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We have brought together the people YOU have said you wanted to see at REIS 2023. Our speakers are bringing the best insights and experience to share with you and get you building tomorrow, together!
Award Winning Financial Journalist | Senior Anchor at CNBC Africa
Fifi Peters is an Award-Winning Financial Journalist and Broadcaster. She is a Senior Anchor at CNBC Africa and Host of the SAfm Market Update, with Moneyweb.
Fifi has worked in some of the most reputable financial newsrooms in South Africa including the Business Day and Financial Mail.
An economist at heart, Fifi obtained her BA Degree in Economics & Journalism from Rhodes University in 2010.
She also holds certificates in Finance, Law and Media from the SA Institute of Financial Markets (SAIFM), the London School of Economics (LSE) and the Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS), respectively.
Founder: Missing Link
Richard is the founder of persuasion powerhouse Missing Link (presentation specialists who help presenters of all levels, professional and corporate build their narratives, design slick slides and deliver a provoking message). Richard has written three books; Legacide, Boredom Slayer, and his latest, Here Be Dragons.
Having spoken in over 40 countries on six continents, Richard Mulholland knows first-hand the impact that eloquent and persuasive leadership can make. That’s why he and his team work with executives and speakers around the world, helping them be more confident, more compelling, and more authoritative.
Vusi Thembekwayo is a Global Business Speaker, private equity Managing Partner at Watermark Afrika, CEO of pan-African impact investment firm MyGrowthFund Venture Capital & convenor of leading research boutique IC Knowledge Bureau Ranked number 1 in public speaking at the age of 17, Vusi went on to receive third place in the world at the English-Speaking Union International Competition.
He delivered his first professional talk in 2002 and over the past 15 years he has been gracing the global stage with his humour, charisma and thought-provoking content. His debut book, the Magna Carta of Exponential was launched in Barcelona, Spain in 2017. It sold 6,000 copies on the day of launch.
Vusi has been the catalyst for change in businesses across the globe through expertise in strategy, leadership, and sales. New York, London, Paris, Lagos, Jersey, Guernsey, Rio de Janeiro, Dar es Salaam, Sao Paulo, Buenos Aires, Colombo, Nairobi, Kampala, San Francisco, and another 21 global cities have all experienced Vusi.
Strategic advisor and entrepreneur
Trudi Makhaya is an acclaimed South African economist, entrepreneur and writer, with several published papers focusing mainly on competition economics and economic policy.
She recently completed a five-year stint as the Special Economic Advisor to President Cyril Ramaphosa.
Trudi holds a BCom degree in Economics and Law, a BCom Honours degree in Economics as well as a master’s degree in Economics from the University of Witwatersrand. She also holds an MBA and an MSc in Development Economics from Oxford University, where she was a Rhodes Scholar.
Currently, Trudi holds a portfolio of interests including being a Senior Advisor to the Boston Consulting Group, a member of the Investment Committee at the Jobs Fund, and an early-stage investor in Kasi Insight, a decision intelligence company.
CEO: Rebosa | Board of Directors: NAR
Jan le Roux, is an established real estate practitioner, mentor, and leader whose significant contributions to the real estate industry over the past 38 years. He is currently the CEO of Rebosa, and in 2022, he was appointed to serve on the Board of Directors of the National Association of Realtors (NAR), America’s largest trade association, representing 1.5 million members globally. Le Roux was chosen to serve as one of the international members to offer a unique and valuable perspective to the organisation.
Le Roux’s pioneering influence on the industry has been enormous, having included electronic publishing, mortgage origination and the establishment of property advertising publications. For the past few years in his various capacities, Le Roux has developed, and supported initiatives focused on previously disadvantaged individuals with a strong emphasis on wealth creation, capacity building and sustainability.
His knowledge of the real estate sector and acute business experience coupled with his current position as the Chief Executive of Rebosa, qualify him to provide responsive and active support to the NAR Board and real estate industry.
Group CEO: Chas Everitt International Property Group
Berry Everitt is the CEO of top South African real estate group Chas Everitt International, and winner of last year’s Global Leadership Award from Leading Real Estate Companies of the World, which is an invitation only network of the best property brokerages around the world.
Since winning the award, Berry has also been appointed chairman of the Global Advisory Board and a director on the main board of LeadingRE, which has more than 550 member brokerages employing more than 135 000 sales associates globally.
Recognised internationally for his visionary and inclusive leadership style, Berry was “raised in real estate” by his parents Charles and Tilla Everitt, who started their estate agency business in Johannesburg more than 40 years ago. He bought the business in 1997 and has since built it into one of the successful real estate groups in SA and in the world.
The group is known for its continuous development and deployment of new property technologies, not only to enhance agent efficiency, but with the primary purpose of enabling them to spend more time building real relationships with clients based on empathy, integrity and respect – the family values that are at the heart of its success.
Berry says the group is grateful to be a member of LeadingRE and for the increasing recognition it is gaining worldwide for SA property among peers who facilitate more than 1,3m real estate transactions a year – and that when one combines this with the deep understanding that Chas Everitt has of the local market, it is on the superhighway now to becoming one of the most groundbreaking real estate companies in the world.
Real Estate Innovation | Advisor | Educator
Sean is a property professional who has spent a decade working in various sectors of the property industry, in South Africa and the UK. Most of his professional experience has been in property market analysis where he has developed a strong understanding of property markets and an interest in what makes them tick. More specifically, he has a strong interest in cities and emerging economies.
Sean is passionate about South Africa, Africa, poverty alleviation, and education. Throughout his professional career he has maintained voluntary involvement with various industry and business bodies. He sits on the executive committee of the South Africa Chamber of Commerce in the UK, where he actively looks to promote and facilitate business and charitable activity between the UK and South Africa, and further afield. Within this, he is passionate about promoting the African property industry and the opportunities it holds. He is also passionate about promoting and connecting proptech communities in SA and Africa. To this end, he is a cofounder of SA Proptech and Proptech Africa.
Founder and CEO: GrindTea.Com
Wandile Mthiyane stands as an influential figure in leadership, advocacy, and design. Renowned as the founder of The Anti-Racist Hotdog, he holds a Master’s degree in Architecture from Andrews University. An adjunct professor, Wandile’s expertise has been shared through guest lectures at prestigious institutions such as Andrews University and Yale. His impactful roles include being an Obama Leader, One Young World Ambassador, Resolution Fellow, and TEDx Fellow. Wandile’s dynamic prowess as a speaker and political analyst has earned him distinction.
Guiding Ubuntu Design Group and leading the Ubuntu Architecture Summer Abroad Design Justice School, Wandile’s accomplishments are detailed at antiracisthotdog.com.
In a recent venture, Wandile launched “the tea” (https://www.grindtea.com) – an innovative peer-to-peer inclusion rating platform uniting women and individuals of color with workplaces fostering respect and diversity. His overarching goal is to combat workplace discrimination and empower individuals for a more inclusive society.
Global TEDx Speaker + Climate, Sustainability, Circularity & ESG Guide
Change agent, tireless activist, thought leader and multiple award winner, Lorraine Jenks is a specialist in climate change, sustainability, greening and ethical food. As a professional speaker, Lorraine advocates responsible management practices for public and private sectors using her passion, personality and humour to inspire change.
Her journey began in California in the 1970s, working with the infant EPA; then back home, she was Group Contracts and Procurement Manager for Africa’s largest hotel chain for 15 years. She went solo and trained under the UNEP’s Eco-Labelling Project, NCPC’s Clean Production Programme at the CSIR, the Green Building Council’s Interior Design and Décor, Green Leaf Carbon Auditing and recently with Al Gore as an accredited Climate Reality Leader. Winner of 13 awards with top honours for her six Green Home and Eco Hotel projects and an intrepid traveller to 52 countries – with her indomitable team, she manages two leading online directories (www.hotelstuff.co.za for all products and www.greenstuff.co.za for eco-friendly products), consults and runs workshops throughout South Africa and as far afield as Kenya, Ghana and Nigeria.
Co-founder and CEO of Real Estate Development Interactive (REDi)
Deon is the co-founder and CEO of Real Estate Development Interactive (REDi)
REDi is a Cape Town based technology development company founded in 2004, specialising in the design and development of digital technologies and applications, specifically for the residential real estate industry.
An entrepreneur at heart, Deon has over 20-years of experience in the property development industry. He has a passion for property and is particularly interested in innovative technologies that simplify, scale, deliver results, and which create new capabilities and opportunities, in both business and life.
CEO: Prop Data Internet Marketing
As an experienced PropTech entrepreneur, Mark has a proven history in Business Needs Analysis, Digital Marketing & SaaS Software Development niched within the PropTech vertical. He brings a variety of skills to the table from SEO, Inbound & marketing automation, to demand & lead generation and has been able to contribute significantly to Prop Data’s SaaS product journey. Mark also boasts two decades of PropTech experience and real estate relationships, giving Prop Data an edge in the sector
Executive Manager of Engineering and Technical Services: NHBRC
Having worked in the construction industry since 2001 as a civil engineering graduate from the University of Cape Town (UCT) (BSc. Eng (Civil), Mr. Craig Makapela is the Executive Manager of Engineering and Technical Services at the National Home Builders Registration Council (NHBRC).
His academic accolades are also from the University of Pretoria in B. Eng (Honours) (Geotechnical Engineering) and M. Eng (Systems and Engineering Management), respectively. He is pursuing a doctorate of philosophy in Civil Engineering at the University of Johannesburg, focusing on additive manufacturing (AM), also known as 3D concrete printing.
His contribution to the Human Settlements value chain has been through organisations such as Mariswe (formerly known as UWP Consulting), Protokon, Transnet Mega Project through Mott McDonald Consulting, as well as the NHBRC, which he started working for in 2008 and has seen him playing an advisory role to municipalities and provincial departments through risk analysis in the home building industry. He has also been advising and guiding the structural warranty to new homes and residential housing designs, approval of construction sites, and the assessment of geotechnical reports.
As a registered engineering professional, Makapela’s memberships include the South African Institution of Civil Engineering (SAICE), the Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA), and the South African Council for the Project and Construction Management Professional (SACPCMP).
Chairman, Seeff Property Group
Samuel Seeff is Chairman of the Seeff Property Group, the most established real estate brand in SA, founded in 1964 by his father, Geoffrey Seeff.
After matriculating Samuel completed a BCom at UCT (1983) and in 1984, with his brother, Lawrence (well-known ex-SA cricketer) took over the family business following the passing of his father.
Samuel has led the group for 40 years, from its humble beginnings as a small family business with 12 branches, to one of the leading and recognised real estate brands in SA today. Today the organisation has over 1200 agents and 200 offices across Southern Africa, including branches in Botswana, Dubai, DRC, e’Swatini, Malawi, Mauritius, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
Samuel has led many industry initiatives, such as ooba (mortgage origination) where he currently sits on the board of directors, to the newspaper JV publications and was actively involved in the formation of Rebosa, where he also serves as a director as well as the EAPPC and more recently the EADC. Samuel was one of the key figures in gathering Industry together to ensure greater growth for the industry through these initiatives.
Samuel has been instrumental in many innovations with the Real Estate Industry in South Africa for over four decades.
Managing Executive for Absa Home Loans
Nondumiso Ncapai is Managing Executive for Absa Home Loans and has been with the bank since 2010. She leads an ever-evolving and growing business that finds purpose in housing the nation and shaping the industry in a meaningful way.
Nondumiso is passionate about the Home Loans business and the impact that the business has on the lives of many. She has been fortunate to have had the opportunity to work with teams to design and deliver solutions that address the needs of South African customers. She deeply believes that the purpose of the home loans business she leads today continues to shape and inspire the work that colleagues deliver each day with excellence.
With over 13 years of experience in the Digital and IT disciplines, as well as over 11 years of experience in the financial services industry, she has held a variety of roles, including Head of Product and Proposition for Secured Lending, Head of Product for Home Loans, Head for Customer Experience and Innovation and Digital Sales Manager in the Retail Banking environment. Nondumiso is an accomplished leader with a track record of driving her teams to success in complex environments and enabling product teams to deliver industry firsts, and leverage strategic partnership platforms.
Strategic Planning, Management Consulting, Leadership Development
Jodi Allemeier is a seasoned professional in urban development, combining her expertise in social work, public administration, and development finance to drive meaningful city transformation. Currently consulting globally on urban regeneration, digital transformation and municipal governance, she has a history of impactful roles including at Cape Town Partnership, Western Cape Economic Development Partnership and Future Cities South Africa. A Harvard Kennedy School Young Leader and Global Governance Futures Fellow, Jodi’s work spans from co-founding Open Streets Cape Town to implementing large development programmes, shaping urban futures with her unique blend of social care and urban governance insights.
Acting CEO, PPRA ( Property Practitioners Regulatory Authority)
Thato possesses over 10 years of executive leadership experience in the fields of accounting, auditing and real estate. She gained her extensive experience both in the United States of America and South Africa, in the afore-mentioned fields. The key strategic positions that Thato held in the past include working as an auditor, occupying various accounting and real estate positions (both in the public and private sectors) and serving as a senior associate at Siegfried Group (all these positions were held in San Diego, California, USA). In South Africa, she worked as an Accounting & Financial Reporting Manager, at IVECO. Currently, Thato works as the acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) at the Property Practitioners Regulatory Authority (PPRA), where her responsibilities include developing corporate and business strategies, in response to applicable board resolutions, leading performance management processes and ensuring integration of risk, ethics and compliance management processes into performance practices, within the entity.
She holds a BSc in Accountancy from the San Diego State University, in California, USA, and is currently studying towards MSc in Operations Management, with University of Salford (in Manchester, UK). Thato also holds an Advanced Diploma in Real Estate, from the University of Johannesburg.
CEO and Entrepreneurial Technologist
With 29 years using technology to enable businesses, the past 8 years before joining LOOM in September 2022, Jacques was the Group CEO for The Financial Services Exchange T/A Astute, an industry managed data exchange company servicing the insurance and banking industry with over 160 integrations direct into the major financial services providers, Department of Home Affairs and the FSCA in Southern Africa.
Other experience includes 6 years working in London as Head of IT for a financial services company, later Alexander Forbes UK and 4 years heading group IT shared services at Alexander Forbes in South Africa.
Jacques joined LOOM with the experience gained running an industry managed data company for the financial services industry to bring new levels of thinking and technology expansion to the real estate industry.
Economic researcher and author
Dr. Eliphas Ndou, a highly qualified economist, holds a Ph.D. in Economics and is currently a Senior Economics lecturer at Unisa. With nearly 11 years of experience at the South African Reserve Bank, he made notable contributions in areas like Monetary policy research and Public finance. Dr. Ndou received awards for research excellence and innovation, also winning recognition for the best paper in Macro/Monetary Economics in 2013.
His extensive publication record includes working papers at renowned institutions and articles in international journals. Authoring 13 books, he covers diverse economic topics such as fiscal policy, inflation dynamics, and global economic uncertainties. Dr. Ndou’s expertise extends to economic modeling in projects, including scenario planning for the socio-economic impact of COVID-19 in the SADC region. Recently invited by Elsevier publishers, he is set to contribute a chapter on “The Future of Monetary Policy and Inequality” for an upcoming encyclopedia. His significant impact and influence underscore his prominence in the field of economics.
COO Private Property
Theo is a tech-savvy executive with a passion for leveraging technology to improve people’s lives. He joined Private Property with over two decades of experience in senior management positions, including as CEO of Hepsiemlak, the largest real estate vertical classified business in Turkey, and Chief Product Officer at Property24. Having worked extensively overseas, Theo brings a global perspective and a deep understanding of diverse markets and cultures to his role at Private Property, where he is focused on creating valuable solutions for customers and real estate partners.
CE Private Property
Charl holds the dual role of CE of Private Property and Deputy CEO of BetterHome Group. In his position at Private Property, he seeks to connect people at the heart of property and is excited about continuing to build a platform that attracts more consumers and advertisers, offers world-class solutions, and can compete successfully to ensure the sustainability of all stakeholders in the property market. Charl previously enjoyed a long and successful career at Standard Bank, where he was Head of Investor Services and Financial Institutions, as well as CFO and COO for the bank’s Transactional Products and Services business.
