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Richard Poplak is an award-winning author, journalist, and filmmaker. He has become one of the most widely read and controversial political journalists in South Africa, editing at large for the Daily Maverick. Poplak has reported from over 25 developing countries, for the Financial Times, Atlantic Monthly, The Guardian, among others. He was recently part of a team that won the prestigious Global Shining Light award for investigative journalism.
Richard has worked as a freelance journalist and writer since 2005. His work has been anthologized numerous times, and he frequently appears on Al Jazeera, BBC, CBC, and elsewhere as a commentator on topics that range from world events to sport: he is considered a go-to voice on the burgeoning Sino-African relationship; on South African politics; and on international cycling.
Richard Poplak is a former Rockefeller Fellow, and a recipient of the Bookmark Award for the best journalist in South Africa. He is also a contributor in the innovative global investigative journalist collective Deca Stories.
As a member in the Gupta Leaks team, Richard Poplak helped break one of the biggest stories in South African media history. The journalistic consortium won the Taco Kuiper Investigative Journalism award, Vodacom Journalist of the Year, and was cited for a Nat Nkasa Bravery in Journalism award. In 2019, the team won the prestigious 2019 Global Shining Light award, the highest honour in investigative journalism.
Before Richard Poplak became a journalist, Richard trained as a filmmaker and fine artist at Montreal’s Concordia University (1992-1995) and has produced an directed numerous music videos, television commercials, and documentary films. He is the co-director of a documentary feature film on the public relations firm Bell Pottinger, called Influence, which is premiering in competition at the Sundance Film Festival in 2020.
Keynote Topic
INFLUENCE: THE RISE AND FALL OF THE WORLD’S MOST DANGEROUS PUBLIC RELATIONS COMPANY
Synopsis
The feature-length documentary film INFLUENCE charts the recent advancements in weaponized communication by investigating the rise and fall of the world’s most notorious public relations and reputation management firm: the British multinational Bell Pottinger.
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Kevin Fine has 25 year career that has spanned Executive Leadership, National Broadcasting, Brand Management, Community Development and Entrepreneurship.
He is a regular speaker on the local and international circuit as well as inside corporates, and the media industry at large. Fine shares his collaborative views through articles, speaking panels, and keynote presentations applying his experience and interests on topics including: Company Culture, the Content Economy, Thought Leadership, Sustainability, Business Growth, Audience Monetisation and Future Trends.
More recently and after 8 years leading the biggest regional radio channel in South Africa – Jacaranda FM, Fine was appointed Managing Director of a new business called “Expedite” within the Kagiso Media Radio division. The business focuses solely on accelerating businesses by innovatively leveraging media resources and inventory. He has since left and stepped in to the Entrepreneurial and speaking world full time.
Kevin Fine was a key part of Jacaranda FM’s success and leaves the station with audience numbers in South Africa’s top 10. Digital engagement and reach achieved unprecedented levels, with both jacarandafm.com and the station’s the biggest YouTube channel in the number 1 spot in the country. Internally during 2019, the station’s culture was qualified as a Gold Best Company to Work For in the Deloitte and Touche survey.
Kevin Fine major achievements were ensuring a strong CAGR, profitability, brand presence and benevolence. Under his leadership, the station also received prestigious accolades, with more than 30 awards, from listeners and industry peers, including: “Commercial Radio Station of the Year” 2015 The Roger Garlick Award, a Gold Loerie, and an International One Show Award for the “More Music You Love” Live Billboard Campaign.
Three major sustainability projects completed included Project Khanya distributing light to 25000 homes, Project Water Drop which delivered millions of liters of water to drought stricken communities before sinking boreholes and wells, and Hearts for Mandela Day ensuring heart surgery for 67 children.
Prior to Kevin Fine time at the station, Kevin was CEO at 101.9 Chai FM, brought in to remodel, reformat and relaunch the station in 2010.
Additionally, Kevin Fine also founded (and is a director of) the Little Champs Sports Academy, A sports development programme for early childhood. His passion for sport, and sports marketing also saw him manage the EA FIFA game Franchise in South Africa for 3 years and running the FIFA Interactive World Cup Event for South Africa. He also went on to head up the Football For Hope Program, Alexandra at the FIFA World Cup 2010.
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