The 27th edition of the Africa Tech Festival is set to begin on 12 November at the Cape Town International Convention Centre.
The spotlight of this summit will be on the women driving change in Africa’s tech and telecom sectors. It is scheduled from 12 to 14 November and coincides with Women’s Month in South Africa. It will feature numerous women leaders who are pushing the boundaries of innovation and growth.
Africa Tech Festival 2024 brings together AfricaCom, AfricaTech, AfricaIgnite, and The AI Summit Cape Town. The event is expected to attract 15,000 visitors, 400 speakers, and over 300 exhibitors.
The focus will be on key areas such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, cloud computing, data centers, and green ICT.
The festival is recognized as the continent’s premier platform for tech innovators, specialists, and thought leaders. This year, several women leaders will share their knowledge and perspectives. They will also offer valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities within the industry.
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Africa Tech Festival Inspiring Female Voices Leading the Charge
Key speakers include Faith Burn, Chief Information Officer at Eskom Holdings; Nollie Maoto, Group Compliance Chief Data and Analytics Officer at FirstRand; and Kerissa Varma, Chief Information Security Officer at Vodacom Group.
Additionally, Funke Opeke, CEO of MainOne, Mary Mahuma, CIO for Southern Africa at Philip Morris, and Motunrayo Opayinka, Founder and CEO of Womenovate, will also speak.
James Williams, Event Director of Africa Tech Festival, applauded the inclusion of many female tech executives in the speaker line-up.
Moreover, he emphasized that the event provides a unique platform for Africa’s tech ecosystems to collaborate and drive positive change.
The presence of these female leaders is expected to inspire greater inclusion in the industry. Their participation highlights the opportunities available to women in tech and telecoms. Moreover, it offers guidance for women aiming to start careers in these sectors.
Empowering Women in Tech
Funke Opeke, CEO of MainOne, underscored the importance of events like Africa Tech Festival in providing a platform for women to network and learn from accomplished female role models.
She noted that these role models inspire women at the start of their careers to break the glass ceiling. Opeke will take part in the keynote panel on “Big Tech and Telcos: Collaborating on Digital Infrastructure Investment.”
Mary Mahuma, CIO of Southern Africa at Philip Morris, spoke about the vital role of mentorship for women entering the industry. She shared how having a female mentor has shaped her leadership style, thinking, and understanding of corporate culture.
Mahuma will be a panellist on the discussion about “Nurturing Talent and Bridging the Skills Gap: Building a Future-Ready Workforce in the Age of AI.”
Motunrayo Opayinka, Founder and CEO of Womenovate, highlighted the significant impact women are making in transforming Africa’s telecom and technology landscape.
She mentioned that through innovation, leadership, and advocacy, women are not only advancing the industry but also driving social and economic development across the continent. Opayinka will share her insights on the panel “Educational Equity Through AI: Tools for Advancing Education in Underserved Areas.”
Additionally, the EQL:LOUNGE offers a dedicated space for women in tech to connect and engage in meaningful conversations. The lounge will host panel discussions, keynote addresses, and fireside chats. On the evening before the event opens, the InspiringFifty Africa awards ceremony will recognize the top fifty women making significant strides in the African tech ecosystem.