Speakers Inc 50x50

Toby Shapshak: Innovation Technology

Toby Shapshak_speaks_at_TED

Quick Facts:

Highlights:
Formats:
Audiences:
Outcomes:
Reviews: (0 reviews)
  • Travels from: Johannesburg

Keynote Topics

Talent Short Bio

Toby Shapshak writes and speaks about how innovation is better in Africa. His TED talk on how Africa is solving real problems has had over 1,4-million views; and he has been featured in the New York Times. He is the editor-in-chief and publisher of Stuff magazine; is a contributor to Forbes and writes a weekly column for the Financial Mail.
He has been co-hosting a weekly TV show on CNBC Africa for the past two years.
He believes Africa is a mobile-driven continent, about which he has written for CNN, The Guardian in London and for Forbes. He is writing a book on innovation in Africa, looking at how the problems Africa is solving for itself will benefit the rest of the world.
Toby has spoken at the South by South West (SxSW) conference in Austin, Texas, (thrice) on how mobile is being used in Africa (2013) and how music is being consumed (2014); and The Guardian’s Activate: Johannesburg on innovation out of necessity.
He has also spoken at Intel’s IDF conference in San Francisco, Germany’s Zukunftskongress (Future Congress), TEDxGateway in Mumbai, Pivot East in Nairobi, and Tech4Africa in Joburg.

Toby Shapshak – Innovation Technology

Toby was named in GQ’s top 30 men in media and the Mail & Guardian newspaper’s 300 influential young South Africans list; and has been the ICT Journalist of the Year. GQ said he “has become the most high-profile technology journalist in the country” while the M&G wrote: “Toby Shapshak is all things tech… he reigns supreme as the major talking head for everything and anything tech.”
As a news and political journalist, he ran Mail & Guardian newspaper’s website when it was the first news site in Africa, shadowed Nelson Mandela when he was president, and covered the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
Toby Shapshak has interviewed a range of tech industry luminaries, including Apple co-founders Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak.
Formerly a senior newspaper reporter covering everything from crime to politics, he has been writing about innovation, telecoms and the internet and the impact it has on our lives for more than 20 years; including the Sunday Times, Business Day, Mail & Guardian, The Financial Mail, The Times, City Press, ThisDay, and The Weekender.

Toby Shapshak was named in GQ’s top 30 men in media and the Mail & Guardian newspaper’s 300 influential young South Africans list; and has been the ICT Journalist of the Year.

GQ said he “has become the most high-profile technology journalist in the country” while the M&G wrote: “Toby Shapshak is all things tech… he reigns supreme as the major talking head for everything and anything tech.”

Contact us at Speakers Inc and subscribe to our YouTube channel

Speakers Contact

Speaker Enquiry Form

Talent Resources

Talent Resources to download

Speaker Gallery

View further speakers

Simon Dingle

Simon Dingle

Technology and mobile futurist who helps organisations convert emerging platform and mobility trends into product strategies and customer experiences.
  • Technologist Broadcaster
Gerry Elsdon

Gerry Elsdon

Gerry Elsdon made a strong impression on the co-host of South Africa’s first Big Brother reality series and as a continuity presenter for M-Net. Gerry Elsdon has a colorful background is a huge understatement! Having been born in District 6, living through the forced removals and Group Areas Act in the Cape in the 80s, […]

  • Event Emcee
Jacques Nienaber

Jacques Nienaber

Jacques Nienaber is a world-renowned rugby coach and strategist, celebrated for his defensive innovation and leadership behind South Africa’s back-to-back Rugby World Cup victories.
  • Rugby Coach
Samantha Hillion-Burns

Samantha Hillion-Burns

Customer fairness and loyalty expert helping companies worldwide master customer success, ethics, and service energy.
  • Customer Service
Ian Russell 3

Ian Russell

Business growth and operations specialist who helps organisations align strategy to execution and build measurable systems that drive predictable revenue.
  • Digital Disruption
Steve Barnett - Silent Conductor

Steve Barnett

Motivational percussionist who translates musical leadership into team dynamics, focus, and disciplined performance for organizations and conferences seeking impact consistently.
  • Silent Conductor
Mum-Z

Mum-Z

Born in Diepkloof Soweto, but raised in Sandton, Mum-Z – Conference Comedian has a style of comedy that can be universally appreciated drawing most of his content from his personal experiences for your Corporate event His career started with presenting on the SABC 2 teenage continuity programme ‘Kidz Can’ in 1997, he then delved in script […]

  • Comedian
sthembiso phakathi

Sthembiso Phakathi

Strategic leadership and transformation speaker guiding organizations through change, resilience, and sustainable growth.
  • Strategic Leadership
Disclaimer
The profiles and images embedded on these pages are from various conference entertainers and other talent.

These remain the property of its owner and are not affiliated with or endorsed by Speakers Inc.

Fee ranges where listed on this website are intended to serve as a guideline only.

All talent fees exclude VAT, travel and accommodation where required.

Our Mission

We are your partner creating memorable and engaging experiences that go beyond the event itself.
Prospective Speakers
FIND YOUR NEXT:
CONTACT US:
Facebook Linkedin Instagram Youtube X-twitter Pinterest

Newsletter Signup

* indicates required

Intuit Mailchimp

Subscribe to our Newsletter and get connected:

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.

Speakers Inc Newsletter

Subscribe to our newsletter and stay updated.

We use Brevo as our marketing platform. By submitting this form you agree that the personal data you provided will be transferred to Brevo for processing in accordance with Brevo's Privacy Policy.

We promise to not spam you!

Untitled-design-10
iasb

Our Mission:

We are your partner creating memorable and engaging experiences that go beyond the event itself.
New Speakers Submissions
Facebook Linkedin Instagram X-twitter Pinterest Tumblr Youtube

© All rights reserved 2025.  Designed using Voxel

speakers inc
Powered by  GDPR Cookie Compliance
Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.