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Christo Brand is a South African former prison guard who was one of several that were responsible for guarding Nelson Mandela. He came to Robben Island, where Mandela was being held, in 1978 when he was 19 years old.
In 1982 he was transferred along with Mandela to Pollsmoor Prison. Christo and Mandela developed a close friendship over the course of many years. He is the co-author of his book, Doing Life with Mandela: My Prisoner, My Friend (2014). Christo retired from Robben Island on 31st July 2018 to pursue his storytelling on a full-time basis.
How was it possible for these two men from such seemingly different backgrounds to develop a relationship which was to become so much more – a lasting friendship based on a mutual trust and respect for each other?
Surely, they should have hated each other. One was a white, 18-year-old Afrikaans speaking prison guard representing the oppressive, apartheid regime of the time; the other – a black, 60-year-old Xhosa speaking terrorist serving a life sentence.
Rather than join the army for National Service as was compulsory for every South African white male, Christo Brand decided to join the prison service. After training for a year in Kroonstad, he applied for a post on Robben Island because he wanted to be close to home.
His application was successful and at the age of 19 he was sent to work on Robben Island in 1978. That was when Christo first came across Nelson Mandela who at that time was 60 years old. This was where they formed a relationship which was to become so much more. A close friendship built on trust and mutual respect for each other.
In 1982, Mandela was transferred to Pollsmoor Prison. On 13th March that year, Christo married Estelle. Soon afterwards, Christo was transferred to Pollsmoor and was responsible for guarding Mandela for the next 6 years.
Encouraged and supported by Nelson Mandela, in 2014 Christo wrote his book “Doing Life with Mandela – My Prisoner, My Friend”, with co-author Barbara Jones.
In the Foreword, Ahmed Kathrada writes: “My lasting impression of Christo Brand is that he’s a very good human being. He’s not a politician; he’s just a very caring man who took chances for other people, which could have brought him trouble.
I sincerely hope that Christo’s book will receive the respect and attention it deserves. It is a valuable addition to the writings about imprisonment in the apartheid era, and it is written by a fine man.
It is also unique in that it is the most honest account I have read by a warden relating their interaction with Nelson Mandela, and for that alone it deserves credit. I wish Christo Brand all the success in the world.”
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Reabetswe Molapo is a Speaker, Mindset Architect, Facilitator and Entrepreneur. She is Founding Director at Yung Heirz an entity that provides Business Support Services and Business Development Advisory for SME start-ups and scale-ups. Through gained knowledge, expertise and strategic networks we aim to build sustainable businesses that grow the economy and impact job creation within the African context.
Reabetswe Molapo is passionate about People Management and Human Development as well as influencing the trajectory of Innovation and how it can contribute to driving social progress.
This is done through motivating, developing and enriching diverse minds on topics of Leadership Entrepreneurship and how Tech is a catalyst for change and development.
Reabetswe Molapo is a contagious presence on and off stage. Her brilliance and the ability to connect with a range of audiences from the youth right through to Executives will leave your audience impacted and challenged. As a Millennial she brings in a different perspective and a shift from “the norm”. Expect a breath of fresh air, riveting content and your mind renewed. Book her as your next MC, Keynote Speaker or Panellist.
She also forms part of the SEP Board Member at the African Leadership Academy and is a Committee Member in the Inclusive Diversity Board of the Directors Association.
Reabetswe Molapo is a GIBS (Gordon’s Institute of Business Science) Alumni and Henley Business school Alumni
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Dr. Sherylle Calder, renowned as “The Eye Lady,” is a distinguished sport scientist and performance coach with over 30 years of experience in visual-motor performance. Her pioneering work in visual performance skills training has revolutionized the way athletes and professionals enhance their performance across various domains. As the founder and CEO of EyeGym, an innovative online visual intelligence training program, Dr. Calder has empowered individuals to see faster, decide smarter, and act quicker.
Dr. Calder’s journey began as an international field hockey player for South Africa, where she earned 50 international caps. Her on-field experiences led her to recognize the critical role of visual skills in athletic performance, prompting her to delve into the science of visual-motor coordination. This passion culminated in a PhD in Visual Performance Skills Training, laying the foundation for her groundbreaking work.
Over the years, Dr. Calder has collaborated with elite sports teams globally, contributing to three World Cup victories in rugby and cricket. Her clientele includes the South African Springboks, the All Blacks, England Rugby, the Miami Dolphins, Formula 1 driver Valtteri Bottas, and golfer Ernie Els. Beyond sports, her expertise extends to corporate environments, where she enhances decision-making and performance through visual intelligence training.
Central to Dr. Calder’s methodology is the EyeGym program, designed to improve visual awareness, eye-tracking, decision-making, and reaction times. This program has been instrumental in refining athletes’ abilities to process visual information swiftly and accurately, leading to enhanced on-field performance. Her work underscores the trainability of visual skills, debunking the myth that such abilities are innate and unchangeable.
Event planners seeking a speaker who combines scientific expertise with practical applications will find Dr. Calder to be an exceptional choice. Her extensive experience with top-tier athletes and corporate leaders allows her to offer unique insights into the significance of visual skills in achieving peak
Dr. Calder’s presentations are not only informative but also transformative. Attendees gain a deeper understanding of how visual skills impact daily tasks and high-pressure situations alike. Through engaging anecdotes and evidence-based strategies, she demonstrates how training the eyes and brain can lead to better decision-making, improved concentration, and heightened situational awareness.
Moreover, her approachable demeanor and ability to tailor content to diverse audiences ensure that participants leave with actionable insights applicable to both personal and professional contexts. Whether addressing athletes aiming for excellence or professionals seeking a competitive edge, Dr. Calder’s expertise resonates universally.
Summary
Dr. Sherylle Calder stands at the forefront of visual performance training, bridging the gap between science and practical application. Her pioneering work with EyeGym has transformed the way individuals approach visual skills, emphasizing their trainability and profound impact on performance. As a speaker, she offers unparalleled expertise, engaging delivery, and actionable strategies, making her an invaluable asset to any event focused on excellence and peak performance.
Hashtags: #VisualIntelligence #PerformanceCoach #EyeGym #SherylleCalder #VisualSkills #PeakPerformance #SportsScience
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As a stand-up comedian, MC, actor, writer & facilitator Trevor Gumbi – MC Comedian underlying charm offsets his assertive energy on stage as he brings to the fore, some socially uncomfortable issues and he delivers them with hilarity.
Whilst outspoken and sometimes controversial, Trevor Gumbi is a firm favourite in the corporate market, where he can be found entertaining executives and their employees with tailored material, proving that he has the ability to adapt rapidly and appropriately for diverse audiences.
Trever has had his audiences in stiches at several major comedy events in the country, including performing at Comedy Central Live, Sex Live at the Lyric, Kings & Queens of Comedy, Oppikoppi, Rocking the Daisies, Kingsize Comedy Jams, Blacks Only, Laugh Out Loud, Arts Alive Comedy Festival, to name a few.
Alongside John Vlismas, he co-hosted a multi-day conference for Nando’s in late 2005 and he performed for a large internal launch for McDonald’s in 2006.
That same year, Trevor performed at the FNB Life Start Campus Road Show, travelling to tertiary campuses countrywide.
With an impressive list of satisfied clients, Trevor has hosted an unprecedented number of Standard Bank conferences and numerous road shows.
He has a recognizable voice on a number of radio adverts, with a Top 5 Most Downloaded Radio Show on CliffCentral every Monday afternoon at 14:00pm.
He was voted one of South Africa’s Twitter Kings by Cosmopolitan readers in January 2011.
He is widely recognized as the character he played in Vodacom’s Brother Ubuntu Freedom ads and as the voice of the fowl in the Hippo Insurance campaign.
He has voice-over experience on ETV’s animated series, Jozi Zoo and he has been heard doing skits on 5FM as the ‘black guy at a braai’.
He has enjoyed the success of his TV skit show for the Vodacom Super 14 Rugby Season as Offside Vilakazi and he was seen weekly on SABC 1’s entertainment celebrity show, The Real Goboza.
A combination of Trevor’s talent, passion, dedication, professionalism and hard work has been seen in all opportunities presented to him and he continues to nurture his craft in order to be one of the best in his field.
Trevor Gumbi on comedy Central
Tech requirements: A good PA system with a good quality mic; good lighting and a stage (if necessary) required …
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BadWolf – Corporate Band is a fresh 5piece band from Johannesburg created purely to rearrange top 40 and other highly recognizable songs with a hip, groove based approach.
BadWolf takes everything from Etta James’ classic “At Last” to Taylor Swift’s “Shake It Off” and everything in between.
They hosts some of South Africa’s young stars. Hannah Foster has created a name for herself as one of the most talented vocalists, Cameron Bruce, Idols finalist in 2009 as well as guitarist for 80’s superstar, Jennifer Rush.
Together with Justin Badenhorst (Drummer for Elvis Blue) and Benjamin Jephta (renowned SA Bassist) holding down the rhythm, each song is sure to be tight and groovy.
The cherry on top is their fantastic Trumpet player, Neil Engel, who adds a touch of elegance and class of BadWolf’s sound.
All round that are a great band for any event, function or wedding with their constantly updated repertoire and having the versatility of 2 vocalists they are sure to make your event!
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Jeremy Olivier music career started in his small home town, Chinhoyi, Zimbabwe, where his passion for guitar catapulted him into a gigging rock band, touring the country from the age of 14.
After completing his A-Levels in Harare, Jeremy decided to further pursue music and he moved to Cape Town, where he obtained a BMus Honours in Jazz Performance from UCT’s College of Music.
Now, well established as a guitarist and vocalist in South Africa, Jeremy Olivier has performed with some great international artists such as George Benson, Katherine Jenkins, Jonathan Butler and Daniel Bedingfield.
Jeremy Olivier has also shared the stage with some of South Africa’s finest musicians and artists, including Danny K, Loyiso Bala, Sibongile Khumalo, GoodLuck, Judith Sephuma, Ard Matthews, Arno Carstens, FreshlyGround, Mango Groove, Jimmy Nevis and Johnny Clegg.
He has performed all over South Africa, as well as in Germany, Switzerland, Holland and Dubai at various shows, festivals and concerts.
In February 2012, he released his first single, ‘Serendipity’ to radio which became an instant hit and introduced him as an artist to the radio-listening public.
Jeremy Olivier then went on to record a four track E.P. and he released a further two singles, ‘It’s My Time’ and ‘What About Now’ from that E.P., both receiving the same enthusiastic response from deejays and the public alike. ‘Serendipity’ charted at # 6 on Heart 104.9’s SA Top 10 and ‘It’s My Time’ charted at # 21 on Radio Heidelberg’s Top 30 and at # 2 on Bush Radio.
All three songs were also picked up by Mood media and are now playing in the USA on the DMX Acoustic Chill channel as well as in retail stores throughout Northern America.
In February 2013, Jeremy released his fourth single, ‘Look at us Now’ to radio and he started working on completing his debut album.
In November 2013, ‘It’s My Time’ and ‘Breathing Underwater’ were chosen as the theme songs for two international ads for Huntington Beach Sun Foams.
August 2014 marked the release of Jeremy’s fifth single, ‘Beautiful’ – a heart-warming song about his adopted son who was abandoned at birth.
The song and the music video are currently being used by UNICEF SA to raise awareness for a new campaign that they are running: Ending Violence Against Children (#endviolence) and Jeremy was asked to become a Celebrity Advocate for UNICEF South Africa.
In June 2015, Jeremy Olivier was nominated for a Wawela Award for Best Male Artist and Composer for his debut album alongside Elvis Blue and Mandoza.
Jeremy’s sixth single, ‘Can’t Help Myself’ – a funky, up-tempo, Afro-Pop track that combines Jeremy’s signature sound with his Zimbabwean roots – was released to radio in March 2015 and climbed the Top 40 charts on Cape Town’s Heart 104.9.
Jeremy Olivier often travels to Holland for tours where the response to his music has been overwhelming and many opportunities are opening up on the horizon.
In addition to performing, Jeremy also regularly composes and arranges the musical score for Sunrise Productions ‘Jungle Beat’ animated series (showing worldwide on Cartoon Network, RAI, Canal +, Al Jazeera etc.)
He has written an arranged the theme song for the new SA Rugby mascot, ‘Bokkie’ as well as ‘Sharkie’ for the Sharks Ruby Team.
In 2008, he wrote and co-wrote the original songs, ‘Free Free’ and ‘Sweet Love’ for an international animated movie, ‘The Lion of Judah’ which was released in the US in June 2011.
In 2016, Jeremy Olivier took his talent to live TV on the very first season of The Voice SA. He won the hearts of the viewers and went right to the finale finishing as the winning contestant in Team Lira and achieving his spot in the final top four.
He also won the attention of his music idol, Oliver Mtukudzi, after singing a rendition of his song, ‘Neria’ on the show and there are plans to work together in the future.
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Nancy Rademaker is one of the very few female international keynote speakers to cover the impact of digitization on customer behaviour and how that affects the way companies should interact with customers.
She likes to share her first-hand experiences straight from the places where technology is shaping our future.
Nancy Rademaker has over 20 years of experience in how technology was and is transforming society, working for different IT companies, amongst which five years for Microsoft in the Netherlands and Europe. She loves to share her passion for technology and combines that valuable inside information with her experience in training and education.
She has always been enthusiastic about people and customer-centric strategies. She likes to focus on how technology influences people’s behaviour and how it helps them to share knowledge and to create and innovate.
Nancy Rademaker is a highly rated and motivating international business speaker, she has energized many corporate events with bold presentations on the topics of digital transformation, extreme customer centricity, disruption, AI, business model change and leadership.
In 2016 she joined nexxworks as a partner. She travels the world taking business leaders to innovation hubs like Silicon Valley, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Berlin,… using that first-hand inspiration as a continuous and valuable source, thus keeping the keynote content and examples on the cutting edge of the latest technologies, developments and disruptive new business models.
It is high time for any healthcare company to reconsider its position now and in the future.
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Bronwyn Nielsen is a Senior Anchor at CNBC Africa and Group Executive Director of the ABN Group (CNBC Africa and Forbes Africa). She has been part of the CNBC group since its launch in 2007.
As one of the first faces to join the channel, Bronwyn comes with over thirteen years of experience in the South African broadcasting industry, with numerous accolades to her name, including the 2006 Telkom ICT Journalist of the Year.
She is best known for her weekday evening program, Business Tonight, which wraps up the business news on a daily basis whilst speaking to some of the most influential business personalities.
Some of her highlights include hosting the live CNBC Africa Debate at the World Economic Forum in Davos in January 2013 and January 2014, as well as presenting Captains of Industry – a program which features weekly interviews with the top leadership of African companies.
Since her appointment of Group Executive Director of the ABN Group in 2012, Bronwyn Nielsen has set the content agenda for all of the companies within the ABN Group i.e. CNBC Africa, Forbes Africa – ABN Publishing, ABN Pictures, ABN Digital and ABN Productions.
She also works closely with senior management on all strategic growth opportunities.
Bronwyn’s Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Cape Town has given her credibility in a highly competitive arena.
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