
Global I&D Manager at Kantar, shaping inclusion and diversity strategy across one of the world's leading data, insights and consulting companies.
Global Inclusion & Diversity Manager
Kantar
CEO of Risk Insights, bringing expertise in organisational risk, data analytics and strategic leadership to conversations on inclusive and resilient workplaces.
Chief Executive Officer
Risk Insights
With over 20 years in executive search and talent strategy, Tracy has earned a reputation for exceptional hires in Africa and beyond. She specialises in C-suite leadership, social impact, financial inclusion, health systems strengthening and digital transformation, leading dozens of country-level executive searches across Africa. At Millar Cameron she leads the International Development desk. Tracy is also Founder & MD of Hlomo Safety, a social enterprise scaling tech solutions for community resilience, and holds a board seat with an NPO enabling African Businesswomen to achieve prosperity.
Partner
Millar Cameron
Head of Talent Acquisition at Africa Leadership University, championing equitable hiring practices and diverse talent pipelines across the African continent.
Head of Talent Acquisition
Africa Leadership University
MD of Omanga Consulting, delivering organisational development and transformation consulting to drive inclusive cultures and sustainable performance in Africa.
Managing Director
Omanga Consulting
DEI Specialist with 20 years of global experience transforming workplaces and changing employee behaviour. Her expertise spans designing and delivering high-impact, data-driven solutions in culture change, diversity, equity and inclusion. Tracy is passionate about driving meaningful, purpose-driven change and challenging the status quo while seeking innovative alternative solutions. Her passion for making impactful change in the workplace and communities is contagious.
DEI Specialist
Shonaquip Social Enterprise
Futurist keynote speaker, author and futures thinking executive coach. Past President of the Professional Speakers Association of Southern Africa (PSASA) and Global Speakers Federation (GSF), and a member of the Association of Professional Futurists (APF). Charlotte loves exploring the intersection of futures thinking with real-world challenges — which is why the conversation about DEI is so fascinating to her.
Futurist & Keynote Speaker
Futures Alchemist
Founder & Director of Chiaro Business Transformation, dedicated to creating inclusive workplaces. Since 2013, Chiaro has led DEIB initiatives helping organisations overcome unconscious bias and challenges faced by marginalised employees. Rooted in Arnold Mindell's Process Work and Deep Democracy, her approach ensures every voice is heard and valued. She equips leaders with skills to foster belonging and drive change. Izelda has presented at The Forum for Workplace Inclusion and Globally Conscious Peacemakers, holds an MBA from Stellenbosch University, and is trained in ORSC, Process Work, and Enneagram coaching.
Founder & Director
Chiaro Business Transformation
Specialist in business-to-business relations, skills development and disability inclusion at BradshawLeRoux Consulting — leading specialists in creating disability-inclusive cultures at organisational, governmental and societal levels. Kaz has first-hand experience creating disability-inclusive work environments that lead to equal participation of persons with a disability. His energy and passion in delivering the message of disability inclusion is tangible, drawing from practical experience to challenge audience stereotypes, showcase the value inclusion brings to business, and encourage a re-think of business approach to disability inclusion.
Disability Inclusion Specialist
BradshawLeRoux Consulting
Chief and Traditional Leader of the Royal Bafokeng Nation, a visionary advocate for community-led development, inclusive governance and African heritage.
Chief & Traditional Leader
Royal Bafokeng Nation
Independent DEI Specialist and LGBTQ+ Advocate committed to advancing safe, affirming and equitable workplaces and communities across Southern Africa.
DEI Specialist & LGBTQ+ Advocate
Independent
Transformational leader, gender lens investing pioneer and organisational culture expert with 20 years' experience across 10+ African markets. Co-Founder & Partner of ATG Samata, a gender-lens investment fund targeting $50m — having deployed over $11 million into 25+ businesses. Recognised as one of Africa's Inspiring Women LeadHers (Meta/Facebook 2021) and Best VC Investing in Female Start-ups (Gov. of Zambia 2024). Lectures on Gender, Inclusion & Sustainability at ESADE Business School and Social Innovation at the University of Turin. Co-chair for the 2X Global Forum and chair of the Novastar Fund III Investment Committee. Her forthcoming book, The Intersection Advantage™, explores how navigating identity and belonging builds the competencies that define inclusive leadership.
Co-Founder & Partner
ATG Samata
Passionate transformation leader, author and social impact specialist committed to eradicating social ills that erode the fabric of society — with a deep focus on addressing bullying in organisations, schools and churches. Justice combines expertise in change management, organisational development, diversity and equity, and impact assessment with lived experience and advocacy work to create environments where individuals and communities can thrive, free from intimidation, exclusion and fear. Through writing, facilitation and advisory roles, he inspires conversations that challenge harmful norms, transform mindsets, and equip leaders to confront issues that compromise dignity and well-being.
Transformation Leader & Author
Litha Lethu Management Services
Accomplished investment strategist and partnerships leader bringing together financial expertise, creative entrepreneurship and a deep commitment to inclusive growth. As Executive Head of Investments & Partnerships in the Office of Kgosana Dr. Koketso Rakhudu, she leads the development of sustainable, multi-sector investments that create long-term income for community trusts. Her mission is to redefine African investment — ensuring communities are not only beneficiaries, but shareholders in their own economic futures.
Executive Head, Global Investments & Strategic Partnerships
Office of Kgosana Dr. Koketso Rakhudu
Accomplished investment strategist and partnerships leader who brings together financial expertise, creative entrepreneurship and a deep commitment to inclusive growth. As Head of Investments & Partnerships in the Office of Kgosana Dr. Koketso Rakhudu, she leads the development of sustainable, multi-sector investments that create long-term income for community trusts. Her mission is to redefine African investment — ensuring communities are not only beneficiaries, but shareholders in their own economic futures.
Founder & CEO
Acumind Consulting
Founder of Vessels of Virtue, empowering women and marginalised communities through purpose-driven leadership, faith-based advocacy and social entrepreneurship.
Founder & CEO
Vessels of Virtue
Internationally recognised executive coach, leadership consultant, accredited psychotherapist (BACP) and author, renowned for pioneering work at the intersection of business psychology, leadership and communication. With 20+ years supporting high-performing leaders, he translates psychological insights into pragmatic tools for senior legal professionals and business executives. As Chief People Officer at Harneys Westwood & Riegels, he led culture-wide transformation across 13 international offices. His coaching is sought after by leading law firms, high-level government clients and Fortune 500 companies.
Executive Coach & Leadership Consultant
Pinnacle
CEO of Africa Business Excellence, championing business transformation, inclusive growth strategies and high-performance leadership across the African continent.
Chief Executive Officer
Africa Business Excellence
Inclusion, media and communication-for-development specialist with deep knowledge in journalism, advocacy, disability and inclusion, public policy, governance and non-profit management. Over 25 years actively championing human development, driving inclusive change in economic, policy and governance spheres. He has served in multi-cultural, multi-sectoral organisations including United Nations agencies as volunteer, leader, consultant and employee at continental and global levels. As a disability and inclusion advocate, Yinka draws passion from his own lived experience, believing no one should be discriminated against or excluded because of how they look or societal ableism.
Executive Director
Centre for Disability and Inclusion Africa
Managing Director of Simple Coaching and Executive Board Member of Fofana Consulting. A creative visionary and scribe at heart, she holds a degree from the University of Cape Town majoring in Gender and Transformation. She formerly worked in Asia as an English educator at an international university, private college and training centre. With 12+ years as a senior community development manager in not-for-profit organisations around the world, her focus is on grassroots social justice, poverty, education and creative arts — partnering with local stakeholders to drive sustainable transformation in developing countries.
Managing Director
Simple Coaching
Founder & CEO of the ABC Community Network, empowering children, youth and young professionals through confident communication, leadership development and sustainability-driven initiatives. She serves as SA Regional Director for the Green Project and the Public Speaking Championship International (GPPSC). A Brand Architect, Leadership Strategist and Transformation, Progression & Inclusion Advocate, she has spoken at the GPPSC Global Round in Ho Chi Minh City, served as a judge for University of Pretoria Honours students, and led conversations on talent management, DEI, transformation and progression.
Founder & CEO
ABC Community Network
