The 27th edition of the Africa Tech Festival will be held in Cape Town, South Africa from 12-14, November and the spotlight will be on the exceptional women shaping technology and telecommunication in Africa. With August marking the celebration of Women’s Month in South Africa, the event will proudly showcase women leaders driving growth and innovation across the sector.
As the continent’s leading platform for technology innovators, specialists, and thought leaders, Africa Tech Festival 2024’s agenda includes several prominent female leaders who are making a significant contribution to the industry. Their expertise and insights will provide invaluable perspectives on the challenges and opportunities within the sector.
“Africa Tech Festival provides the continent’s tech ecosystems with a unique platform from which to collaborate and drive positive change. Building a more inclusive, sustainable world means uniting the world’s most inspirational founders, business leaders, policymakers, investors, and rising stars, so we are delighted to see so many inspirational female tech executives featured in this year’s speaker line-up. As we celebrate Women’s Month, we look forward to their unique insights and contributions,” said Mr. James Williams, Event Director of Africa Tech Festival.
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Organizers are confident that the presence of female industry leaders at the Africa Tech Festival will provide impetus to efforts by the industry to be more inclusive, highlighting the opportunities available to women in various sectors, providing insights for women wishing to embark on tech and telecoms careers, and showcasing the successes and contributions of women making their mark within the industry.
“Events such as Africa Tech Festival provide a platform for women to network and to gain exposure to more accomplished women in tech,” said Ms. Funke Opeke, CEO of MainOne. “These role models inspire women starting in their careers that they can break the glass ceiling.”
Speaking on the importance of mentorship for women entering the industry, Ms. Mary Mahuma, CIO of Southern Africa at Philip Morris said, “As a female industry leader, I see mentorship as a necessary reminder of our social responsibility to be empathetic, driven, inclusive, and resilient leaders. I am fortunate to have a female mentor who has significantly influenced my leadership style, thinking, and understanding of corporate dynamics and culture.”
Ms. Motunrayo Opayinka, Founder and CEO of Womenovate noted that women’s contributions are significantly transforming the telecommunication and technology landscape in Africa through innovation, leadership, and advocacy. “Their contributions are not only advancing the industry but also driving social and economic development across the continent,” she said.
Opayinka adds “By fostering innovation, supporting entrepreneurship, and advocating for inclusive policies, these women are transforming the tech landscape in Africa.”
Funke Opeke, Mary Mahuma, and Motunrayo Opayinka will be among the speakers at the Africa Tech Festival. They will also participate in panel discussions where they will share their insights on ‘Big Tech and Telcos: Collaborating on Digital Infrastructure Investment’, ‘Nurturing Talent and Bridging Skills Gap: Building a Future-Ready Workforce in the Age of AI’, and ‘Educational Equity Through AI: Tools for Advancing Education in Underserved Areas’ respectively.
Other confirmed speakers include Faith Burn; CIO of Eskom Holdings, Nollie Maoto; Group Compliance Chief Data and Analytics Officer at FirstRand, and Kerissa Varma; CISO at Vodacom Group.
EQL:LOUNGE will create a space for women in tech to connect directly, and engage in meaningful dialogue, with high-caliber speakers in intimate settings hosting panel discussions, keynote addresses, and fireside chats. Their focus is on re-balancing gender in the technology sector across Africa, with key themes including Women in African Tech: Funding and Investment, Innovation and Digital Transformation, and Talent, Empowerment & Leadership.
Taking place the evening before (Nov. 10th) the event opens, InspiringFifty Africa will hold an awards ceremony focusing on recognizing the top fifty women making significant strides within the African tech ecosystem.
The Africa Tech Festival 2024 incorporating AfricaCom, AfricaTech, AfricaIgnite, and The AI Summit Cape Town, is expected to welcome over 15,000 visitors, more than 400 speakers, and over 300 exhibitors as it explores enterprise tech innovation and disruption across key sectors such as artificial intelligence (AI), cybersecurity, cloud and data centres, and green ICT.
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