Catheryn is a Gender Consultant on the Global Report on Women in Tourism (UNWTO, UN Women, World Bank, GIS, Amadeus).
She serves on the advisory board of the International Tourism and Investment Conference as a gender expert, is the founder of Women Academics in Tourism (WAiT).
Theuns Charles Vivian is an academic, writer, entrepreneur and administrator with specific focus on tourism and entrepreneurship.He was born in Cape Town and obtained his first degree from the University of Stellenbosch in 1984 (BEcon) where after he obtained a BCom honours degree from Unisa in 1987 and a MEcon degree from Stellenbosch University in 2000. In 2012 he obtained his doctorate from the Cape Peninsula University of Technology and the title of his doctoral thesis is: Tourism Business Growth With Specific Reference To Black Economic Empowerment In The Tour Operating Sub Sector In South Africa.
He held several senior positions over the years including lecturing positions at Unisa (Transport Economics) and the then Cape Technikon (Tourism Studies); Regional Director South African Tourism, General Manager of the Western Cape Tourism Board, Founder member and Director of the Tourism Entrepreneurship Academy and chairperson of several professional committees including the Tourism Technikon Educators of South Africa, the Rugby World Cup 1995 Tourism committee, etc.
He was awarded the Good Samaritan Award by the then Minister for Tourism Dr Pallo Jordan for his dedication and commitment to tourism and the people of South Africa.He showed a keen interest not just in his academic activities but also participated in sport such as rugby, cricket, chess, jiu jitsu and athletics. He is also a hypnotist and has a good sense of humour.
The impressive commitment of this passionate, self-motivated, and intelligent woman to the travel and tourism industry is evident in her tireless efforts to improve the sector’s activities, structures, and people. With over 30 years of experience in business ownership, management, consulting, and administration, she has worked with governments in Africa and the Caribbean, organised global events, and held various roles.
She currently works as a Tourism Consultant for global organisations and destinations in West Africa and also holds the position of Chief Executive Officer at the West Africa Tourism Organisation (WATO). Her efforts have led to the development of stronger working relationships among countries in the region and the creation of projects such as the West Africa Integrated Travel (WAIT) and the West Africa Ecotourism Network (WAEN). Furthermore, she has facilitated the signing of Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) for exchange programs of Best Practices among countries in the region.
In addition to promoting West Africa to the world, she has initiated the Freedom Pilgrims program to reconnect people of African descent in the Diaspora with the continent. Her extensive global travels and work have made her an expert in exotic destinations and diverse cultures.
Trained as a Scientist, she has transitioned from being an Image Consultant and Event Planner to emerging as a tourism guru. She holds a Master of Science degree in Tourism Marketing Management from Bournemouth University (UK) and has been honoured with several awards for her contributions to tourism development in Africa.
Her recent and current works include:
Doris Parson is the Managing Director of SRC Agency, which is a Communications and Conferences Company based in Tanzania and Rwanda.
Moseketsi is the Head of Light Manufacturing & Tourism Business Unit at IDC. This unit that has facilitated the development and funding of several tourism establishments in South Africa and the Rest of Africa.
She has extensive experience in the tourism industry spanning over 10 years and plays a key role at various stakeholder’s forums both in government and private sector.
She is a Chartered Accountant by profession and sits on several Boards.
Manish Nambiar is the Area General Manager- Africa for Kempinski Hotels. With over 25 years of international experience in the hotel industry, Manish is currently responsible for the operations of Kempinski Hotel which features properties in Egypt, Kenya, Seychelles, Djibouti, and Ghana.
Manish is a seasoned hospitality professional with strategic business acumen driven to deliver operational and financial excellence to create market leading returns and establish mutually beneficial partnerships and relationships with stakeholders.
A dynamic and result-oriented leader, he is adept at building and nurturing high performance teams guiding and motivating them towards setting and achieving visionary goals by effectively aligning company values with key business initiatives and brand experiences.
Manish holds an Executive MBA from the Reims Business School, France, a degree in Management from Cornell Hotel School and a post-graduate from the Oberoi Center of Learning and Development.
Based in Cape Town, Daniel focuses on accelerating and executing the Radisson Hotel Group growth strategy in the English-speaking countries across Sub-Sahara Africa, particularly, South Africa. Another key focus in Daniel’s portfolio is the raising of finance for hotel owners in order to expedite both new developments and conversions across the African continent, working closely with the rest of the African Development team.
Daniel recently joined Radisson Hotel Group after six years at HTI Consulting, focusing on hotel development, acquisition finance raising and hotel brokerage. Having held previous positions at JP Morgan (London), LaSalle Investment Management (London), and JLL (Johannesburg), Daniel will significantly aid Radisson Hotel Group’s owners and their financial requirements with his wealth of knowledge and expertise in debt finance raising requirements of owners, deal-making and financial analysis.
Daniel brings complementary skills to the development team across the continent and is a key member in driving Radisson Hotel Groups new five-year plan for Africa.
A South African national, Daniel holds a Business Science Degree from the University of Cape Town, where he also completed his master’s in financial economics and international trade.
Aaron Munetsi currently serves as the Chief Executive Officer at AASA. Prior to joining AASA, he held several commercial management positions at South African Airways, including Regional Manager for Africa and the Middle East and as its Acting Chief Commercial Officer.
For 10 years, he served on the board of Nigeria-South Africa Chamber of Business, and after leaving SAA in 2018 he joined the African Airlines Association (AFRAA) for a stint as its Director: Government, Legal and Industry Affairs. For the past year he has been working as an aeropolitical and business strategy advisor to airlines.
Aaron holds diplomas and certificates in marketing, strategic management and leadership from the University of Zimbabwe, University of Witwatersrand Graduate Business School and the Gordon Institute for Business Studies.
Sadiq is the Marketing and Promotions Manager for the Middle East at South African tourism. This exciting role, gives him the opportunity to gain insight into the Middle East travel market and to market South Africa as a key destination for both leisure and business travellers.
Sadiq also held the role of Aviation Solutions Manager at IATA and worked closely with key customers which include Kenya Airways and Civil Aviation, SAA, Ethiopian Airlines, Zambia national Airlines and has held sales management positions Cathay Pacific Airlines, Virgin Nigeria Airways and Emirate Airlines.
Sadiq is always requested to participate in panel discussions on Halal travel and South Africa’s focus on attracting halal travelers.
Humphrey Nwugo joined Afreximbank in January 2010 as Manager, Banking Operation and rose to become Senior Manager, Syndications, before he was appointed Regional Chief Operating Officer in February 2019.
Nwugo’s previous experience includes stints at Intercontinental Bank Plc; Lagos, as Deputy Manager/Head, Financial Advisory, Corporate Finance Department, from 2007 to 2009, and at Zenith Bank Plc; Lagos, as Senior Assistant Manager, Real Estate Finance, Agriculture and Export Finance, Mortgage and Consumer Credit, from 2003 to 2007. He also worked as Assistant Banking Officer, Corporate Finance, at Citizens International Bank Limited, Lagos, from 2000 to 2003.
Nwugo received an MBA from the University of Leicester in the United Kingdom and a Bachelor of Science in accounting from the University of Calabar, Nigeria. He is a member of the Chartered Management Institute, United Kingdom, and the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria. He is also an Associate Chartered Accountant.