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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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In 2003 Freshlyground – Conference Entertainers launched their debut album, Jika Jika under their own Freeground Records label, the immediate success of which firmly cemented the band as one of South Africa’s most successful young acts.
Freshlyground formed in early 2002, and is made up of seven talented and diverse musicians from South Africa, Mozambique and Zimbabwe.
Fronted by the diminutive but dynamic Zolani Mahola, the band exudes a live performance energy that has been the bedrock of their success.
The experienced rhythm section of Peter Cohen (drums) & Josh Hawks (bass) is complimented by guitarist Julio Sigauque, keyboardist Seredeal Scheepers, Simon Attwell (flute, mbira, sax and harmonica) and violinist Kyla Rose Smith.
Although hailing from diverse backgrounds, between them the band’s members weave a musical magic that is highly infectious and undeniably groovy.
Freshlyground – Conference Entertainers released their second studio album Nomvula in July 2004. Nomvula was recorded and produced by JB Arthur and Sibusiso Victor Masondo.
The album sparked interest from Sony BMG Africa, who signed the band and released Nomvula in September that year. Radio quickly picked up on the single ‘Doo Be Doo’ and the catchy song went on to become a crossover favorite amongst a diverse spread of stations and their listeners.
‘Doo Be Doo’ was the most played song in South Africa in 2005.
The major success of ‘Doo Be Doo’ was followed by the singles ‘I’d Like’, ‘Zithande’, ‘Things Have Changed’ and the title track of the album Nomvula.
The album sold 300 000 units in South Africa alone- earning it multi-platinum status. The success and broad appeal of the band was celebrated in November 2006 when Freshly Ground-Conference Band Entertainers won the MTV Europe Award in the category Best African Act.
The award placed the band firmly on the international music map and earned them further recognition on home soil as significant South African cultural exports.
The success of Nomvula was followed by Ma Cheri – Freshlyground’s third studio album, released in September 2007.
The album’s release was followed by a major South African tour attended by over 25 000 people across four cities. The tour was produced by Freshlyground and supported by Volkswagen South Africa .
The tour successfully raised the performance and production standards of local touring, putting the band on par with international acts in terms of production scale and value.
Ma Cheri has sold 80 000 units to date in South Africa and the single Pot Belly is another major crossover success, and is play listed on all South African radio stations.
Five years on Freshlyground – Conference Entertainers are a still a sensation. In South Africa audiences of every race cram in to see them. Old people get up and dance.
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Hani du Toit is a proudly South African businesswoman, committed to the transformation of our society through amplifying the message of our shared humanity.
In a world of growing polarity between people and an increasingly fragile planet, Hani advocates that only through conscious leadership and active citizenry, can we bring about change that is sustainable, transformative and grounded in our interconnectedness.
She brings this awareness to her voluntary work as a lecturer in Leadership and Self Development at South Africa’s only crowd funded university, and a facilitator for leadership development in under-resourced schools across South Africa.
With 25 years’ experience in leadership education and human development, Hani works locally and abroad within companies, universities and government.
She has lived and worked in the Middle East, has served as a relief worker with refugees on the Syrian border and extensively explored parts of Asia, Africa and Europe, learning how different cultures solve shared human problems.
This has left her very aware of our extraordinary capacity as Human Beings to overcome adversity, to innovate and to forgive.
As an Inclusion specialist, Conversational Intelligence coach, a LEGO® Serious Play® Facilitator, an accredited Team Coach with the European Mentors & Coaches Council, Hani du Toit holds qualifications from UCT, UWC, Cambridge University as well as the Creating WE Institute.
Her children’s book, Just Like Me has been identified by Wits University as a model for writing about inclusion for children. The book echoes her belief that if we look through a lens of compassion, we discover our shared Humanity.
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Your brand is your most valuable asset in driving business growth – and Simon Grainger has built his career around this belief.
With a deep understanding of the interplay between consumer behaviour and branding, Simon leverages his expertise to develop custom strategies for growth-oriented businesses seeking to elevate their marketing.
As a mentor with Startup Grind, a global platform for early-stage entrepreneurs, and a former senior brand strategy lecturer at Vega, one of South Africa’s leading communication schools, Simon has guided countless individuals and organisations through the complexities of brand development.
A seasoned speaker, including delivering a TEDx talk, Simon regularly shares his insights on marketing and brand-building with industry professionals.
His credentials, including an Honours degree in Media, Communication, and Marketing (Cum Laude) and a Master’s degree in Media and Communication, further solidify his reputation as a trusted expert in the field.
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Professor Shirley Zinn is the former Group Head of Human Resources at Woolworths Holdings Limited. Prior to this, she was the Head of Human Resources of Standard Bank South Africa and Deputy Global Head of Human Resources for the Standard Bank Group.
Prior to this she was the Group Executive HR at Nedbank. Before this, she was the General Manager for Human Resources at the South African Revenue Service (SARS).
She is also an Extraordinary Professor at the University of Pretoria’s Department of Human Resource Management, and recently been appointed as Adjunct Professor at the University of Cape Town.
Shirley is the Past President of the Institute for People Management South Africa and registered as Master HR Professional with South Africa Board for People Practice.
Professor Shirley Zinn hails from the Cape Flats in Cape Town, and started her career as a secondary school teacher of English, then moved to the University of the Western Cape where she lectured in Teacher Education.
After this, Professor Shirley Zinn served at Southern Life as Training Manager and then moved to the Department of Public Service and Administrations’: South African Management Development Institute, in Pretoria as Director.
She held the position of Executive Employment Equity at Computer Configurations Holdings. Before her appointment at SARS, she filled the role of Regional Human Resources Director for Middle East and Africa for Reckitt Benckiser, a global company listed on the London Stock Exchange.
Professor Shirley Zinn is the former Chairman of DHL: Global Forwarding SA, and currently a Non-Executive Director on the Boards of JSE listed AdvTech (Lead Independent and Chair of Remco) and Sygnia Asset Management (Lead Independent, and Chair of Remco and Social and Ethics Committee).
She also serves as a director on the Boards of Tuesday Consulting, Empowerment Capital, Knowledge Resources, Business Engage, Community Chest, and the Boston Consulting Group SA. In addition, she is the HR Advisor to the Board of Silvertree Internet Holdings.
Professor Shirley Zinn also serves on the Takeover Regulation Panel Board and on the Council of the University of Cape Town. She is a Trustee on the Nedbank Eyethu Community Trust, Ambassador for the Orbis Africa Charity, and the former Chairman of Starfish Greathearts Foundation.
She also serves on the Advisory Boards of Monash South Africa, and the University of Pretoria’s Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences. Shirley is the past President for the Harvard Alumni Association South Africa and a Fellow of the Institute of Directors SA.
She also previously served as the Chair of the Institute of Bankers. She was recently appointed as the Patron for South Africa Council of Business Women.
She is a coach and mentor to several women across multiple industries She has presented at numerous national and international conferences as a keynote speaker.
In 2015, she wrote her autobiography entitled “Swimming Upstream” which focuses on her personal and professional journey. It has officially been announced as a best-seller.
In 2016, she presented several “Swimming Upstream” talks nationally at corporates, schools, universities and charities, with the hope of motivating and inspiring especially youth and women that they can achieve despite adversity, and to never give up.
She holds a BA (University of the Western Cape); Post Graduate Higher Diploma in Education (University of the Western Cape); B.Ed. Honours (UNISA); M.Ed. (University of the Western Cape); Ed.M. (Harvard); and Doctorate in Education (Harvard).
Professor Shirley Zinn was awarded the Top Woman in Business and Government and Top Executive in Corporate South Africa by Topco Media in 2008. Professor Zinn also was recognized by the Black Business Quarterly and received the Award for Top Woman in Business and Government and most Visionary Woman in 2008.
She also received an award from the World Human resources Congress in Mumbai in 2007 and 2013 respectively for Excellence in Global HR Leadership. In 2012, was listed in the Top 30 Wonder Women in South Africa by the Wits Business Journal.
Professor Shirley Zinn was awarded Africa’s Most Influential Women in Business and Government for 2016 in the SME Sector by CEO Global.
She also completed her ninth Two Oceans Half Marathon in March 2018.
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What the world has begun to realise is that Elvis Blue resonates with a creative force that ebbs only from the most talented of artists. One simply has to listen to the hauntingly beautiful Things My Father Said or Lighthouse or Save Me, or any of his original compositions for that matter, to realise that you are in the company of greatness.
Balance this divine gift with great humility, a kind heart and the work ethic of Henry Ford and you begin to understand the soul within this artist.
The gifted musician’s journey started when he was a young boy, singing in school choirs, and busking in the streets of Joburg and Scotland. His one and only goal was to make and perform music.
After a stint overseas as a street musician, Elvis returned to South Africa where he decided to study contemporary music.
After appearing in numerous bands Elvis started a project where he sang under the name MONO. He released three albums under this time. When MONO’s record deal came to an end, Elvis decided that he would move to George where he would become a music teacher, write his own music, and live a quiet life.
After spending some time in George, Elvis was approached by a record company who wanted him to record an Afrikaans album. “The first album I did was under the name Jan Hoogendyk, my real name, and the album did really well. It won an ATKV Lier Toekening award. His second Afrikaans album, Ontskemer also under the name Jan Hoogendyk, was nominated for a 2010 SAMA Award.
While living in George he met the friend whose name he would adopt in 2008. “My wife works at an organisation that is a hospice and children’s home and I met this little boy there when I used to go and play my guitar for them.
He really wanted to be a keyboard player, and his name was Elvis Blaauw”, he says. When he passed away in 2009, as a tribute to this amazing young man, Jan Hoogendyk adopted his name and Elvis Blue was born.
In 2010, Elvis Blue won the title of Mnet Idol for that year – sharing half the profit with runner up Lloyd Cele.
Elvis Blue released the album that would change his life as a musician and consolidate all his years of hard work.
This album was simply titled Elvis Blue. On the album’s release in November 2010, it shot up the radio and sales charts and reached Gold status.
The first two singles Things My Father said and Lighthouse were massive hits, and with the third single, Save Me, is currently on playlists across the country.
The album went platinum in late 2011 – with sales in excess of 40 000 units.
Since the release of his album, Elvis has set himself apart as an exceptional performer of live music, using some of the best local musicians to round out his band on stage, insisting on delivering music with depth to audiences across the country.
Elvis is also a dedicated husband and father besides being a world class musician and a household name in South Arica.
Elvis was named an official global ambassador for the 46664 Bangle initiative, and through this opportunity he helps to educate people on the social justice ethos of Mr. Nelson Mandela.
The 46664 Bangle initiative is one of the 46664 Foundation’s key initiatives.
Elvis has also partnered with Bavarian Motorcycles as their BMW motorcycle brand ambassador for the year 2012.
In April 2012, Elvis’ credibility and talent was further acknowledged when he took home the SAMA (South African Music Award) for Best Adult Contemporary Album for the double disc special edition of his self-titled album, Elvis Blue.
The success Elvis Blue over the past few years enabled himself to invest in something very near and dear to his heart – The Elvis Blue Music Academy.
The Academy was started by Elvis to teach underprivileged children the joy of music. The organisation provides instruments and instruction in a safe, warm environment. “Music has the ability to heal,” Elvis says.
“This venture is living proof of that.” The Elvis Blue Music Academy operates in the Western Cape, George and is rolling out in Alexandra in Gauteng in the near future.
Elvis’ success is due to years of hard work, passion and commitment, and even though the path has been long and sometimes never ending, the real journey has only begun now.
There is a lingering feeling of awe when you meet this humble artist. True talent begets respect and admiration. And that’s exactly why Elvis Blue has our country at his feet.
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Yolande Steyn – Digital Leadership specialises in “out the box” thinking, strategy and execution in digital an innovation.
With 20 years of experience in Financial Services and Telecoms Yolande combines a deep love for technology and business with creativity and her ability to think differently to implement practical, human-friendly digital innovation.
Notable innovations include:
• CEO and Founder of FNB eWallet Solutions; Head of FNB Innovation; Founding member of FNB Cellphone Banking and its subsequent rollout on Africa; Branchless banking for FirstRand Bank India and FNB Zambia,
• Managing Executive Vodacom Digital
• Other notable projects include eBucks, MTN Call Awards, MTN ICE and Virgin Mobile Australia “Vibe”,
Yolande is able to combine a deep love for technology and business with my creativity and ability to think differently to implement practical, human-friendly digital innovation.
With 20 years experience in Financial Services and Telecoms, Yolande Steyn – Digital Leadership has worked in South Africa, Africa and India and understand developing markets and its challenges.
• As a Mobile money and Innovation expert she has spoken at numerous conferences and media events.
• Yolande Steyn – Digital Innovation is able to tailor my keynotes to the audience, with a central theme of “How do we ensure our innovations and technology are meaningful for emerging markets
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